Shipped a book for the first time in ages.
Postie (politely): What is in the box?And he added 39 cents to my postage for the cover letter.
Me: A book.
Postie: Is there anything else in the box?
Me: Just a cover letter.
Postie: We have to charge you first class for the letter. Don't worry, even with the extra 39 cents it still costs less than the other options.
Am I the only one who didn't know about this reg? I was so surprised I didn't think to ask if an invoice would be considered first-class... does anyone know?
Ms. C.
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My posties long ago told me that media mail & book rate cannot have any kind of correspondence whatsoever inside the package - and that included invoices they said - and if have anything inside other than the book or other qualifying object itself and any necessary packaging materials, the item no longer qualifes for media mail AT ALL. In other words, they wouldn't have charged an extra 39 cents for your cover letter - they would have charged you parcel post or priority mail for the entire package instead of media mail rate plus 39 cents.
That was MY posties' take on it. Others will differ, I am very certain.
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Not quite true. If you had told him that it was an invoice or packing slip he should have let it go.
4.4 Invoice
An invoice, whether it also serves as a bill, may be placed either inside a Media Mail piece or in an envelope marked "Invoice Enclosed" and attached to the outside of the piece if the invoice relates solely to the matter with which it is mailed. The invoice may show this information:
a. Names and addresses of the sender and addressee.
b. Names and quantities of the articles enclosed, descriptions of each (e.g., price, tax, style, stock number, size, and quality, and, if defective, nature of defects).
c. Order or file number, date of order, date and manner of shipment, shipping weight, postage paid, and initials or name of packer or checker.
4.5 Incidental First-Class Attachments and Enclosures
Incidental First-Class matter may be enclosed in or attached to any Media Mail piece without payment of First-Class postage. An incidental First-Class attachment or enclosure must be matter that, if mailed separately, would require First-Class postage, is closely associated with but secondary to the host piece, and is prepared so as not to interfere with postal processing. An incidental First-Class attachment or enclosure may be a bill for the product or publication, a statement of account for past products or publications, or a personal message or greeting included with a product, publication, or parcel. Postage at the Package Services rate for the host piece is based on the combined weight of the host piece and the incidental First-Class attachment or enclosure.
http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/173.htm#wp1060540
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Originally Posted by likearock Not quite true. If you had told him that it was an invoice or packing slip he should have let it go.
http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/173.htm#wp1060540
I know, but he "Knew Best"
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I have to agree with likearock. Ask him about all those Amazon books coming through with invoices or the Barnes and Noble packages with books in them then show him/her the reference and ask for your 39 cents back!
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I used an empty envelope once as a label for a package.
They said because it was a "whole" envelope, they assumed there was a letter inside and charged me for a stamp.
He said if I had cut the envelope and used just the front it would be considered a label.
The exception: if it's a flat rate package.
I just assumed he was right.
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Thank you everyone for the replies. Based on 4.5 I guess the USPS owes me 39 cents. (And I'm SURE they'll refund me with no questions or hassles... )
More importantly, we should be able to include invoices/statements/packing slips with our Media Mail after all. I'll be sure to take a copy of the regulations with me whenever I go. (Thanks for the link, likearock.)
Ms. C.