deimos3428 wrote:Guys, chill.
Aneoth wrote:Hey folks. Here is an update on the highest shipping rates on E-Bay and in I think anywhere this side of the moon.After winning a couple of additional stray listings after the initial auctions from my posts above: Here is the total invoice now due, for all of the items I had bid on before I knew what he meant by combining shipping costs..........Item # Item Title Qty. Price 5945289380 AD&D Al-Qadim Lot - All NEW 1 US $46.00 5945286772 DRAGONS - Valor & Snarl 1 US $10.50 5945246088 Mark of Amber - Audio CD Adventure 1 US $5.00 5945245345 AD&D Red Steel - 2 boxed sets NEW 1 US $20.50 5945244078 AD&D Tomes - The Rod of Seven Parts 1 US $20.55 Subtotal: US $102.55 Shipping and handling via US Postal Service Media Mail: US $43.50 8O Total: US $146.05Aa an answer to my last E-Mail to him he gave me a phone number for at his store. I have called the number several times in the past few days with no answer. He stated that his hours at the store are from 10 AM to 10 PM mountain time.
Aneoth wrote:5945289380 AD&D Al-Qadim Lot - All NEW 1 US $46.00 5945286772 DRAGONS - Valor & Snarl 1 US $10.50 5945246088 Mark of Amber - Audio CD Adventure 1 US $5.00 5945245345 AD&D Red Steel - 2 boxed sets NEW 1 US $20.50 5945244078 AD&D Tomes - The Rod of Seven Parts 1 US $20.55 Subtotal: US $102.55 Shipping and handling via US Postal Service Media Mail: US $43.50 8O Total: US $146.05
Aneoth wrote:He returned an E-Mail today and I learned that the shop is closed on Mondays, so that is why no answer on the phone. He did not tell me in his previous E-Mail that his store would be closed on Monday.It was not JUST the shipping costs alone that tick me off here, though they are indeed ludicrous by themselves. He states in all of the listings and in all of the invoices sent to me that he ships using parcel post, then says in the SAME invoice that the items will be sent out by Media Mail. They are most certainly not the same things. Also, he stated to me BEFORE I bid on multiple items of his that he would combine shipping costs........and lower costs considerably. Admittedly his idea of considerable is far from my own.
Aneoth wrote:So apparently they are NOT the same thing......
beyondthebreach wrote:About Media Mail vs. Parcel Post: They "are" and "are not" the same thing. Everyone is right. As Badmike said: They are the same in the respect that Media Mail is Parcel Post for "Media". They are handled, treated and shipped the same way the by the USPS. The only difference is the rate structure which is much less.What that means is that: If someone is unaware and is intending to send books by Parcel Post, they are essentially sending it Media Mail, but paying the Parcel Post rate. In all situations where this has arisen, I have explained it to the seller and they have agreed to send it Media Mail.
Badmike wrote:I can say from experience that from hundreds and hundreds of mailings, I've never had the contents of a box opened although I have been asked on numerous occassions "What is the contents?" or "Are there books inside?" when requesting media mail over parcel post.
Xaxaxe wrote:Badmike wrote:I can say from experience that from hundreds and hundreds of mailings, I've never had the contents of a box opened although I have been asked on numerous occassions "What is the contents?" or "Are there books inside?" when requesting media mail over parcel post.I've actually been experiencing a surge of media mail resentment with some postal employees lately, including a number of packages being opened and inspected. Also, has anyone else seen new media mail signage in their local post offices? I've seen a number of signs lately that say [paraphrasing]: "We reserve the right to inspect ANY media mail package." The signs I'm talking about have red lettering on a white background.Also, does anyone else sell comic books? Now, THAT is always an interesting discussion to have with a bored P.O. employee. Are they or aren't they media mail? What about if they're from the '70s and all of the advertising is obviously totally outdated? I've gotten MULTIPLE answers to these questions; it depends on who I'm talking to ...I actually don't mean to sound down on media mail. It's a wonderful (and cheap!) service, provided both buyer and seller are in agreement about using it. It just seems that some of my local USPS employees are beginning to suspect that a lot of eBay sellers are S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G the boundaries of what is an acceptable item. Has anyone else noticed any backlash ... ?
burntwire wrote:The other day I tried to ship some magazines via media mail. The mail clerk told me you can't send items via media mail if they have advertisements. So apparently comic books can't be sent media mail.
Xaxaxe wrote:I've actually been experiencing a surge of media mail resentment with some postal employees lately, including a number of packages being opened and inspected. Also, has anyone else seen new media mail signage in their local post offices? I've seen a number of signs lately that say [paraphrasing]: "We reserve the right to inspect ANY media mail package." The signs I'm talking about have red lettering on a white background.
Badmike wrote:Anyway, thanks for letting me rant, as a loyal USPS customer for many years (Even though their policies make no sense and their supervisors are the worst for any business I've ever dealt with), and friend of many of the overworked and underpayed counter help, I felt I had to get that off my chance and illuminate why the postal cops are starting to finally open media mail packages and enforce the restrictions, it took them years to realize how much money they were losing with their dumb priority policies.
beyondthebreach wrote:burntwire wrote:The other day I tried to ship some magazines via media mail. The mail clerk told me you can't send items via media mail if they have advertisements. So apparently comic books can't be sent media mail.The question is: Is advertising that is no longer applicable still advertising? It is probably an issue that the Post Office does not have an answer for. If you send a Comic that is 30 years old, the adds are no longer relevant. It is a collector's item at this point. The advertising restriction is intended to prevent soliciting and marketing of products while using media mail as the shipping method (If they didn't put this restriction, then a magazine company could ship using media mail as could a catalog company, etc.)That is what the intent is - whether or not it is clearly defined whether something is no longer subject to the advertising restriction after a given period of time is probably not know to anyone - including whoever makes the rules at the USPS. Incidentally, many novels contain advertising as well - just grab a paperback fantasy novel and flip to the last few pages. . . many advertise for other novels by the same author/publishing company. Same as many hardcover RPG books. Technically, many items don't qualify for media mail with the advertising caveat. . . that is why you should never ask a postal employee anything. . . just interpret the rules yourself and everything will go a lot smoother.