Question
Mom called me last night.
She had mailed me a magazine she thought I would be interested in reading.
Mailed in a manillia envelope, she asked for 'book rate' in shipping it to me.
The postal clerk told her she couldn't mail it 'book rate/media' as the magazine had advertising in it. (Show me one magazine that DOESN'T!)
Was she given the 'con', or can one REALLY not mail Country Living due to advertising at book/media rate?
(I don't ship books/magazines, so I really haven't a clue.)
Thanks in advance.
Answer
Magazines, or anything with advertising in it, can go Bound Printed Matter, which is almost as cheap as Media Mail. The problem with BPM is that if it is undeliverable for any reason they do not return it, they trash it. Some say if you write "return Postage Guaranteed" on the front they will send it back.
Media Mail is for books. Bound Printed Matter for magazines.
Answer
Thanks, Likearock.
Didn't know that.
Answer
What likearock said.
I did some rough calculations once of the difference in price and generally the BPM rate is slightly less than 1.5 times the Media mail rate. But still often only half the price of Priority, even if you can use a flat rate envelope.
I believe that Media mail and BPM both have the same risk of being trashed if undeliverable. Sometimes they do come back though, always postage due....
Elaine
Answer
I was told by a clerk at my Post Office that magazines do not qualify for either one... they must be sent Parcel Post, first class, or Priority. Well, according to what I read in their manual ~ 90% imprinted, contain advertising, permanently bound by staples, yada,yada ~ they most certainly do qualify for BPM, so that's how I mail mine.
Answer
I am a bad person. I regularly send magazines and catalogs-old ones, not within the last 20 years- by Media Mail.
And tell the clerks too!
So far, in 3 cities and 2 states, not one clerk has said they are a no no.
Gotta love the post office!
Answer
I heard somewhere that if they were so old, they would qualify for Media, as the advertising is no good anyway. But I have no idea where I heard/read that. Yes, the postal workers are something! I have made them go look up information while I'm there a couple times! If I have anything questionable in my mind, I research it before I go, cuz I sure am not taking their word for anything! Ya ask one clerk, who asks the next, who asks the next... who has to go get the supervisor, cuz no two of them can agree... That thing about tape on flat rate pri envelopes was a real kicker... I printed out the bit from their site that says you can, as long as it doesn't interfere with the intended working of the envy or some such... cuz if I put a piece of tape on one, I invariably get the one hag who nitpicks every teensy thing... and has such a know-it-all attitude! Oh, she was ticked when I handed her the printout that said I could tape it...
Answer
One thing to keep in mind K, is that bookrate doesn't get returned to sender if a mailing mishap occurs. Unless, it is stated on the outside of the package. She could have gone First Class... likely just as cheap or close.
Answer
Originally Posted by Empires
... She could have gone First Class... likely just as cheap or close.
Have you weighed one of those magazines? They usually run about a pound apiece.
Answer
One good (or bad, sometimes) aspect of BPM is that the rate varies at less than one pound intervals.