"Latest New Trick re: Media Mail" Topic

Just FYI, since it happened to me for the first time a few weeks ago. USPS now can open Media Mail packages at the PO proper and inspect them just to make sure they are what they're supposed to be. Randomly, but it is now happening.

Since they control the opening of the package, they also control the closing, so…if it was opened when you recieve it, you know who to discuss this with, especially if it was not insured.

Happy New Year!!!

Good point. I have had it happen a few times myself; no problem with the regulation itself but how 'well' the package is closed can really vary!

Agreed!

I mean I have a reputation to uphold. If you can open the book and read the title page within less than five minutes of opening a package I mailed, I did something WRONG!!!

It has always been that way. Perhaps more people are using Media Mail now in order to off set rising postage costs, so the postal service is opening more packages in response.

Probably. Last week in the PO guy in front of me places a very large box on the scale and tells the clerk its Media Mail.

Clerk asks what is in the box. Response: magazines. Clerk informs him that since magazines contain advertising the box cannot be shipped via Media Mail.

It's worth the time to check the DMM if you are going to ship via Media and are not familiar with the reg:

link

Yeah,a couple of years ago, a clerk at one PO told me even a note saying "here's your books" would be disqualifiing. Seems kind of extreme to me.

It is and now I include the receipt inside the book and then wrap it up prior to shipment in whatever envelope/box I'm using.

The USPS has always had regulations as to what may be included in various classes/categories of mail.

Sealing any piece of mail or parcel gives the USPS authorization to open and inspect.

Enclosing a note such as the "here's your books" example listed above does change the classification of the shipment.

One of my "hats" at work was shipping. There are all sorts of classifications for all sorts of products. (There is even a special one just for printed music sheets and books.) You cannot co-mingle them without causing problems for yourself.

Magazines do (or did) have their own classification for shipping.

The regulation is not new. Postal workers have been authorized to open media mail packages since at least the mid-1980s, when I was a summer casual clerk.

To open packages at some point but this is the first I or the staff at the PO ever saw a directive coming from their PC to OPEN the next package, which was mine.

Been happening at point of sale at our PO for at least 9 years. Perhaps you've just been lucky all these years?

I guess so, but the staff was surprised too.

I had a clerk ask me about contents and did the KGB style "what if I opened it?" I said go ahead. Visions of Mr. Gant in Moscow.

Funny. I took the box unsealed. Clerk opened it, flipped through the magazine, and said no problem …

Problem with the USPS is the total lack of consistency.

^^That is true. Someone shipped me something in an empty alcohol (vodka, maybe) box once and, when I used to it to mail something to someone else, I was told that postal regulations prohibit mailing alcohol boxes whether they contain alcohol or not. But you guys delivered this very same box to me!

my post office opens all the media mail when it comes in, so your 100% guaranteed to have it opened here.