Dshultz50 wrote: The problems we've had with the postal service this year leads me to believe this woman made a mistake. We asked to NOT have our mail forwarded after we got back from being on the road. It took 2 months and me going to the postmaster before we could get them to stop! The clerk kept telling me they weren't forwarding our mail even though I had evidence. I mentioned our insurance info didn't come....she said that was because they "return to sender" those types of mailings. I asked "why are you returning my mail if you're not forwarding"...she said "we always "return to sender" on certain mailings rather than forwarding them. I asked again -- why are you forwarding my mail...and she said she wasn't............are you confused??? Well, now you know what I'm talking about. GEESH
Gosh Dee, kinda sounds like the Calif DMV where nothing makes sense.
2001 Chev. 3500 CC Duallie, D/A, 20.5 Pullrite Super 5th, Roll n Lock, StarBoards, Firestone Air Bags, TTT Mirrors, BrakeSmart.
2004 HitchHiker Discover America 33 1/2 CKQG, Disc Brakes, Mor/Ryde IS
Garmin Nuvi 350
I avoid the USPS whenever possible. Use E_Mail, electronic bill pay, and for stuff in town I choose to drop it off, packages go UPS.
Papa Bob
1* DW "Granny"
1* 2008 Brookside Sunnybrook 32'
1* 2002 F250 Super Duty 7.3L PSD
Husky 16K hitch, Tekonsha P3,
Firestone Ride Rite Air Springs, Trailair Equa-Flex, Champion C46540
"A bad day camping is better than a good day at work!"
whimstock wrote: Barb, I think that was a mistake by the clerk.
I send books, magazines, cassettes, videos, etc. as "Media Rate." It used to be called "Printed Matter." And it's definitely the cheapest way to go.
And if this is illegal, I prefer nobody from the P.O. chime in and tell me so.
Since I'm not from the government, I hope it's OK for me to clarify this situation.
Media Mail is indeed the cheapest way to send many things, including books, videos, etc.
But magazines cannot be sent via Media Mail. Many PO staff will tell you that it's because of the advertising, but actually it's because of their status as periodicals. Even magazines with no advertising (e.g., Horizons or Highlights for kids) can't be sent via Media Mail. The USPS regulations for Media Mail include a specific list of allowable items; if it's not on that list, it can't be shipped via Media Mail.
You can use First Class Mail for items up to 13 ounces. After that, your choices are Parcel Post or Priority Mail.
Just to keep things interesting, in May 2007 the USPS set up different rates for the 3 sub-categories of First Class Mail: letters, flats, and parcels.
whimstock wrote: Barb, I think that was a mistake by the clerk.
I send books, magazines, cassettes, videos, etc. as "Media Rate." It used to be called "Printed Matter." And it's definitely the cheapest way to go.
And if this is illegal, I prefer nobody from the P.O. chime in and tell me so.
Since I'm not from the government, I hope it's OK for me to clarify this situation.
Media Mail is indeed the cheapest way to send many things, including books, videos, etc.
But magazines cannot be sent via Media Mail. Many PO staff will tell you that it's because of the advertising, but actually it's because of their status as periodicals. Even magazines with no advertising (e.g., Horizons or Highlights for kids) can't be sent via Media Mail. The USPS regulations for Media Mail include a specific list of allowable items; if it's not on that list, it can't be shipped via Media Mail.
You can use First Class Mail for items up to 13 ounces. After that, your choices are Parcel Post or Priority Mail.
Just to keep things interesting, in May 2007 the USPS set up different rates for the 3 sub-categories of First Class Mail: letters, flats, and parcels.
Geez media mail, what's that? All I wanted to do was send a book and some pamphlets to my sons.
MrsSoCalToolGuy wrote: We've been on the road for several months now and maybe I've been out of touch with the US Postal Service for too long. We now receive our mail through UPS. I still send greeting cards etc. using the USPS.
Today we stopped at the post office in Sioux Falls South Dakota to mail a couple of large envelopes.. We bought 2 books at the Crazy Horse Monument gift shop to send to two of our sons, who had an interest in the places we've been and the things we are doing. I also included information in each envelope about biking, hiking trails, fishing and other places we've seen and been in the Custer, South Dakota area.
The woman behind the counter in the post office weighed the first envelope then asked how I wanted to send it, first class or cheapest way? I told her the least expensive way. She asked me what was in it and I told her magazines and reading material. She told me that it would cost $7.54 for the first envelope. EXCUSE ME? $7.54 is cheapest way?
Then she goes on to tell me magazines have advertising in them and you must pay more to send "advertising".
Give me a break..
I then told her I was sending my sons books I bought at The Crazy Horse Monument. Hmmm. I guess that made a difference. The mailing cost dropped to $2.67 per envelope.
Since when does it cost 3 times more to mail a magazine than to mail a soft cover book?
I've not complained about the USPS before, but this is a ridiculous rule, imo.
Barb
You were ripped. I just received a large hardcover book weighing several pounds from Paoli, Pennsylvania, that cost the sender $2.58 at the USPS to ship to me more than halfway across the country. I've got the mailing envelope right here. Perhaps it was the size of the envelope? Unfortunately, the help at the USPS isn't always the most helpful, or that's my read on it, when it comes to trying to save the customer money.
I have a sweet tender nature, however I enjoy sharing my thoughts and opinions.
MrsSoCalToolGuy wrote: ....The woman behind the counter in the post office weighed the first envelope then asked how I wanted to send it, first class or cheapest way? I told her the least expensive way. She asked me what was in it and I told her magazines and reading material. She told me that it would cost $7.54 for the first envelope. EXCUSE ME? $7.54 is cheapest way?
Then she goes on to tell me magazines have advertising in them and you must pay more to send "advertising".
Give me a break..
I'm not sure why you would ask this question in an RV forum expecting to get a valid answer. Especially since it is apparent you could have just as easy gone to the US Postal Services website and gotten the real answer for yourself.
Media Mail is what you would use to send the books you purchased but not the magazines. Unfortunately, the clerk was correct in stating that since the magazines contains advertising the cheapest way would be more expensive since it couldn't be mailed via Media Mail (at least not knowingly). Here's the official information on Media Mail and its restrictions: USPS Media Mail information!
-jc
78 Robin Hood 23' Class C
97 Geo Tracker Convertible 4x4
87 Jeep Comanche Chief 4x4
RobinHoodRV wrote: .....I'm not sure why you would ask this question in an RV forum expecting to get a valid answer. Especially since it is apparent you could have just as easy gone to the US Postal Services website and gotten the real answer for yourself.
Duh! And wouldn't this comment apply to anybody with a computer, on virtually any subect?!?!?!?
I have also given up on the USPS (wish I could do the same for the DMV). When I'm in vegas for more than a few weeks, my mom will gather my mail in Oregon and send it to me fedex. It's more expensive but at least I know I can trust it will get to me.
I tried the USPS Preminum Forwarding Service which is very expensive and of course it didn't work. (I think I have a post on here about that somewhere).
RobinHoodRV wrote: .....I'm not sure why you would ask this question in an RV forum expecting to get a valid answer. Especially since it is apparent you could have just as easy gone to the US Postal Services website and gotten the real answer for yourself.
Duh! And wouldn't this comment apply to anybody with a computer, on virtually any subect?!?!?!?
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All I wanted to do was send a book and some pamphlets to my sons.
$7.54 is cheapest way? 
Duh! And wouldn't this comment apply to anybody with a computer, on virtually any subect?!?!?!? 
