FYI: You can't ship video games media mail.

[Zthun]

I've seen this pop up many times about sellers shipping their games media mail to save on shipping. Well, rather than continue to post in individual threads all the time, I'm making a new thread just to let you know: you can't ship video games media mail; they are categorized directly in the post office media mail rules:



Media Mail

Media Mail is not sealed against postal inspection. Regardless of physical closure, the mailing of articles at Media Mail prices constitutes consent by the mailer to postal inspection.

Media mail is used for certain types of books, films, manuscripts, printed music, printed test materials, sound recordings, play scripts, printed educational charts, loose-leaf pages and their binders consisting of medical information, video recordings, educational reference charts, and computer-readable media. Video games, whether on CD-ROM, diskettes, or similar software, or playable systems including computers, do not meet the standards for Media Mail. Storage devices such as "portable hard drives", "thumb drives", "flash drives", "jump-drives", and "USB drives" for use with computers are not eligible for Media Mail prices. For specific eligibility please see DMM 173.3.

The maximum size of an item in combined length plus girth (distance around the thickest part) is 108 inches.

Mark each package "Media Mail" in the postage area.


http://postcalc.usps.gov/PopUps/pop_up27.htm

This is just an FYI. Personally, I don't care what anyone ships with as long as it gets to me undamaged. But hopefully, this will let all sellers know so they won't receive packages back in case they are the 1 of the unlucky sellers that get the inspection.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Oh not to worry, if a postal inspector opens up a media mail package and realizes the items are not supposed to be sent that way, he'll be nice enough to upgrade the postage to Priority Mail at no additional cost to you.

But the person getting the package will get a nice "Postage Due" notice.

[megasdkirby]

Media Mail is quite terrible. I understand it's cheaper and all, but I much rather use First Class Mail instead.

Really, First Class Mail does not pass over $3.20 or so (under 13 ounces) and it's much faster than Media Crap Mail. An item from east to west can take over a month to arrive (in the worst case scenario, from which is quite often in many cases I've seen) contrary to First Class Mail, which only takes around a week or so on average (sometimes sooner, sometimes a bit longer, like ten days). Still, it's much better than crappy Media Mail.

I do find funny when I venture to the awful Ebay Community Boards and see cry babies complain about negatives and low DSR's when they ship an item via Media Mail. No really? I wonder why they got the negative in the first place?

[Sailorneorune]

I'd imagine Media Mail especially sucks for you being in Puerto Rico. One of my regulars is also in Puerto Rico, and based on his experiences, it takes about a month to receive anything by Media Mail. It's likely to be even more aggravating for people in Alaska and Hawaii. I just plain don't ship Media Mail there. I figure he's cool enough to warrant a free Priority upgrade.

[megasdkirby]

I'd imagine Media Mail especially sucks for you being in Puerto Rico. One of my regulars is also in Puerto Rico, and based on his experiences, it takes about a month to receive anything by Media Mail. It's likely to be even more aggravating for people in Alaska and Hawaii. I just plain don't ship Media Mail there. I figure he's cool enough to warrant a free Priority upgrade.

Yeah, but it's really not PR only. The issue stems more on distance than anything else. If someone is from Florida and ships an item to Nevada, it can take a month to receive because the distance between the two is very big.

Also, the difference in price isn't much for single items like games.

Below is an example I took from an item sent from New York to California, for an item that weighs 13 ounces, the maximum for First Class Mail:

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/8093/usps.png

First Class Mail is less than $1 extra, so why not just send it First Class Mail? Now if the item is over 13 ounces, there is indeed a difference on shipping price. One could save option for cheaper shipping at the expense of shipping time and other issues along the way. Honestly, Media Mail is too aggravating to be a valid option (for me at least).

[Sailorneorune]

For someone like me, Media Mail would be good for shipping all (estimated) 25 volumes of Fullmetal Alchemist to someone in Metropolis, IL (a 3 hour drive from here). I use it for big lots of DVDs and/or books. It's good if you're a cheapskate with the patience of a saint, but otherwise... meh.

Something like Amazon Prime isn't worth it to me because I have a PO box (I live on a narrow street, so only 1 side gets the benefit of the mailbox in front of the house). Half the time, Amazon refuses to believe I exist. So, their standard shipping is good enough.

[Cornelius]

The Media Mail guidelines did not used to be so clear about video games. I know I looked through all of it a couple years back and they weren't directly referenced and it wasn't clear at all. I did have a package returned to me, though. On two separate occasions. One of the times I think I just switched boxes (the original had lots of misc. bar codes), reprinted my label and sent it again without problem. I never had the huge delays like some of you have experienced. For me it always matched up with their timetable like what kirby posted (7 days or so for media) and was about the same as the long end of the parcel post timeframe. Anyway, this was a long time ago and OF COURSE it wasn't ever for something that could be sent first-class. That'd be idiotic.

As a side note, USPS must really hate Parcel Post. There doesn't seem to ever be a reason to use it anymore.

[MarioMania]

When I send a game like SNES or the Genesis, I use the cheap way & I have No Problem

[megasdkirby]

Ironically, I think Parcel Post and Media Mail are pretty much the same, specially when a shipping label is printed. It is referred to "Package Services" in both instances, leaving me to believe it's one in the same, just for different items.


When I send a game like SNES or the Genesis, I use the cheap way & I have No Problem


Which I am sure it's First Class Mail for the most part. Like Cornelius states, it's kind of idiotic to send something Media Mail if it can easily be sent First Class Mail for around the same price (just a tad more, as I mentioned above).

[JerseyDevil65]

As a side note, USPS must really hate Parcel Post. There doesn't seem to ever be a reason to use it anymore.

Parcel Post is a joke. I just shipped a big box to the west coast and the price difference between PP and Priority was 10 cents and Priority was 3 days faster.

I didn't know they had updated the media mail guidelines to exclude videogames. When I sell, I always give people the option to use media mail so they can save a little money, but I guess I won't do that anymore.

[gum_drops]

From my experiences you can still get away with shipping games media mail if you use smaller packages, ie under 2 lbs. The bigger the box gets the greater your chances of getting inspected. They never upgrade shipping for me, its always returned to me.

It was always vague whether games counted or not, I guess its pretty clear now, no more media mail.

[Zthun]

From my experiences you can still get away with shipping games media mail if you use smaller packages, ie under 2 lbs. The bigger the box gets the greater your chances of getting inspected. They never upgrade shipping for me, its always returned to me.

It was always vague whether games counted or not, I guess its pretty clear now, no more media mail.

Same here. The one time they did the inspection, I had a chat with a PO worker and he told me that games don't classify under media mail, so I wasted 5 bucks in shipping. No biggie, live and learn.

I only really use first class and priority to ship my eBay packages (and gametz packages). Unless I have a huge box, then I'd do parcel, but it isn't much cheaper and I rarely have a box that big.

[ooXxXoo]

It seems like our local USPS post offices have discontinued the Parcel Post altogether....Depending the size of the package, its either first class (very small box), or they directly bump it to priority mail.....Also, I once got a package from Alaska, it took a month and a half to reach Virginia and yes, that was by supposedly priority mail :? ...


....

[The 1 2 P]

I actually had this chat with a postal worker at my local Post Office about 2 months ago. He showed me the media mail guidance card that him and his co-workers use for reference and it says right there on the card "cd-rom video games are eligible for media mail while dvd-rom video games are not". They could have updated their policy since then but thats what he told and showed me and he works there as a cashier.

But like Kirby said, the majority of all my games get sent first class anyway since it's around the same price. I usually only send media mail for video game strategy guides and those are perfect for media because their weight can become an issue when they are premium sized guides or if someone buys multiples. However, when I have sent media it usually only takes the stated 5-9 business days and half the time it arrives even faster, usually the same time first class would take. I've only had one or two times where it took longer than two weeks and considering how many packages I send out a month thats really not that bad.

[Kitsune Sniper]

It seems like our local USPS post offices have discontinued the Parcel Post altogether....Depending the size of the package, its either first class (very small box), or they directly bump it to priority mail.....Also, I once got a package from Alaska, it took a month and a half to reach Virginia and yes, that was by supposedly priority mail :? ...


....

They can't do that. They HAVE to ask you if you want Parcel or Priority, unless the box is a free Priority Mail box or it already has Priority stickers on it.

The main difference between Media Mail and Parcel Post, according to my local PO, is the order the packages go out. Media is given the least priority and space in their trucks, so if it doesn't fit, it won't go out until the next day. And so on.

[Porksta]

I remember some guy, on NA I think, bought a couple of sealed Genny games on ebay. Cost him something like $700 for the pair. Well, the seller sent them Media Mail and it got inspected. Both games were opened. I think he and the seller agreed to a half refund.

[mobiusclimber]

I know fairly recently the clerks at my PO stated that video games WERE classified as Media Mail so I have to wonder if this is a new thing or what? I'm going to ask them next time I go in. I really wish the USPS would find a definition and stick to it.

[RASK1904]

I talk with all the postal workers at my branch. I'm nice to them, I need them. I talk to the postmaster in charge alot. And she checked and told me they where media. I usually do not go this way unlees the buyer sayed to.

[kupomogli]

You know what I hate about media mail. Those Ebay sellers that say it's $4 shipping so you buy from them instead of someone else who has the same item for $5 shipping and then it happens that you have to choose what shipping costs you want. The $4 happens to be media mail possibly 30 - 90 days to get the item and then they always have an overpriced first class shipping of $10+. Bunch of scamming douchebags. I feel cheated because you don't see that until after you purchase the item so I'll give them negative feedback regardless how quickly I receive the item.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Not that I care about media mail rates or what qualifies, but just how video games are not "computer readable media", I'll never know.

[Kitsune Sniper]

I know fairly recently the clerks at my PO stated that video games WERE classified as Media Mail so I have to wonder if this is a new thing or what? I'm going to ask them next time I go in. I really wish the USPS would find a definition and stick to it.

It depends on the PO / Postmaster. My local one says that they aren't valid. And he's kind of a dick, anyway. :p


Not that I care about media mail rates or what qualifies, but just how video games are not "computer readable media", I'll never know.

Apparently game systems aren't considered computers according to the USPS' standards.

[kupomogli]

Not that I care about media mail rates or what qualifies, but just how video games are not "computer readable media", I'll never know.


Apparently game systems aren't considered computers according to the USPS' standards.

Then what about PC games. That's all good, right?

[gum_drops]

Then what about PC games. That's all good, right?

I don't think so. Last time I tried sending 2 PC games in a single box they were returned to me as "not qualifying for media mail". Most magazines don't even qualify as media mail, due to the advertising.

[Aussie2B]

I remember some guy, on NA I think, bought a couple of sealed Genny games on ebay. Cost him something like $700 for the pair. Well, the seller sent them Media Mail and it got inspected. Both games were opened. I think he and the seller agreed to a half refund.

What a moron. That's pure greed right there. I know if I sold something for that much, or even a fraction of that amount, I would gladly take the hit myself to ship Priority Mail with a delivery confirmation, if only for the peace of mind, and also request that the buyer pay for insurance. Instead of losing $350, he could've only lost a couple bucks. He must be kicking himself now.

Anyway, I stopped using Media Mail on games years ago. The difference between that and First Class is negligible, and it saves me from getting the third degree and feeling like I'm doing something shady. It's a godsend for magazines and books, though. In terms of other heavy stuff, like systems, I'm fond of those flat rate boxes since the weight would probably make it just as expensive with other options. I guess Media Mail could be worthwhile in those scenarios, but I'd rather play by the rules and charge my buyers the 11 bucks or so, which I don't think is unreasonable for a system's shipping fee.

[mobiusclimber]

If I can, I'll ship Priority Mail, but for sales on forums, if someone wants 10 games that are a buck or two apiece, of course they're going to want them shipped cheaply.

[Kitsune Sniper]

If I can, I'll ship Priority Mail, but for sales on forums, if someone wants 10 games that are a buck or two apiece, of course they're going to want them shipped cheaply.

Yeah... most of the time I can't sell stuff here because the shipping is just too expensive. :(

[The 1 2 P]

I don't think so. Last time I tried sending 2 PC games in a single box they were returned to me as "not qualifying for media mail".

Again, that all depends on your local Post Office. The consensus I'm getting from this thread is that every one of us follow different guide lines because we all go to different post offices which have very different rules. And for the record, my post office will gladly let me send pc games thru media mail. I have checked with them several times about this.


Most magazines don't even qualify as media mail, due to the advertising.

The one and only time I had a media mail package inspected and returned to me was when I was sending out adult magazines. The only reason they apparently didn't qualify was because of the advertising, just like you said. However, 99% of every magazine in the world have ads in them so that guide line doesn't even make sense. Even strategy guides have a few ads at the end of them and the same goes for novels or atleast the Halo ones I read.

The only reason that package got inspected is because I was using a different postal office than my usual one. My post office doesn't care if the books or magazines I send have ads in them or not because they have enough common sense to know that they pretty much all do. I realize that adult mags have lots of ads in them but the rule says "no ads" and you aren't very likely to find that in many magazines or even some books these days.

[FanOPants]

Media Mail is quite terrible. I understand it's cheaper and all, but I much rather use First Class Mail instead.

Really, First Class Mail does not pass over $3.20 or so (under 13 ounces) and it's much faster than Media Crap Mail. An item from east to west can take over a month to arrive (in the worst case scenario, from which is quite often in many cases I've seen) contrary to First Class Mail, which only takes around a week or so on average (sometimes sooner, sometimes a bit longer, like ten days). Still, it's much better than crappy Media Mail.

I do find funny when I venture to the awful Ebay Community Boards and see cry babies complain about negatives and low DSR's when they ship an item via Media Mail. No really? I wonder why they got the negative in the first place?

Totally disagree with your assessment of media mail.

While an item CAN take a month to arrive cross country, it rarely does in my experience (honestly, I can't remember EVER waiting a month for a cross country package to arrive).


Why are you comparing first class to media? First class is cheaper until you get up to 9 oz. or so. If you're shipping a 7 oz. PS2 game via media, you just don't know better.

Media is comparable to parcel and Priority. Parcel has gotten very close to Priority in terms of cost, particular on long-distance packages. And yet, the service is more on par with media mail. So, to my eyes, that makes parcel a terrible service and not media. If I'm shipping 10 pounds worth of media and don't need the items NOW, why on earth WOULDN'T I use media? Fantastically cheap, a bit slow. My patience is worth 75%+ off standard shipping rates.

[megasdkirby]

While an item CAN take a month to arrive cross country, it rarely does in my experience (honestly, I can't remember EVER waiting a month for a cross country package to arrive).

There are different factors that need to be taken into consideration, the most important being priority of the package compared to other items, and time frame in which the package actually leaves the Post Office and is in route to it's location.

Like someone stated above, Media and Parcel Post have a much lower priority than any of the other services offered. This means that for the Post Office, it just isn't as important as other items sent using faster methods. So in theory, it can take longer, specially if it needs to cross water in order to reach it's destination. This is why it's a terrible service for HI, AK, and PR (and other territories). The same applies to Parcel Post, as they are sent by boat to PR, usually from Florida. I don't know exactly the process to ship to HI or AK, though I would not be surprised if it's similar. This lack of priority causes delay because to the Post Office, that item in particular just isn't that important. However, and this comes from experience, if the item is insured (amount is negligeble), it often arrives faster than without it, leaving me to believe that since it's insured, the Post Office considers it somewhat "important" and take extra precautions for safe and quick arrival. I've had packages sent from Connecticut both Parcel Post, but one insured and the other not insured. The insured parcel arrived in 8 days, while the uninsured parcel took 26 days (don't remember if it was 25 or 27, but around that area, as I do know it was around three weeks and a few days after). Ironically, both were similar items (pictures), so at least the variables were constant, at least all except for "time".

By "time" I refer to the moment it was received and scheduled for delivery. From friends inside the Postal system here in Bayamon, I know that an item can sit in a Post Office due to lack of importance if sent using Parcel or Media, except if the shipment of said services from another time is approaching, which then seems that it's faster. In other words, if a package has been at the postal unit for 10 days and the transport is sent to pick it up, and another package was sent a day before arrival of the transport using the same method, then it "seems" as though Parcel on the second package will arrive faster, but it was just a chance of luck.

It's a bit complicated, and there are supposedly other factors, but I was never informed of those extra variables, only the one listed above.



Why are you comparing first class to media? First class is cheaper until you get up to 9 oz. or so. If you're shipping a 7 oz. PS2 game via media, you just don't know better.

From what I've seen, many Ebay sellers do this to squeeze as much profit as they can. I compare both services because the price between the two, up to 13 ounces, really isn't much (less than a buck), so there is no need to send something media if it can be sent first class, unless greed or stupidity comes into question. And seeing experiences others have had on Ebay (sellers), I would say both.


Media is comparable to parcel and Priority. Parcel has gotten very close to Priority in terms of cost, particular on long-distance packages. And yet, the service is more on par with media mail. So, to my eyes, that makes parcel a terrible service and not media. If I'm shipping 10 pounds worth of media and don't need the items NOW, why on earth WOULDN'T I use media? Fantastically cheap, a bit slow. My patience is worth 75%+ off standard shipping rates.

For you and I it is, but not for most. Many don't want to wait for their item, as seem with complaints on Ebay and the advent of buyer giving negative feedback like "no tomorrow". Parcel Post is considered "Package Services" when using online shipping and label making (like Paypal), but did you know that Media is as well? So when you get a tracking number for Media Mail or Parcel Post, it will always say "Package Services" because it's basically one in the same. Just because it costs nearly the same, doesn't make it similar.

Also, you stated that: "And yet, the service is more on par with media mail. So, to my eyes, that makes parcel a terrible service and not media.", which is contradictory because you state that although Parcel is on par with media mail and it's a terrible service, how can media mail not be terrible service if the analogy you used states otherwise? I know you meant it on the grounds of cost, but on the grounds of speed, they are not comparable.

Not trying to criticize, but merely pointing that you admit Parcel is like Media Mail, which as stated above using USPS, they are under the same "Package Services" option.

You are right that it's cheaper and better on items of non importance and to save on cost. But not everyone is willing to wait so long, and it's a "neg magnet" on places like Ebay.

Yet I've had little problems with Parcel Post (other than time) compared to Media Mail (many lost packages). So I personally rather stick with Parcel Post for heavy packages, and insure them if the probability is there to increase shipping time and priority.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Media is comparable to parcel and Priority.

I think you just BSOD'ed my brain.

Media is godawful if you happen to live in Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico, or if you live on one edge of the country and have to send it to the other edge. You say it doesn't take that long? Well, I once had a package sent Media Mail to me from within the same state (California) and it took almost a month to get here. PARCEL TAKES THREE DAYS AT MOST. Whatthefuck.

[megasdkirby]

I think you just BSOD'ed my brain.

LOL.


or if you live on one edge of the country and have to send it to the other edge. You say it doesn't take that long? Well, I once had a package sent Media Mail to me from within the same state (California) and it took almost a month to get here. PARCEL TAKES THREE DAYS AT MOST. Whatthefuck.

Quoted for truth.

Also, if you live in an isolated community in which the post office isn't so "marked", then prepare to wait a very long time.

[FanOPants]

Woah, massive post. I'll address the salient points of both in this single post and avoid quotes of quotes of quotes.

Media is comparable to parcel and priority in terms of weight classifications, not cost or speed. Comparing media to first class is silly because first class is only available on packages up to 13 ounces; that's what I meant above (please excuse my poor wording) which precludes any notion of contradiction as kirby suggested.

Parcel is a terrible service compared to media mail because of the poor value it provides; media mail is slow but extremely cheap while parcel is slow and nearly as expensive as expedited service (Priority Mail). Priority Mail is a decent service as well: you pay for expedited shipping and receive expedited shipping. Parcel embodies the worst of both value components.

Re: Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico -- Nothing I say applies to these locations. Honestly, I rarely use anything but Priority because everything else is so slow.

Re: Kitsune's month long intra-state delivery -- Anecdote vs. anecdote: I've been buying and selling games, CDs/records, books, et al for over 10 years. I cannot recall having a domestic package take a full month to arrive with the exception of an intra-state package that had been addressed to "Cobra Nastanovic" by a friend (that's right, my name isn't really Cobra Nastanovic). This includes all services, not just media mail. Given the number of packages I've shipped and received (thousands), I'm inclined to say that Kitsune's month-long package was more anomaly than status quo. Note also that I live on "the edge of the country" (California).

Re: "eBay sellers" - I stopped selling on eBay years ago. It is a truly vile place with few, if any, redeeming qualities. I sell on Amazon and I sell a decent amount for a side business. All books go media, I've never received a negative rating as a result of using media mail.

Media is a reasonable option for C48 buyers/sellers shipping legitimate media weighing over 13 ounces provided the receiver is willing to wait a bit longer. Media mail is IDEAL for packages weighing, say, five pounds and above. You'll save a huge chunk of change on a percentage basis that, for someone like me, completely justifies the extra wait. I'm moving cross-country in November and will be shipping my books, DVDs, LPs, and CDs, via media mail. I'll save hundreds of dollars over Priority Mail (I own a lot of books). I'll insure them through Endicia (cheaper and less hassle than USPS insurance). I'll be thrilled to wait two weeks (four, even!) for them to arrive.

[megasdkirby]

FanoPants makes a valid statement: for the most part, Parcel Post is pretty much mediocre since many times it's very close to Priority Mail pricing (few pounds only, because once it's over a certain amount of pounds, it skyrockets). I believe it should be cheaper so it can be competitive. But knowing the USPS, they would rather raise Priority so there could be a "diference".

Silly question, but is it possible to insure something sent Media Mail? I don't remember.

Endicia...I need to check on that. Is it worth it? How is it?

[Bojay1997]

I think you just BSOD'ed my brain.

Media is godawful if you happen to live in Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico, or if you live on one edge of the country and have to send it to the other edge. You say it doesn't take that long? Well, I once had a package sent Media Mail to me from within the same state (California) and it took almost a month to get here. PARCEL TAKES THREE DAYS AT MOST. Whatthefuck.

Was this a recent experience? I have received dozens of media packages over the past six months from all over the US and never had one take more than five days to arrive. Frankly, I can't tell the difference between any of the post office's speeds anymore as it seems they don't have the resources to prioritize and everything generally gets here about the same time. Not saying it's not possible something won't take longer, just that it hasn't happened for me recently and most other people I talk to seem to say the same thing.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Was this a recent experience? I have received dozens of media packages over the past six months from all over the US and never had one take more than five days to arrive. Frankly, I can't tell the difference between any of the post office's speeds anymore as it seems they don't have the resources to prioritize and everything generally gets here about the same time. Not saying it's not possible something won't take longer, just that it hasn't happened for me recently and most other people I talk to seem to say the same thing.

This was at the beginning of the year. Ever since that happened, I've always made sure the people I buy stuff from never send anything via Media Mail.

[FanOPants]

Silly question, but is it possible to insure something sent Media Mail? I don't remember.

Endicia...I need to check on that. Is it worth it? How is it?

I think media mail items can be insured through the USPS, yes. They can definitely be insured through Endicia.

Endicia is worth it if you ship enough. I believe monthly rates are $14.95 so it probably isn't worth it to ship just a few items/monthly. The software is super simple and super quick and users can ship via parcel select which provides the same service as parcel post for $0.03 less (!) and free delivery confirmation. Users also get the usual online shipping discounts that USPS offers. Lastly, Endicia offers their own insurance for less than the USPS. While I've never had to file a claim, a friend and fellow Endicia customer has; she says the process is completely painless and the insured amount is provided promptly with no red tape to jump through. Filing through USPS is an absolute nightmare and you're lucky to get anything out of it.

I went with Endicia two years ago and love it. I had considered using Paypal but shipping as many as 100+ packages/week through Paypal's website would use up enormous amounts of time. Additionally, it didn't allow me to print using a Zebra thermal printer; I'm not sure if this was a Paypal hold up or something related to my OS (Mac). I'm not going to spend 30 seconds cutting and taping a label (and paying for ink) when I can print and apply an ink-free label in 3 seconds. (While we're on the subject, thermal printers are amazing.)

So yeah, the big advantage Endicia has over going through Paypal/USPS is the software and thermal printer compatibility. I save a TREMENDOUS amount of time through both and, of course, not having to wait in line at the post office.

[Aussie2B]

In terms of delivery speed, I think every service is a crapshoot. There are always flukes with every option. I learned this more so than ever in the last several months because I was responsible for fulfilling all orders for a video game music fan arrangement album. I've shipped a couple hundred of them, using the same materials and service for nearly all of them. They were all the same weight, size, etc., and I always use First Class and First Class International. I've shipped to almost every state, if not all, and tons of different countries, all from New York. I had one going to New Jersey that took 2+ weeks, while I had others arrive in freakin' Finland in 3 days. I had ones arriving in British Columbia faster than Ontario, and in cases where a country is known to have a shitty postal system, like Mexico and Russia, they took months. While in general the speeds were as expected, there was still too much variance to say it's truly consistent.

[mobiusclimber]

The thing about shipping to far away places has to do w/ the amount of packages going at the main shipping hub. They have to fill up a plane compartment, so it either goes quickly (b/c they have a lot going to the same place or nearby) or it goes really slow while they wait for more packages. This is true even within the US.

[Visc]

I ship out a lot of strategy guides from here, so I'm pretty much stuck using media mail due to their weight alone (a recent pokemon platinum guide was over 40 ounces by itself).

Thankfully they qualify, so I'm ok with that.

[mobiusclimber]

I generally ship strat guides in the $5 Priority Mail flat rate envelopes if they fit (and if they're worth it). Heck, I'll shove a guide AND a bubble wrapped game in there. LOL

[emceelokey]

Where I ship from, they're pretty cool about media mail. I've shipped game systems as media mail and never had any issued with them. WIth games though, you're pretty much better off shipping stuff via first class mail. It's not much more expensive but it arrives 3 to 5 days faster and keeps your customers from waiting and worrying. If I have a lot of games in one package, I just figure, if they were to x-ray the box, it would look like aq bunch of cds or dvds so it would be passable.