Consequences For Seller Misuse Of Media Mail

I saw a listing for a set of modern sheets on ebay I was interested in that probably weighed close to 1lb and noticed the shipping price was very low. I messaged the seller and asked if they would be shipped USPS First Class Package with tracking and the seller replied Media Mail. I then informed seller that stamps could not be shipped Media Mail and asked for a USPS First Class Package price for which I didn't receive a reply, so I obviously moved on. Good think I asked/verified shipping details with seller.

Suppose I had not contacted seller and seller mailed stamps Media Mail. What would have been the consequences for me as a buyer or for the seller if the item was opened by USPS?

Media Mail gets tracking can be insured, sent C.O.D. and a return receipt can be purchased if the insurance or cod is over $500. But if you are happy paying more that is your choice. If opened for inspection and found not qualifying as media mail, the item will be re-rate to the correct class of mail and assessed additional postage as required, if required and collected from the sender or the recipient depending on circumstances. The question is this, are postage stamps educational? The USPS certainly makes an effort to educate about the subject matter when issued while much educational information is printed on the stamp's reverse or in the pane's selvage.

In the age of rampant stamp counterfeiting, fentanyl shipments and not even bothering to cancel stamps I think it highly unlikely the USPS gives a hoot about what is in a media mail envelope. If it did get flagged, it is likely a fluke.

I witnessed (brother-in-law's house) a large Media Mail carton containing motorcycle parts; the carton was a heavy weight and clearly rattled when moved. It had been delivered, no problems or questions asked.

I do wonder at times if sellers consider the optics of purposely shipping unqualified Media Mail items, or using new, 'free' (all of us actually pay for this stuff) USPS/UPS/FedEx envelopes and boxes as dunnage.
Don

I chuckled at that one. It happens SO much.

ParcelPostGuy: If the sender used a pre-paid media mail label purchased from ebay and it were to arrive to me opened and disqualified by the USPS, would any of the barcodes on that label be used to bill the sender? Alternatively, if the seller went to the post office and mailed the item, I assume I would either receive a knock on the door requesting payment or a note in the mailbox informing me to pick-up package at post office with payment?

I can't believe an almost 25 year seller who has bought and sold stamps would tell me they would ship stamp sheets media mail.

Stamps do not qualify to be shipped media mail, period.

I see this all the time in the comic books category. Comics cannot be sent media mail due to advertising content within. A graphic novel, which typically does not have ads, would qualify. Yet there are plenty of sellers openly shipping comics by media mail. I use it as a litmus test for which sellers are ethical and which are not.

Part of the problem is the extreme variability of inspection and enforcement when it comes to media mail. Many usps offices don't care, and anything goes through media mail. Others, like my local branch, have clerks that take great glee in opening and uprating faux media mail parcels. I say that not as a criticism; I wish all offices had clerks with that attitude.

I'm sure most of us know this, but we're not supposed to ship Scott catalogues via Media Mail for the same reason (ads).

At my despicable post office recently, an old lady was trying to send a beautifully wrapped BOOK (100% CLEARLY A BOOK) via media mail and the clerk said she had been randomly chosen for inspection and had to open it. When will the bs end

This sounds like the abandoned stamps thread. Some people will take advantage of such situations as sending something as media mail when clearly it is not. They do not think twice about it.

When people stop trying to game the system and send things via media mail that are not eligible. Blame the flouters of the rules, not the system for trying to regulate it.

And yes, "random selection" is a method employed at certain post offices.

This is no different from people pilfering Priority Mail supplies to use for other USPS shipping methods. For the longest time people would grab the free Priority Mail boxes and turn them inside out and use them for 1st class or Ground. Now, if you notice, the boxes are printed on both sides so this cannot be done.

Still it's remarkable the number of stamp show dealers that have stacks and stacks of USPS Priority and Express envelopes to use as merchandise bags for their tables... hmmm...

I often wonder who exactly they think is paying for the breaking the Media mail policy or are using new USPS mailing supplies as dunnage or as merchandise bags? Do people really think that USPS, Wal-Mart, ebay (or whomever the 800 pound gorilla is) just eat any increase in their costs?

That said, I do admire anyone who might utilize already used USPS mailing materials as dunnage; reusing is great.

I agree that this will stop only when people stop gaming the system. Next obvious question is then, 'what will it take to get people to stop gaming the system?'.

I think it would matter if buyers stopped supporting sellers who have bad behaviors or practices. As long as buyers are willing to hold their nose and support sellers with bad behaviors, we will all be paying the actual 'hidden' costs. <shrug>
Don

If determined to be NOT Media Mail an extra fee (postage due) will be obtained from sender or addressee prior to delivery. Which person will be determined by the current rules in effect for such matter.

As to you, " can't Believe...." welcome to adult life.




Well stamps and albums I have sent we allowed as Media Mail even when displaying them to the postmaster prior to sealing and paying for Media Mail. Now stamps, mint or used glued into a child's book (think Golden Books) will be accepted fully as media mail. It all depends on presentation.

There are a lot of things that people assume qualify for media mail and do not, like old magazines:
https://www.pitneybowes.com/us/blog...ia-mail.html

The use of packages as dunnage is a particular sore point for me. The smallest boxes are never available locally and are definitely being used as packing material. Charging something for boxes and flats, even 50c, would stop this. After all, they're $1-2 at minimum from specialist packaging stores and even more from the big box packaging stores.

I remember when a stamp auction house disguised their catalogs as magazines; there was a break in the rates at that time. The catalogs were sealed in plastic so there was no easy inspection of what was inside, but someone did and all the catalogs were returned to the sender.

I would propose USPS sell packing materials for $1 and embossed to indicate it is prepaid for $1 against final cost. I would what the USPS believes is the lost rate (not used for intended purpose).