If you regularly mail items, then you should be looking for the best way to get them there for the best price. In some cases, Media Mail is the right choice. Keep reading for all the details on how Media Mail works and how it could save you money. If you are in need of renting a mailing machine, contact Square One Business Machines at (972) 370-3664 to get started.
Media Mail is Made for Shipping Educational Materials
The United States Postal Service came up with Media Mail to be a practical – and affordable – solution to issues that existed with shipping education materials. However, today it can be complicated to determine what they mean by “educational materials.”
According to the USPS, they consider educational materials to be books, videos, DVDs, CDs, printed music, and additional types of sound recordings. That might seem simple on the surface, but think of all the gray areas. For example, do blank cassettes? They do not count. Likewise, a comic book, magazine or other periodical with ads does not qualify for Media Mail shipping.
Does this sound confusing? It does not end there – there are other rules and restrictions that can apply. However, if you ship a lot, then the savings you would experience by using Media Mail can make it well worth learning these exceptions and rules.
Media Mail Was Once Referred to as “Book Rates”
Many people believe that Media Mail is a relatively new option but the truth is that it was introduced in 1938 – though it was called Book Rates then. The purpose was to encourage people and companies to send educational materials through the mail. Now that the way we share info has evolved, so have the things that qualify under Media Mail.
Media Mail Can Be Inspected
Unlike other types of mail, Media Mail shipping can be opened and inspected. This means that every time you send something via Media Mail, you are consenting to have it opened and inspected at any point along the route. If what you are shipping is not allowed to be shipped via Media Mail, then you could potentially face mail fraud charges. However, the more likely outcome is that your customer would end up charged for Priority Mail rates in order to get their item.
If you are interested in learning more about the solutions to today’s postal issues, then we urge you to contact Square One Business Machines at (972) 370-3664. We have the experience and knowledge to help you find exactly what would work best for your company.
