iceicepenguin
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posted on October 1, 2003 12:24:00 PM
Sold some magazines a while back and the buyer gave me grief when I charged her parcel post instead of Media Mail. Explained that you can't use Media Mail for items which contain advertising. Not allowed. She asked me - Who is gonna know?
This morning, I went to the post office as I do everyday. The nice postal worker there gave me a heads up. They have begun to open packages marked Media for inspection. It seems too many people are abusing and breaking the rules on what can and cannot be shipped this way.
My question is this - why doesn't Ebay warn sellers who blatantly advertise Media Mail shipment on items that clearly cannot be shipped that way? My buyers think I am trying to make money on them on shipping when I charge parcel post rate.
I saw a thread regarding this recently and wanted to let everyone know that they really are starting to check.
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shawnb1
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posted on October 1, 2003 01:24:22 PM
Saw an auction last night for a huge lot of clothing, with seller offering media mail shipping!
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on October 1, 2003 01:35:02 PM
why doesn't Ebay warn sellers who blatantly advertise Media Mail shipment on items that clearly cannot be shipped that way?
Huh?
eBay is a huge monolithic insensitive uncaring organization that exists purely to make money for its stockholders. The only "warnings" eBay issues are about violating its own rules, not those of a third party.
If a seller ships using the Postal Service, she is utterly responsible for knowing and following the regulations.
Geez, please, no more warnings. I've already been warned today about having an email username (I don't) and about putting the words "mailing list" in my auctions (I haven't).
Our motto: Bright and shiny baubles for persons with low impulse control.
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eagleedc
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posted on October 1, 2003 02:34:33 PM
Make money on shipping? I always make money on shipping! Whats wrong with that? It takes gas and time to drive to the the post office, it takes materials and labor to package things.
I always use fixed shipping rates and I make them higher than what it's going to cost to ship. I have been wrong and lost money on a few auctions but in the end I like it better. Personally I rarely bid on an auction that does not list fixed shipping. I am too impatient to go through the waiting and emails to settle on a shipping price. I would rather pay a dollar or 2 more for shipping than deal with unknowns.
My 2¢,
Rob
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stopwhining
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posted on October 1, 2003 02:56:45 PM
me too/
-sig file -------The thrill is gone!!
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AuctionAce
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posted on October 1, 2003 03:59:22 PM
Ebay is just a venue ...
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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meowmix71
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posted on October 1, 2003 04:07:55 PM
I do what eagleedc & stopwhining do. I tend to undercharge for some auctions, but make up for it in the others. I only ship media when it's media material.
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ewora
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posted on October 1, 2003 07:48:53 PM
Are puzzles media mail?
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AuctionAce
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posted on October 1, 2003 08:17:32 PM
Puzzles are not Media Mail but MANY ebayers and other online auction sellers send them that way. It does give them an edge over the sellers sending the puzzles by Parcel Post.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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davebraun
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posted on October 1, 2003 08:17:42 PM
My post office has just started routinely opening media mail regularly on an irregular basis. One day a week there is someone assigned to examine all media mail opening some randomly (every so many). The schedule rotates as to personnel and to the day. I was told by one of the window clerks they just had a training session which dealt specifically with media mail, the post office either rightly or wrongly is convinced that the service is being abused. They are also making it more difficult to use the flat rate services (priority).
Republican, the other white meat!
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ahc3
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posted on October 1, 2003 08:25:37 PM
It is amazing what I have been sent via media mail. I am all for enforcing, because it gives an unfair advantage to those who don't play by the rules.
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toollady
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posted on October 2, 2003 04:22:58 AM
You can't send magazines media mail, but you can send them via bound printed matter (formerly known as book rate)
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gousainc-07
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posted on October 2, 2003 04:38:42 AM
How are they making the Priority Flat rate more difficult?
The only way I can think of is if they would not let you put tape on the seal to secure it.
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neglus
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posted on October 2, 2003 05:13:34 AM
BINGO GOUS!! My PO won't let me put tape of any kind on the flat rate envelope - if I do I pay regular priority rate.
[ edited by neglus on Oct 2, 2003 05:14 AM ]
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ahc3
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posted on October 2, 2003 07:49:43 AM
I would love to see the postal regulation that says tape can not be used. Where I used to live, they went nuts when they saw it. I can't tell you how many times they told me, next time, no tape. It really was a joke. I suppose that was what their supervisor told them to say, but there never was a next time, because I did it time after time, and only got a warning. One time, a clerk argued with me, and basically lost when I told them if this time I can send it with tape and next time I can't, then obviously tape must be allowed, otherwise I would not be able to send it THIS time...
My current post office has no problem with tape, in fact, they often put on extra tape if they think it is not secure enough. Go figure!
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stopwhining
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posted on October 2, 2003 08:02:25 AM
i have seen global priority envelope being torn apart and put back together to fit the item using tapes.
i use the fragile labels instead of tapes and no postal clerk complains.
-sig file -------The thrill is gone!!
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AuctionAce
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posted on October 2, 2003 08:06:15 AM
Some post office branches are strict on the no tape thing on PM Flat Rate envelopes. I've been charged extra for having tape. The darn envelopes look like they're ready to break with just a few pieces of papers in them.
With the Post Office randomly searching Media Mail look for Media Mail use to sharply decline and much of that decline will be illegal shippers switching to UPS and other cheaper shippers. That may result in higher postal hikes from loss of volume.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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neroter12
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posted on October 2, 2003 12:37:44 PM
What I want to know is, if they do search the package and find its not entirely media mail -- what do they do with it? Send it back? I had one which was a mixture of media and printed bound and the clerk put the wrong postal code on it (I only noticed when I got home, but I think he did it on purpose because he didnt trust me) but my customer said he never received the package and I never got it back??
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stopwhining
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posted on October 2, 2003 01:49:22 PM
they will charge you first class postage.
if your customer has not received it,it could be held up somewhere.
-sig file -------The thrill is gone!!
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davebraun
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posted on October 2, 2003 02:22:10 PM
If they decide it's not eligible for media mail and it is in their system depending where it is geographically they will either return to sender or deliver it to the addressee postage due for the balance.
With regard to flat rate priority they will not allow any tape on the exterior and are limiting the extended dimensions of the parcels exterior to approx 1" thick. They have given some discretion to the clerks which is not good as even if in the system it can be re rated and sent on postage due to the addressee. I haven't had this happen put got a heads up from one of the clerks who attended one of the training sessions. If they deem it to be over allowed limits and it is beyond 1 pound they will increase the postage required and not honor the flat rate rate.
Republican, the other white meat!
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barbarake
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posted on October 3, 2003 04:13:29 PM
Original Poster - Your magazines could have been sent via 'Bound Printed Matter' which has rates comparable to 'Media Mail' (sometimes it's a few cents more, sometimes a few cents less).
'Parcel Post' rates are often just a few cents less than 'Priority' yet it's as slow as (Media/BPM). The worst of both worlds.
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Salgal48
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posted on October 3, 2003 04:39:02 PM
Our post office clerk asks, "What's in it". If you tell them a book, they accept your word. When do they open up mail? Never heard that one, I think it's against the law unless they suspect a bomb or something.
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