What everyone who is upset about this should do!!
Wrap your media mail REALLY GOOD... if you put that little item in 10-12 sucessively larger boxes and use a roll of tape to seal it all up, get the picture?
IF enough people will do this USPS will drop this nonsense pretty fast.
I ship books that I sell on eBay via media mail, and for fear of dampness, I wrap the holy hell out of 'em. (I warn the buyers that they'll have to go through several layers of plastic.) They're usually inside six or seven plastic bags, then a gallon Ziploc, and then the box. Now I'll get to put tape around each layer.
I don't understand. What is media mail? Books? CDs? What?
Ping!
Yo PJ, whatcha think of this?
(steely)
UPS ping. Cheaper as well.
Before long the USPS won't have anything to do but go to union meetings.
Our tax dollars at work....
Are we talking about Second Class Mail here? the rate for periodicals?
Considering the amount of mail the post office delivers I think this is hog wash. However, I send a email to someone with pretty good knowledge within USPS and will post his reply here....
Pinging the wife unit since she sells some of her used books on eBay and half.com, and ships them Media Mail. The rates are actually quite reasonable and we've never had any trouble with the USPS.
}:-)4
A postal clerk I spoke to the other day said that when using media mail, we can't even include an invoice. I'm hoping that's wrong. I buy and sell books on eBay and amazon, and we need to include invoices. Sounds like they just want us to use the higher rates. (I do sometimes anyway, especially for rare books.)
I'd be worried about getting an empty envelope mailed to me. "Hmm! I like this book. Ummm! I need to set this aside to investigate in my spare time. Reseal the envelope and send it on its way."
"The USPS latest News releases are strangely silent about this new invasion of people's privacy."
I am not sure there is any expectation of privacy shipping packages through the mail. The Postal Service has some fairly broad powers to open and inspect an awful lot of things, including UPS and FEDEx overnight packages in fedex and UPS facilities. This was actually done several years ago, though the backlash was sharp and the rule was not invoked again.
Just 15 minutes ago I picked up a package from a friend that had "Media Mail" stamped on it -- I had never heard this term before -- and sure enough, it had been opened -- part of the wrapping was ripped. So I am here to verify your story. Also proves you can get all the news you need at FR.
When I got mine that was wrapped like this it came in a clear plastic bag and a note from customs that the package was unwrapped. They do not re-wrap.
This is just plain stupid. The local post office counter has been closed to the public in my Zip Code for about a year. Said they couldn't afford to keep it open. They already are only open 9-4, so anyone who works has a tough time getting there to handle any mailings they have.
This sounds like a push to get the public to pay more for other rate categories. Any way we look at it, they are violating my privacy with opening things, and items coming up missing. What insurance can be obtained on media mail rate?
Seems like the USPS has been going backward for quite some time. Whoever thought of this has a screw loose. If they want to x-ray or something because they are suspicious, that is entirely different from OPENING EVERY media mail item.
I sent a payment by priority mail a couple of weeks ago and was informed they wouldn't take it unless I had my return address on it. I am lazy about doing that. I was informed they would hold it up and open it and return it to me if I didn't put a return address on it. As you can expect, I was paying $3.85 to send a payment that was borderline late. Now they will hold it, open it, and return it????? Then it will really be late, and they will have gotten my $3.85. Arrongance, pure arrogance.
I don't trust the USPS - they've lost one too many important messages for me to use them at all.
I think this is true because when I printed out a Media Mail label using my Stamps.com software a pop up window came up and said something about if that the Post Office may inspect my package and if I am using the incorrect rate the Stamps.Com could be forced by the Post Office to close my account. This was the first time that ever happen so it must be something new. Also the Stamps.com website was down Friday and Saturday and when I used my account on Sunday to print the label that is when I got the warning.