eBay video game shipping

[Zadoc]

Grrrrrrrr!!!!!!!! I hate it when sellers don't use Media Mail!

[kevin_psx]

Um. Okay. Why this sudden outburst? Got a link to an auction?

Media or Priority - don't care - as long as they don't charge $7 with $1 DC fee and $2 mandatory insurance

[roxybaby]

I use priority mail on my sales, otherwise after three days I get an email from the buyer asking where their items are. But if someone asked for media mail, I suppose I would send it that way.

[johno590]

I think media mail is kinda stupid... takes forever and really isn't that big of a difference in price.

It costs 1.06 to ship a regular video game cart (snes, nes, genesis, etc) via First Class, I realy don't understand why people charge 6 dollars for shipping....

[Darth Sensei]

If I'm not mistaken, VG's aren't allowed to go Media Mail and also, you can't get delivery confirmation.

[suppafly]

If I'm not mistaken, VG's aren't allowed to go Media Mail and also, you can't get delivery confirmation.

thats right!

[Xizer]

Let's see: Do I want Media Mail for about $1.00, and have to wait 2 weeks, or do I want Priority Mail for about $3.00, with delivery confirmation, and have my package arrive in 2 to 3 days?

I THINK I'LL GO WITH PRIORITY MAIL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I remember the last time I bought something with media mail shipping... *shudder*

[Griking]

If I'm not mistaken, VG's aren't allowed to go Media Mail and also, you can't get delivery confirmation.

Who told you this? I've personally shipped via media mail w/ delivery confirmation before. Also, my local post office knows that I buy and sell a tin of videogames and they NEVER gave me a problem about shipping videogames via media mail. I suppose each post office must have their own policies.

[kevin_psx]

If I'm not mistaken, VG's aren't allowed to go Media Mail and also, you can't get delivery confirmation.

DVD/CD games can use media mail. Use it all the time.

Cartridges can not.

[jdchess]

Actually media mail is restricted to digital media that is to be used for "educational" purposes. I believe it was originally set up as a way for educational institutions such as universities to be able to send media for a very low cost. The problem is in proving what is "educational material" and what is not. The PO does have the right to open and inspect anything that is sent Media Mail and refuse to send it if they feel it does not meet the requirements, but I can't imagine someone taking the time to actually do that.

Anyway...technically, you're not supposed to send a VG media mail...unless of course you are conducting a study involving hand-to-eye coordination research x_x 8-)

[Zadoc]

I have always sent video games via media mail. Digital Media counts as media. So do magazines, news papers, DVDs and CDs.

From USPS.com:



Small and large packages, thick envelopes, and tubes can be sent using Media Mail. Contents are limited to books, film, manuscripts, sound recordings, video tapes, and puter media (such as CDs, DVDs, and diskettes).

[tylerwillis]

My post office has refused video games through media mail. As quoted above - it's supposed to be for educational purposes and has been abused.

In any case, the post office seems to lose media mail packages more often than than the other services.

[kevin_psx]

Where'd the educational part come from? My post office has a sign - "What's media mail?"

"Books"
"Records, tapes, cds"
"Videocassettes, dvds"

"May not include advertising such as magazines." Says nothing about educational purposes.

[Kitsune Sniper]

I use Priority because I have to buy boxes to ship stuff through Media Mail, and often the cost is the same. So I just go with Priority, since I get a free box and half the shipping time.

Not to mention, Media Mail packages often get crushed, squished, ripped, torn and / or broken.

[XianXi]

Media mail to hawaii takes longer than a month sometimes. I won a broken SP off ebay for $3 so I could use the light screen for my NGPC(Yes it works, just like I thought it would) I asked them to ship it Priority mail and they said OK since they charged me $8 for shipping. So the lady ships it then the husbands tells me "My wife sent it media mail since there was no difference in time on the computer"

Long story short they shipped it on 10/13/05 and it arrived at my door on 11/28/05.

Bastards. At least they refunded my money for their mistake.

[kevin_psx]

Actually media mail is restricted to digital media that is to be used for "educational" purposes.

QUOTE USPS.com: "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."


Aren't game cartridges "recorded computer-readable media"?

[Kitsune Sniper]

Actually media mail is restricted to digital media that is to be used for "educational" purposes.

QUOTE USPS.com: "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."


Aren't game cartridges "recorded computer-readable media"?

I don't think so. My local post office has a notice that game carts cannot be shipped via Media Mail.

[jdchess]

It was my mistake in using the word "digital." I meant to only say media...not digital media. Everything else I stated regarding media mail is still correct. I apologize. :/ 8-)

[XianXi]

Honestly you can ship anything media mail, they dont open it.

Just like how it is illegal to send porn through USPS but people do it.

[johno590]

I don't think so. My local post office has a notice that game carts cannot be shipped via Media Mail.

All you have to do then is say you are shipping a CD or dvd. Like others have said its not like they will open it up.

[scooby105]

Lots of post offices open every single package you want to ship via media mail. They've usually got a sign saying they have a right to open and inspect media mail packages.

[jdchess]

Lots of post offices open every single package you want to ship via media mail. They've usually got a sign saying they have a right to open and inspect media mail packages.

Very true...

[kevin_psx]

My post office only opens "suspicious" stuff. Carts feel like DVDs - my office doesn't inspect them. But once I shipped & the postmaster heard a rattling so he opened it & found the DVD. Plus a piece of loose plastic.

He refused to ship.

Had to drive to the office - take the plastic & throw it in the trash - then he agreed to ship the DVD.

[tylerwillis]

Lots of post offices open every single package you want to ship via media mail. They've usually got a sign saying they have a right to open and inspect media mail packages.

Yeah, and if you notice - some of the media mail stampings say "subject to inspection" or something like that.

[rpepper9]

Let's see: Do I want Media Mail for about $1.00, and have to wait 2 weeks, or do I want Priority Mail for about $3.00, with delivery confirmation, and have my package arrive in 2 to 3 days?

I THINK I'LL GO WITH PRIORITY MAIL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I remember the last time I bought something with media mail shipping... *shudder*

Priority Mail is at least 3.85, and going up soon. Still worth it! :D My post office makes you either come in with media mail open so they can inspect it at the time of sending or they will open it up before they will even weigh it. Not worth the extra time and effort to save a bit of money.

[kevin_psx]

1st class is good - only $1.24 for most DVDs & ship in 3-4 days time.