Are Video Games Considered Media Mail....

[jonjandran]

I send them all the time as media mail, but at www.usps.com it doesn't include video games as media mail. And some of the people at the post office won't ship them as media mail.
I have a seller that is charging me $40.00 shipping for a lot of games instead of $17.00 media mail, because he called his post office and they said no. :angry:

So which is it, media mail or not ?

[wberdan]

the guy at my post office always has considered them "media".

willie

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Yes. I ship games media mail all the time with no problem.

Just pack 'em well - sometimes "media mail" and "fragile" are mutually exclusive in the postal service's eyes.

[jonjandran]

the guy at my post office always has considered them "media".

willie

Yea like I said ,so do mine. But I need something concrete to show the postal workers and e-mail to sellers so I can stop getting screwed by shipping cost.

[Raccoon Lad]

Someone mentioned a while back that USPS changed their Media Mail definition, and Video Games are no longer covered by the Media Mail rainbow.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

The one time I ever wound up with a doubting Thomas on the other side of the PO counter, I explained it to him this way: yes, they're video game cartridges, but at the heart of every video game is a computer. Hence, computer software. Hence...media.

Haven't had a problem since.

I got a huge laugh one time when an eBay seller took ten bucks from me for shipping, and sent me a marquee via media mail. How they managed to justify that, I'll never know. LOL

[Drexel923]

What I want to know is how will they ever find out what your shipping. Just tell them its books, why wouldn't they believe you. Someone bought a sega cd unit off me and I forgot to send the metal plates that come with it. So I put them in a bubble mailer, went to the post office and the lady asked me what was in the mailer. I told here cd's and she didn't say anything else. She obviously knew, becuase of the weight, that it wasn't cd's but she didn't care...or she just believed me.

[maxlords]

They're electronic media..hence, media mail. They may have changed it, but the last time I was in the US (2 years ago) that's how it was.

[jonjandran]

This is the new media mail description :

Media Mail™ service is a cost efficient way to mail books, sound recordings, recorded video tapes, printed music, and recorded computer-readable media (such as CDs, DVDs, and diskettes). Media Mail can not contain advertising except for incidental announcements of books. The maximum weight for Media Mail is 70 lbs.

And :


Media Mail
Generally used for books (at least eight pages), film, printed music, printed test materials, sound recordings, play scripts, printed educational charts, loose-leaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, and computer-readable media. Advertising restrictions apply. There are presorted rates available for bulk quantities of Media Mail (minimum quantity is 300 pieces). There is also a barcoded discount available for Media Mail.

[digitalpress]

Well if you're mailing CD or DVD-based video games, there's you're argument right there - PLUS they have recorded music on them. TWO arguments.

And if they're cartridges just tell them they're TAPES. If stupid people can call them that then we can be stupid too.

[Darth Sensei]

What I want to know is how will they ever find out what your shipping. Just tell them its books, why wouldn't they believe you. Someone bought a sega cd unit off me and I forgot to send the metal plates that come with it. So I put them in a bubble mailer, went to the post office and the lady asked me what was in the mailer. I told here cd's and she didn't say anything else. She obviously knew, becuase of the weight, that it wasn't cd's but she didn't care...or she just believed me.

He's got a valid point. Why don't you just say books or CD's? Do they really open it up and check?

BTW, why should it make any difference what it is. Why should media have different rates than anything else if the package size and weight are the same? :hmm:

D

[jonjandran]

It's SNES games and a system.
And it's the seller I can't convince. He says he won't "lie" to the usps. :roll:

[jonjandran]

BTW, why should it make any difference what it is. Why should media have different rates than anything else if the package size and weight are the same? :hmm:

D

Media is put on a lower priority than other forms of shipping. So if the truck is full or the postman is running late, then media is put on the back burner.
Because of that they offer it cheaper.

[Funk Buddy]

snip

computer-readable media.

:hmm: Two words come to mind:

Famicom
Super Famicom

;)

I believe that it was here that someone mentioned getting something postage due because of the new rules. I got a huge box that was sent media mail with no problem! The best thing was, he used priority mail bags stuffed with more bags as the padding. That's a super big no no.

[Funk Buddy]

BTW, why should it make any difference what it is. Why should media have different rates than anything else if the package size and weight are the same? :hmm:

D

Media is put on a lower priority than other forms of shipping. So if the truck is full or the postman is running late, then media is put on the back burner.
Because of that they offer it cheaper.

I was told it goes the same a parcel post by the guys here.

How many games are coming with it? Has the seller checked parcel post costs for the same package? I have sent games media mail and included other items without a hitch. Maybe my post office doesn't give a rip?

[jonjandran]

It is a 40 pound package and parcel post with Delivery Confirmation and Insurance is $38.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3056873624&category=3594&rd=1

[wberdan]

i saw a sign at my PO the other day that said "we randomly open media mail packages" or something to that extent...
i think its a bunch of bullshit, but you never know..
regarless, a case can be made for video games easy.

willie

[christianscott27]

i just present it as "software" in a presealed box. most of the time i'm just mailing smaller items so the cost difference is pennies and i use priority instead. sorry to hear your seller is being a stiff, probably looking to avoid trouble on their end, thats the real rub of ebay, damn shipping costs. maybe if they'd quit wasting millions buying lance armstrong new bikes we'd get some better deals...rant, rant.

[kevincure]

I think they offer media mail cheaper because there's a long US history of the USPS (which, while technically not, is more or less a govt. organization) offering cheaper rates for books (and later all media). Keep the people literate and all that.

[Drexel923]

It is a 40 pound package and parcel post with Delivery Confirmation and Insurance is $38.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3056873624&category=3594&rd=1

This is why most of the time I won't bid unless there is a listed shipping fee. That way I know what I'm getting myself into. But like I said before, they don't have to know whats in the box...just tell him to tell them that he's shipping a bunch of college textbooks. Those things are heavy as hell.

[Tritoch]

From what I understand, actual systems and accessories technically cannot be sent media mail. I don't see any reason why the games themselves don't fit into the post office's description though.

I still send systems media mail though when it makes sense to do so. Almost always I ship a system with some games, and if they ask what's in the box I say it's "software". Hey, they don't phrase it as "Tell me everything that is in that box, please" so I'm technically not lying to them. :)

[Anthony1]

I always say "Computer Software", if I'm ever asked, but I never go to a actualy "Real" Post Office. They are too "by the book" for me. It's better to go to a grocery store that provides mail services. They don't ever ask me anything. The Mailmain comes by once a day to pick up all their stuff.


I did get screwed one time on this Media Mail thing. I send 3 video game systems to a guy in Hawaii, to have modded, and the Post Office in Hawaii opened up the package. Then sent the guy a note that he would have to pay 14 bucks to pick up the package. They said that the video game systems don't count as Media Mail. That's the first time that ever happened to me.

Actually though, if you think about it, hardware and accessories, aren't media. They are stuff that plays the media. But games should definitely be considered media. It's entertainment software.

[y-bot]

My work recently had a Media Mail problem. We sold a large collection of National Geographic magazine on ebay and we were sending them out for a couple of weeks. One day the people at the post office we normally go to decided to open up the package and they said they couldn't be sent Media Mail because they contained advertising. 50-75 year old advertising. I was always under the impression that you couldn't send new advertising, like brochures or soem crap like that but I guess they don't want you to send magazines either. Anyway we just took them to another post office and didn't have a problem. I've sent hundreds of Media Mail packages and that was the only problem I've ever had. I usually mark them "media mail-software" or "media mail-books". You defiinitely have never been able to send video game systems via Media Mail. I'm not saying I haven't done it but it has always been against regulations. I also use reinforced strapping tape on heavy Media Mail packages and if they ever open one of those packages when I'm there they better be able to re-seal it the way I had it or there is going to be a problem.

y-bot

[nesuser2]

my PO sucks, everytime i try to.......god they nail me. the stupid lady asks me what it is.......i easily lie and say it's tapes. and she #()$*@# asks me again. i can't lie twice, it's too funny to me LOL anyways, i sold a package like that JJ, shipped in 3 boxes......$8 a box via parcel post. so maybe ask him to split it up, but the hardest part is the snes box. i sold a boxed snes on ebay for $35 BIN. quoted the guy parcel post for $20 with insurance and DC. and when i took it to the post office it was like 30 cents difference for priority....... :hmm: , Ohio to California :hmm: :hmm: :hmm:

but it was in a large box

[sisko]

Though carts are technically "firmware" most people don't realize the difference, so you can usually get by by saying "computer software.'

Like everyone has said, just don't say "video games." Its always software, or a cd, or a dvd

It all depends who you talk to really. Some people will take it, some people won't

[christianscott27]

anybody else find it a little disturbing that open up your packages? i'd figure after that antharax thing they'd just x-ray boxes. not for nothing i've known a few people who work for the PO, they're not all saints either. ever have an item lost in the mail and try and follow up on it? the process they've created is so byzantine that it seems more set up to keep you from asking than to track down lost goods. once i shipped 3 large boxes of books from my mother's house to my current home, one box went missing. it contained the complete "time life's mysteries of the unknown" series as well as several yearbooks. so i made every effort on both ends to track it down to no avail, i can see losing a postcard but a large heavy box? the cynic in me said it probably burst in handling and rather than deal with repackaging it they trashed it or the TL boxes tickled the fancy of a PO employee. in the end their paperwork combined with the "dont call us we'll call you" response made me give up.

[chadtower]

I tend to pack things as if they're going to be used for field goal kicking, so they rarely get opened and just saying books or software works fine for me. I have, however, received items several times that were shipped media mail and poorly packed, resulting in them being opened and my being charged postage due. Never very much since it's only the difference in shipping charges, but it annoys me that they would open my packages like that. I guess if you ship 5 nes carts in a manilla envelope (Had a seller do that to me), it's so easy to open that they can't resist.

[1bigmig]

i saw a sign at my PO the other day that said "we randomly open media mail packages" or something to that extent...
i think its a bunch of bullshit, but you never know..
regarless, a case can be made for video games easy.

willie

Same at my PO. I thought that there had been a ruling that mail falls under the fourth amendment and cant be opened without a warrant. Maybe this is just 1st class mail, but I fail to see the difference.

[1bigmig]

Ok, I found the answer:

4. Can Postal Inspectors open mail if they feel it may contain something illegal?
First-Class letters and parcels are protected against search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, and, as such, cannot be opened without a search warrant. If there is probable cause to believe the contents of a First-Class letter or parcel violate federal law, Postal Inspectors can obtain a search warrant to open the mailpiece. Other classes of mail do not contain private correspondence, and therefore may be opened without a warrant.

[chadtower]

Ok, I found the answer:

4. Can Postal Inspectors open mail if they feel it may contain something illegal?
First-Class letters and parcels are protected against search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, and, as such, cannot be opened without a search warrant. If there is probable cause to believe the contents of a First-Class letter or parcel violate federal law, Postal Inspectors can obtain a search warrant to open the mailpiece. Other classes of mail do not contain private correspondence, and therefore may be opened without a warrant.

Is Priority Mail first class? I always thought it was not, but I also thought that it can contain private correspondence.

[video_game_addict]

@y-bot, if you are mailing magazines, they are suppose to be sent Bound Printer Matter. There is a weight limit on BPM like 15 pounds, but for the same weight on a media mail package, it's usually cheaper to send BPM anyway! But for small lots or individual magazines you should ship BPM, for larger lots, you can break up into a couple or more, however many it takes, to keep within the 15LB per package limit, and send BPM, much cheaper than Parcel post or Priority mail, and around the same as if you shipped it out Media mail.

@jonjandran, The SYSTEM & HARDWARE is not considered media, and should not be sent media mail. The seller is doing no wrong and telling you he won't lie to the PO, and it does suck to have to pay so much, but that's not unreasonable on his part. If you were only buying a large lot of game cartridges, then YES, media mail should be allowed, even thou, some PO peeps don't think so, or know any better.

[Drexel923]

Is Priority Mail first class?

Yes it is.


I tend to pack things as if they're going to be used for field goal kicking, so they rarely get opened and just saying books or software works fine for me. I have, however, received items several times that were shipped media mail and poorly packed, resulting in them being opened and my being charged postage due. Never very much since it's only the difference in shipping charges, but it annoys me that they would open my packages like that. I guess if you ship 5 nes carts in a manilla envelope (Had a seller do that to me), it's so easy to open that they can't resist.

Same here...if anyone here has bought stuff off me, they know I pack stuff as if the mail truck is going to drag the box behind it the whole way. But like I said before, I've never had a problem with the PO.