Discover the Secrets of Media Mail - eBay for Beginners Shipping Series Episode 3
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- This is the third in a series of eBay shipping tutorials. In this episode we cover the 10 things you need to know about Media Mail.
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Awesome as usual. I am very appreciative that you’re a person willing to teach others because I learn something from you every single time
Thank you so much!
Reading comments under your videos, I'm not alone in expressing gratitude for your channel and your willingness to share what you've learned to help others reach their goals. Educating is clearly in your DNA. I also love what's implied with your channel: There's enough for everyone. This is truly what sets you apart. Your specificity, combined with the hands-on knowledge in every video - including where to find great resale items - is a testament to the people you and Melody are! Also, I spotted you wearing an Iron Maiden shirt, so if nothing else, that's enough reason for you to be my UA-cam hero!
Such a kind and thoughtful comment. I want to tell you that it's genuinely appreciated, but that sounds so canned. But I truly do. Thank you.
Thanks Scot! I did not realize it was that slow or the possible rough handling 😬 I’ve only shipped one item media mail so far but I think from now on, I’ll give them another option as well.
Especially around the holidays.
I’ve been selling online since 1999 and I still learn new things from your how-to videos, Scott (or remember things I probably forgot). I always hesitate to add multiple shipping options to ebay listings as ebay shows prospective buyers only the highest priced shipping option available with search results and on the item listings. Buyers in my experience pass over listings where the shipping price shown is higher than comparable items available unless they actually go deeper into the description and notice the seller says alternative shipping services are available at checkout. What do you think about my concern?
It's a valid concern. I don't add a second option very often. For me, if it's valuable enough to warrant shipping it Priority Mail, I just make that the option anyway. The only time I add an option is for things that I would normally ship via Media Mail at the holidays or if a customer asks me to.
Lol, the principal has spoken, let it be so "if there's a rule, you should follow it!" Actually shocked you can't put a business card in there, some people have a business thank you card, but not surprised that they may look into make sure that you are shipping properly. This protects the shipper's bottom line as they could make more if the seller had shipped correctly rather than cheaper. As always, great video Scot!
:-) Thank you!
Thank U Scot! Valuable info! Had no idea about the business card thing great to know! Thank U4 all U do! In my opinion you R one of the Very best teachers in the community! Keep the videos coming!We can all use the help! Thx again!🤩😍
Thank you so very much for the kind words. :-)
A few months ago, I ordered a book from an eBay seller. When it arrived, there was a note from the post office that said that it was opened and inspected to make sure that was indeed a book. I was shocked!
Oh wow. Good for the seller that they were doing what they said. LOL
Hadn't thought about not adding a business card, great reminder and great video overall as usual, Scott. Thank you.
Thank you for the great information.
Thank you for sharing!!!
Thank you so much! I appreciate your videos. I am a new subscriber here and working on starting selling in ebay. Shipping kinda confused me. These shipping videos will tremendously help me
These aren't the kind of videos that get very popular. But I do think people will find them helpful. At least that's my hope.
Thanks! I have a couple of dvds I plan on listing that had inserts in them for other products. I’ll be sure to remove those so I don’t violate the “no advertising” rule.
Probably a safe idea.
What a great video. Thank you so much for this info!
You are so welcome!
Great stuff thank you!
I appreciate you watching!
Great information! I haven’t needed to use media mail but one never knows! I am surprised to hear about, for instance, magazines with advertising. I’m not sure why that would disqualify an item. But I’m glad I don’t have to worry about it at this time! Thanks! Blessings!
For a long time, advertising was exceptionally limited in educational environments. Since so much of this was tied to education, any advertising became an immediate disqualification. For what it's worth, that's what I think.
@@TheChaChingKing Good to know!
Thank you as always ❤
Thank you!
Thanks Scot!🕺
I appreciate you!
Thank you for all the useful tips! Is there packaging to use for media mail?
There aren't any supplies from USPS for media mail. You have to supply your own. :-)
Another wonderful informative video! Would you ever include a video explaining the "shipping policies" options that eBay has recently added? I know they are supposed to make shipping options easier but I was used to the old interface. Now I am lost in a list of policies that I don't think I created and I can't find the place where I can actually see and compare the costs of various shipping options when I list an item.
I can try and include that. It's already time update my listing video.
I don't think the policies made any of this easier
I'm thinking about adding books to my store. I was researching the shipping and came across your video. Full of valuable infornation, thank you! My one question can we use packing material to keep the books from bouncing around and being damaged in transit?
Thank you so much! And, YES, you can absolutely use packing material as long as it doesn't contain advertisements.
Items with advertisements in them ARE eligible, if the intent is not to advertise. The primary reason for the shipment is to be the media, rather than the advertisement. Business cards are no problem also, and invoices are also fine, as long as the media is the primary item. Comic books are fine, as are magazines that have advertisements in them, if the intent is the media.
The worst that could happen is they return the item as "not media". Games are prohibited, even if shipped with other dvd's.
I'm not sure where you are getting your information, but according to the Post Office, it's incorrect. If you could show where items with advertisements are permitted or that comic books are fine, please point me to it. It literally says the opposite on the USPS website. There's no way I'm recommending that anyone doesn't follow the media mail rules even if they feel like the consequences aren't severe. I'm going to have to go with what the USPS has to say about this.
"Media Mail packages may not contain advertising. Comic books do not meet this standard. Books may contain incidental announcements of other books and sound recordings may contain incidental announcements of other sound recordings. In accordance with standards in the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), Section 170, Media Mail packages must have a delivery address and the sender’s return address and are subject to inspection by the Postal Service™. Upon such inspection, matter not eligible for the Media Mail rate may be assessed at the proper price and sent to the recipient postage due, or the sender may be contacted for additional postage."
and again here...
"Crossword puzzles, pattern books, poster books, iron-on transfer books, and cut-out books which do not consist of reading matter as well as publications containing advertising are not acceptable in the mails at the Media Mail rate of postage."
I believe that the location isn't figured in the price. There are postal clerks that are ignorant about this as well.
What about posters? Like art prints?
This is actually a really interesting question. Many posters would not qualify because they have print on them with the printer's name and such. Most of them are not educational. But if the art print has not been part of a recent exhibition, has no print on it advertising the printing company, and is educationally-related, it could qualify. Great question without a strict YES or NO answer.
You didn’t mention that video games including PC software games are not eligible for media mail. I don’t agree with that because games do include videos and educational materials but I digress. Thanks Scott.
Yeah, I couldn't possibly mention everything that doesn't qualify. So many games have in-game ads that I guess that's why they don't qualify. Still, there are a lot of games that should. Some games were created for the sole purpose of being educational. Oregon Trail, for example.
Are DVD movies an option for media mail? How does media mail compare to ground
As long as the DVD don't include commercials, they are OK. Media Mail is similar to ground in my experience.
What about the all important TRACKING for media mail? Is it tracked.?
Found out -- yes it does
I didn't get a chance to respond until tonight. 😆 You are, of course, correct. It does have tracking.
Can you sell action figures and collectibles like Pokémon and that with media mail?
No, they would not qualify for media mail.
Old yearbooks usually have old advertising. Does that mean they can't be shipped media mail even though the companies no longer exist?
That's correct. Yearbooks do not qualify. I agree with you, however. A 1925 yearbook has far more educational value than it does as an advertisement. But it technically does not qualify.
@@TheChaChingKing thanks for your reply! I agree with you!
I know the rules but when I have magazines to sell, buyers don't understand that they cant be shipped media mail. Many sellers use media mail to ship lots of ephemera and buyers expect it. So frustrating! As always, great info!
You're not wrong. The people bending/breaking the rules affect all of us.
@@TheChaChingKing So you can't ship Ephemera under Media Mail?
If the ephemera doesn't include any advertising you possibly could. But not like a newspaper because it's full of advertising
@@TheChaChingKing Good to know. Thank you
Question? I see many books selling for under $4 with FREE shipping. I checked and if I want to sell the same book (using one example), it would cost me $3.92 to ship it to an address in my area. How do they make money on books selling them for that low price? I'm assuming they got the books for free, but there's still the cost of shipping plus packaging. Any idea?
They MUST have some kind of special shipping rate. I wish I could tell you how they make ANY profit at it at all, but I can't. You and I couldn't afford a poly mailer to ship the book in. Especially when you consider that eBay is still going to get their percentage. I am just not sure how they do it.
Can you put it in any package or is there a specific package?
It has to fit those size dimensions, but it doesn't have to be a specific envelope.
@@TheChaChingKing wow! I didn’t expect a response from the king himself. 🫡 thanks!
Can you mail sewing patterns?
Setting patterns, unless specifically created for a classroom, probably wouldn't qualify.
How do they do sell books for 3 something$ and free shipping. Postage eats it up
I wish I could answer that, but I can't. The math doesn't work out for me.
Strange question maybe. If I were to create my own magazine type item that has no types of advertisements, and totally handcrafted. Would it be capable of being shipped with media mail?
Hmmmm...I don't think so. I don't think it would qualify unless it was educational. I usually default to items that are truly educational if it's a gray area. This one is truly a great area for me.
@@TheChaChingKing Thank you
where do graphic novels fall within these guidelines
Most graphic novels are FULL of advertisements and do not qualify for Media Mail.
Almost forgot...how do you add more than one option for shipping? I heard you mention it, but it didn't click...then I read the comments and others were talking about it too. I am too wet behind the ears in the process, I thought you could only pick one method after you got past the rules of first class versus priority -OR- if it qualified for media mail and that it was best to make it the cheapest deal from there
When you add shipping to your listing, you should see a choice to "add shipping option" or something close to that. I'll try to address it when I update my next listing video.
I add this to my description:
“Ships via USPS Media Mail using protective packaging. Media Mail is the least expensive way to ship books and may take up to two weeks for delivery (a tracking number is provided). If you prefer, Priority Mail is faster and may be chosen at checkout.”
That's terrific
Does vhs tapes qualify for media mail? I’m getting two different answers at my post office one person is saying yes it qualifies then a difference person there is saying no it doesn’t qualify
Black VHS qualifies. VHS tapes that are strictly educational can count. Anything that serves a purpose other than education does not qualify. :-) Hope that helps.
Wait… You mean it’s not for those fiesta ware dishes that are 40 pounds? Ha ha ha I am only joking I would never do that… Again,….. no seriously I would never do that.
Lol...never
Hey Mr. King thank you for the shipping vids i love them i used to ship only with priority and first class because i was too scared to ship with anything else since I didn’t know what it meant. Will we ever get a guide on shipping things with batteries? I feel like its a very confusing topic for us newer sellers. Thanks and have a blessed day
I'm planning on doing a ground shipping with UPS. I'll touch on batteries then. I'll probably mention it again when I cover USPS Parcel Select.
Great info as always. Thank you!
Thanks so much
You didn’t mention that video games including PC software games are not eligible for media mail. I don’t agree with that because games do include videos and educational materials but I digress. Thanks Scott.