In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt passed a proclamation lowering the postage cost for shipping books through the mail. America Postal Service implemented this “book rate” to incentivize residents and organizations to send books to at least one one other and increase the circulation of educational materials throughout the states. A long time later, this United States Postal Service program stays intact, having morphed into what’s now often called Media Mail.
For those who run an academic nonprofit or ecommerce store, it could make a serious difference to your bottom line to have a cheap technique to distribute your materials. Media Mail will be the budget-friendly shipping option you’ve been on the lookout for. Here’s what you possibly can and might’t send as Media Mail packages, and the packaging rules to recollect.
What’s Media Mail?
Media Mail is a shipping service offered by the USPS specifically for sending educational materials and media items at lower rates than standard shipping options. Individuals and organizations within the US can send books, manuscripts, and even recordings like CDs and tapes at reduced Media Mail prices, starting at $4.13 for a package weighing up to at least one pound.
The Postal Service reserves the appropriate to open and inspect any Media Mail package at any point through the shipping process. In the event that they find non-qualifying items, the Postal Service charges the recipient or sender the extra postage.
Pros and cons of Media Mail
The first advantage of sending Media Mail is the reduced postage cost for books or other media items, though the service also includes free tracking and optional signature confirmation for an extra fee of $4.15 if paid in person at a post office, or $3.50 if paid online.
Alternatively, shipping times for Media Mail range from two to eight business days. In case your shipment needs to reach sooner, chances are you’ll have to explore other shipping options. Media Mail is designed primarily for shipping books, so the packages often undergo rougher handling, making this service less suitable for fragile items. You might also resolve to pay so as to add insurance.
What could be shipped with Media Mail?
The Postal Service only allows select items to be shipped through Media Mail. Listed below are examples of eligible educational materials:
Books
USPS Media Mail was initially created to assist people ship books by mail, and books remain at its core. If the books you’re mailing are no less than eight pages long and contain no advertisements, Media Mail is a reasonable shipping option. Magazines and comic books are ineligible, since they typically contain advertisements.
Printed music
Printed music includes lyrics, chord charts, lead sheets, songbooks, and sheet music for anything from children’s singalongs to orchestral scores.
Sound and video recordings
Media Mail helps you to ship vinyl records, cassette tapes, and CDs, in addition to video recordings like DVDs, recorded video tapes, and film reels which might be 16 mm or narrower. Although you possibly can ship computer-readable media like CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs via Media Mail, digital drives and computer drives with sound and video recordings should not permitted.
Medical information
Loose-leaf pages in binders for medical schools and hospitals are permitted. Medical students and professionals who use Media Mail often benefit from the reduced shipping rates to send medical educational materials.
What can’t be shipped with Media Mail?
Listed below are some examples of things the USPS doesn’t allow sent through Media Mail:
Promoting materials
The USPS prohibits sending promoting materials in any form through Media Mail, including catalogs, brochures, newsletters, and other junk mail advertisements. The Postal Service inspects Media Mail packages repeatedly and might flag items that include something so simple as a promotional pamphlet. To avoid incurring extra fees, exclude any marketing materials in your shipments when using the Media Mail shipping program.
Video games and board games
America Postal Service characterizes video games and board games as “primarily for entertainment,” saying “they don’t serve the identical purpose as books, movies, or other qualifying Media Mail.” This rule applies to any game, whatever the medium (cartridges, discs, cards) or educational intent.
Personal notes
Invoices and media instructions can accompany educational products shipped through Media Mail, but personal notes and cards are prohibited. If it’s essential send personal correspondence related to your media, send it individually through one other method.
Computer drives
Computer drives and digital drives like USBs are also prohibited, no matter their educational content. The USPS prohibits some of these items because they’re complicated to manage and inspect.
Blank media
For educational materials to be eligible for Media Mail, they need to include informational content; they’ll’t be empty workbooks or journals. Notebooks, crossword puzzle books, calendars, and coloring books should not eligible for Media Mail.
Packaging rules for shipping with Media Mail
Before sending your first package with this service, be sure you understand all of the Media Mail rules and restrictions, including:
Size restrictions
The combined length, width, and height of a Media Mail package can measure as much as 108 inches.
Weight restrictions
Media Mail packages can weigh as much as 70 kilos, the utmost weight for any USPS package. In case your package is heavier than 70 kilos, consider shipping it with corporations like FedEx and UPS, which supply shipping for packages that weigh as much as 150 kilos. Note that lighter packages under eight ounces can cost more with Media Mail than other shipping methods like First Class.
Content requirements
Educational books, audio and video recordings, printed music, manuscripts, and medical information are the one items eligible for Media Mail. To benefit from the pricing structure, send personal notes or promoting materials individually. Nevertheless, packaging materials like bubble wrap and packing peanuts are allowed (and obligatory for items that may easily break, like vinyl records or CDs).
Packaging requirements
Media Mail parcels require standard packaging without branding. If your organization relies on branded packaging with a definite logo or design, Media Mail is probably going not the very best shipping option for you.
Geographic boundaries
Media Mail is simply viable for shipping educational products inside america.
Right to examine
The USPS can conduct a postal inspection of any Media Mail shipment. It reserves the appropriate to open packages and examine their contents, so follow the Media Mail rules and restrictions closely and check the official USPS website for updates.
What’s Media Mail FAQ
What’s the difference between Media Mail and regular mail?
Media Mail rates offer cost savings over regular mail but include longer delivery times and strict content restrictions—including no ads or personal notes—to make sure packages contain only qualifying educational materials. Regular inspections implement these rules.
Is Media Mail available for international shipments?
No, Media Mail will not be available for international shipments. Media Mail is a domestic service offered by america Postal Service and is obtainable just for packages shipped to and from america.
When do you have to use Media Mail as an alternative of USPS First Class?
Use Media Mail to ship books, recordings, and manuscripts cost-effectively. Ideal for non-urgent deliveries, it typically takes between two and eight business days in your packages to achieve their destinations. You will need to personally drop off packages weighing as much as 70 kilos at a post office.
