Post Office not allowing Media Mail for Video Games anymore?

[3QGojo]

Didn't really know where to post this so:

So ya, I went to the post office today (I live in Portland, ME) and the guy told me that video games aren't able to be shipped out via media mail. So I ended up shipping some games to my friend via 1st class instead. It wasn't that much more, but I've shipped video games out via media mail before and I was pretty sure they were still considered media last I checked...but this guy told me no...

Anyone else ever run into a problem like not being allowed to ship something out media mail?

[JimmieMac]

Who told him that there were games in the package?

[munch]

Why would you ship games media mail? 1st class is just a little bit more but gets there a whole lot faster.

[pinoy530]

Just tell them they're dvds, its not like you're lying. If they open it and say no point to the DVD symbol on the case.

And if you're shipping just one game, first class is actually a little cheaper than media mail.

[3QGojo]

He asked me what was in the package and I told him...but I just said video game...that could mean one for the PC...which would be computer related media and that is considered media mail.

[Maklershed]

Good thing you didnt freak out and say anthrax

[JimmieMac]

He asked me what was in the package and I told him...but I just said video game...that could mean one for the PC...which would be computer related media and that is considered media mail.

Are you posting this from 1950's Germany? Did you have to present ID before using the mail system?

What the hell is wrong with people when they take shit like this?

Unless of course you were shipping out of the country, then you gotta fill out a declaration form, but I doubt you were.

[Saucy Jack]

You could just spend the $4.05 and send it Priority. :lol:

In all honesty, perhaps you should use one of those automated postal centers. Just print out the media mail postage, stick it on the package, and you're set.

[wubb]

Were they disc based games? Cartridge games (SNES, GB, etc) are not supposed to go media mail, but disc based games should be okay.

And I agree you should just say they are DVDs/CDs as that is what they are. It's best to be truthful, but not say 'it's video games' if you can get around it as that is a red flag for some of the counter workers.

[daphatty]

You have to state they are Data DVDs or you will get the shaft. The postal service started cracking down on this last year. I got the shaft by this "crackdown" a while back and ended up having to come out of pocket on several games I had sold.

[guinaevere]

Are you posting this from 1950's Germany? Did you have to present ID before using the mail system?

What the hell is wrong with people when they take shit like this?
There are these things known as rules. You follow them and then you aren't arrested for consituting Mail Fraud. A small thing, I know.

Were they disc based games? Cartridge games (SNES, GB, etc) are not supposed to go media mail, but disc based games should be okay.
That's left to interpretation/justification of the documented specifics as dictated by the USPS.

Media Mail® service is a cost efficient way to mail books, sound recordings, recorded video tapes, printed music, and recorded computer-readable media (such as CDs, DVDs, and diskettes). Media Mail can not contain advertising except for incidental announcements of books. The maximum weight for Media Mail is 70 lbs.Console games have never been allowed for Media Mail when declared to be what they are. Media Mail is for the inexpensive transportation of stories let's say. Written/spoken/illustrated word. Ask the Post Master at your local PO and they'll flatly deny that video games are permissable under the current written law.

And I agree you should just say they are DVDs/CDs as that is what they are. It's best to be truthful, but not say 'it's video games' if you can get around it as that is a red flag for some of the counter workers.Technically on DVD medium, so it would be interesting to see the outcome if someone challanged the USPS regulations in a court of law.

[6669]

I believe the specifications for Media Mail indicate that it must be read-only software, which video games are. I once mailed some guides and they told me I couldn't ship magazines through MM, just books.

[Saucy Jack]

Oddly enough, one time I received a game system, several games, and other crap through Media Mail. I guess it just matters on if you get an employee who gives a shit.

[PapiChullo]

I've never sent anything media mail, but the basic shipping method isn't that expensive. What's the difference in price?

[guinaevere]

I guess it just matters on if you get an employee who gives a shit.
No, it matters on the person mailing the parcel.

Postal man asks me: Are these books?
Me (knowing they're not): You betchya, Tiger.
And off the package goes.

However Anywhere along the journey of that package from handing the package to the PO to it being delivered to it's destination, the USPS reserves the right to inspect that package if it suspects it is in violation of Media Mail regulations.

I've never sent anything media mail, but the basic shipping method isn't that expensive. What's the difference in price?If the parcels you're mailing are only a few pounds it's not a big deal. Once you start racking up the poundage, it makes a big difference. Say, over 5 pounds... Parcel Post or First Class you'll start having to pay real money for its transport. Media Mail saves you a bundle at that point.

[hinkbert]

Yeah they started cracking down on this about a year ago I believe. At the Post Offices around me they actually list what isn't allowed to be shipped via media mail and video games and other such related media (i.e. computer games) aren't allowed. I was told the idea is that media mail materials are supposed to be somehow related to educational material, but I don't know if that's true, or just the clerk talking out of her ass.

[ITDEFX]

You have to state they are Data DVDs or you will get the shaft. The postal service started cracking down on this last year. I got the shaft by this "crackdown" a while back and ended up having to come out of pocket on several games I had sold.


what do you mean the shaft/Crackdown? I haven't gotten shit out of my local post office.. They are very friendly and quick. I've mailed DVD's and PC games with no problems. Just don't like it when I am writing out the destination on the DC while someone else is watching what the fuck am I writing.

[jerfgoke]

Be careful lying about the contents of a media mail package, particularly if it's obvious that you're doing so. The USPS now has a policy to do inspections of media mail packages to confirm the contents. I can confirm that they do inspections because I've had to pay postage due when I received Mario DDR from GameStop shipped media mail. (I'm still not happy about that one!) The package was opened, then re-taped shut.

In my opinion, media mail is never worth the money saved over first class or priority. It's far slower (sometimes more than a month since it's at their convenience unlike the other two forms), and now you have to agree to these inspections.

[Pookymeister]

If media mail isn't for video games then USPS should say something to Half.com, Amazon.com, eb, gamestop, etc etc etc etc etc who ALL ship or tell you to ship games via media mail.

[neocisco]

I believe the specifications for Media Mail indicate that it must be read-only software, which video games are. I once mailed some guides and they told me I couldn't ship magazines through MM, just books.

Guides have an ISBN bar code next to the UPC bar code. The ISBN bar code is what qualifies it as a book. Throw THAT in Kenny the Postal Worker's face the next time he gives you crap.;)

[Noodle Pirate!]

What if you ship a book and a game together? Do they let you by with MM ? Or do you have to pay the full price of 1st class because of the game?

[Sarang01]

I just think this is kind of stupid myself in terms of the educational argument if that's true. I mean I could still send a Porn by Media Mail and how is that more valid than sending a video game? I think they should just allow video games in. Also I didn't know that that has happened to people getting games from EB via Media Mail.

[sblymnlcrymnl]

I had a clerk once tell me that all media mail packages had to be open when brought to the counter for approval. I think she was just being a bitch, though. :lol:

[neocisco]

I had a clerk once tell me that all media mail packages had to be open when brought to the counter for approval. I think she was just being a bitch, though. :lol:

There's actually a sign at my post office stating that but I've never had to open one.

[sblymnlcrymnl]

There's actually a sign at my post office stating that but I've never had to open one. Well, the next time I was in my usual post office I asked about it, and they said absolutely not. And that actually they could get in trouble for asking to look. So I don't know what the fuck is going on. :lol:

I send most everything first class anyway.

[Noodle Pirate!]

I just think this is kind of stupid myself in terms of the educational argument if that's true. I mean I could still send a Porn by Media Mail and how is that more valid than sending a video game? I think they should just allow video games in. Also I didn't know that that has happened to people getting games from EB via Media Mail.

I think it has something to do with advertisements more then educational value. Games and magazines have commercial ads in them and most books dont. At least that is what I was told was the deciding factor. Does anyone know for sure?

[mkg12]

There's actually a sign at my post office stating that but I've never had to open one. Same here. It is kind of a crappy sign printed off the computer.

[freestyledust77]

This is what I got from usps site:

Media Mail® (Book Rate) (http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/)http://www.usps.com/common/images/spacer.gifhttp://www.usps.com/common/images/spacer.gifDescription

Used for books, film, manuscripts, printed music, printed test materials, sound recordings, play scripts, printed educational charts, loose-leaf pages and binders consisting of medical information, videotapes, and computer-recorded media such as CD-ROMs and diskettes. Media Mail cannot contain advertising.

That is how my local PO stopped me from sending a guide out to a fellow CAGer is because it had advertising on the back cover. But I also read their website and found out that if the advertisement is related to other books from that company, it would be allowed.

[Graystone]

1st class mail is like .16 cents more expensive and its get to a person quicker. There is no reason for media mail when it comes to mailing games, and movies.

[Zenithian Legend]

Who told him that there were games in the package?

exactly... close topic

[vietgurl]

since i used to ship games so much, i got caught trying to ship a game (it was either ps2 or xbox) media mail and now, the clerks there (always the same ones everyday, grrr) don't let me ship media mail anymore. i either have to walk 8 blocks to the other post office (so not worth it, haha) or just pay the extra and send it first class.

[Sarang01]

I think it has something to do with advertisements more then educational value. Games and magazines have commercial ads in them and most books dont. At least that is what I was told was the deciding factor. Does anyone know for sure?

If that's true almost ALL movies should be BANNED from shipping by Media Mail considering how some put company names in the background.

[psiufoxx2]

I believe the specifications for Media Mail indicate that it must be read-only software, which video games are. I once mailed some guides and they told me I couldn't ship magazines through MM, just books.That's retarded. Strategy guides are books. WTF. If Self-Help guides are books, and trashy Danielle Steele romance novels are books, then strategy guides are books. What the hell else would they be? Magazines? No. Post office FTL.

[CAG 79]

I was supposed to receive an Xbox360 game and a DVD from a trade that was shipped out via Media Mail and to this day I still haven't got it.

I never use Media Mail to ship out anything. I always use Priority or First Class.

[Apossum]

meh, Media Mail should be cancelled or ship faster than it currently does. hate waiting 2 weeks for stuff. spend the extra pennies and ship first class.

[FrankTheFrowner]

As defined by the USPS's website

Media Mail: For books, records, tapes, sheet music, educational material, film, and computer media weighing up to 70 pounds.

Technically a game would be computer media, since a system has a "computer processor".

As for books, there is an advertising restriction, where media containing advertising (magazines, comics, etc.) is excluded from Media Mail.

[Kaijufan]

Based on what's written on the USPS site, any console game would be computer media, since a console is a computer, especially now since they have hard drives.

[tangytangerine]

This is why I say " it's CDs" if they ask. Cause I'm not lying, since the games are CD-based. The PO's I use feel the envelope(if that's what I'm using) to make sure it's exactly that.

As for Video Games not being allowed for Media Mail, if it's not allowed, then someone should tell Gamestop.com. Since that's what they're using to ship out the cheap way.

[mookiemeister]

My Post Office is very strict on what can be shipped via media mail. She told me specifically that video games, game guides, music CDs, and video DVDs can't be shipped via media mail. The only item acceptable for media mail is book for educational purpose. So I don't use media mail anymore even though other people have no problem shipping stuff to me using media mail. I guess their post office is less strict on the definition or something.

[gunm]

I hate media mail, too slow.

[coolsteel]

I don't use media mail myself, far too slow and the 15 cent difference I usually would save means nothing to me. But this thread just reminded me of the only time i've ever been asked directly what i'm sending out in a package, since I had no idea just why the clerk was asking I simply said an old book, after all I don't want my package "falling off the truck".