Cheap Ass Shipping

[slakessolace]

Here is a littel nugget of information for you guys if you didnt know. Since alot of trading goes on here, alsot of shipping goes on as well. I've noticed from some of the posts on here that alot of people ship their games media mail. Dont get me wrong, media mail is good for shipping multible things, but when you are just shipiing on thing, do you fellow CAGs a favor and use 1st class mail. When shipping a Dvd or a game, it cost a mere 10 to 20 cents more to ship 1st class as opposed to media mail. For that extra 10 cents instead of getting a game in 2 weeks you get it in 3 days. Also for peopel who sell cds online, it is actually 10 -20 cheaper to sent a cd 1st class instead of media mail.

On a related note - from what i have been told (from my girl friends mother who is a postal worker) it is actually illegal to ship videogames media mail - according to the post office video games are not considered multimedia. No one ever checks, but they are legally allowed to a refuse shipping on a video games media mail shipment.

So as a whole Im posting this to try to helps my fellow CAGs get their cheapass games quicker for cheaper. If a mod wants to make this sticky go for it, if not dont worry about it.

[CheapyD]

http://www.usps.com/send/waystosendmail/senditwithintheus/mediamail.htm

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).

I'm pretty sure video games qualify as recorded computer-readable media .

Anyway, you are correct, often media mail is only slightly cheaper than first class and the faster delivery is worth it.

[cavalier]

Here, here.....very true.

I sedond that this should be made into a sticky, as it ultimately helps us all....especially with so many new people here since the $4.99 sale.

[Ericnmel99]

Illegal eh? Your right about the time and price of shipping. Media take soooo long and is hardly cheaper (for a game at least). Thank you for your daily tidbit of info.

[slakessolace]

They is a good point about the computer related media, I emailed the usps about the question. Ill post when they give me an answer

[Zenithian Legend]

Ya, I used media mail for the last thing I shipped, and then asked how much more first class was and I believe it was only $.30 or so, but the lady wouldn't change it as the package had already been stamped.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

Legally, you cant ship games through media mail. It has been put into the 'postal rules' if you will. It does say computer recorded material, but the USPS is loopy as hell, and you arent supposed to ship them.

[Sporadic]

I use First Class on all my traded goods....only cost my 2 something (and that is include there 1.00 packageing they sell)

[bignick]

They is a good point about the computer related media, I emailed the usps about the question. Ill post when they give me an answer

If you emailed them 5 times, you would get 5 different answers. My post office is the worse at inforcing stupid crap. They wont let me tape the flat rate priority envelopes closed! I emailed the USPS and they said I could as long as the tape wasnt the primary means of closure. So now I ship fed ex or go 10min away to a different post office.

[Zenithian Legend]

Legally, you cant ship games through media mail. It has been put into the 'postal rules' if you will. It does say computer recorded material, but the USPS is loopy as hell, and you arent supposed to ship them.

They gererally just assume the game is a DVD and ship it media mail.

[mombbsmj]

I've only shipped once Media mail at the request of the person I was trading with (he still hasn't received the game). They asked me what was in the package and I told them and they did Media no problem. And the shipping time is unbelieveably different. On a different trade I sent 1st class and he sent Media. The game I sent got to him in 2 days. It was over a week and a half later to get my end. Cost difference: 13 cents.

[b3b0p]

Can you use small boxes for shipping 1st class? SNES, N64, Gameboy, and NES boxes don't hold up all the time via padded envelope.


Chris

[hutno]

I never knew this, thanks for posting

[bignick]

Can you use small boxes for shipping 1st class? SNES, N64, Gameboy, and NES boxes don't hold up all the time via padded envelope.


Chris

Sure can. I have sent and receive "packages" that are the size of about 10 baseball cards. As long as they are under 14 ounces (I Think) it is 1st class.

[pimp_daddy_smurf]

and the package has to be over 3/4 of an inch to get delivery confirmation

[radjago]

According to the USPS site, disc-based media is fine, but cartridge-based media is not.

Computer-readable CD-ROMs are eligible for Media Mail rates while game cartridges are not eligible.

taken from near the bottom under Media Mail Reminders here:
http://www.usps.com/mailerscompanion/mar2004/mc0304art6_print.htm