Usps Book Shipping
Usps Book Shipping In 2022 (Price, Delivery Times + More)
USPS appears to have services that can ship almost any item. The USPS Media Mail service, which is used to ship books, offers a great option.
USPS offers several options for customers shipping books as of 2022. Additionally to Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail Express shipping options, USPS also offers Media Mail which has extremely reduced shipping rates. Media Mail is usually faster than all other shipping methods and costs up to 50% more.
Which is the cheapest way to ship a book with USPS?
Media Mail offers the best option to ship books via USPS. In fact, for shipments under one pound, which is more than most individual books, Media Mail costs just $3.19.
Priority Mail’s pricing begins at $7.95. It will go up depending on what size or weight the package is.
As you can see, that makes Media Mail more than 50% cheaper than Priority Mail.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Book With USPS?
Media Mail prices start at $3.19 and increase based on weight per pound.
However, if your package falls between weights (for example, 2.6 pounds), you must round up to three pounds and pay the shipping fee for three-pound items.
Furthermore, here’s a breakdown of Media Mail shipping rates based on weight:
Media Mail packages have a maximum weight of 70 pounds. But, in the interests of space, I’ve limited shipping prices to 10 pounds.
Why is USPS Media Mail so cheap?
Media Mail is inexpensive for a few reasons. You can get it heavily subsidised by USPS.
Also, it’s slower than other shipping methods, includes only the most basic options, and is subject to compliance checks. Let’s examine each one.
USPS has been subsidizing Media Mail for over 80 years.
Since 1938 when President Roosevelt established the program, it has been encouraging people to mail educational materials via the mail.
This is why USPS sells books and educational material at a loss, which means that USPS is unable to profit. Media Mail’s primary purpose is also the reason Media Mail is so inexpensive.
Media Mail is also more economical than traditional shipping options. Media Mail typically arrives within 2-8 business hours, though it is possible to take longer.
This is because a Priority Mail Package will deliver four times as fast as a Media Mail packet on a cross country trip.
Media Mail is also affordable because it offers a very basic service.
For instance, whereas Priority Mail includes up to $50 of insurance and is forwarded or returned for free, Media Mail only gets a one-way ticket.
This means that if the Media Mail package must be sent or returned by the recipient, they will have to pay additional postage.
In addition, Media Mail insurance costs extra.
Media Mail is legally closed and verified by the Postal Service, so it comes at a low cost.
This means that if you attempt to add a few more items to your book shipment, USPS may open it, find out you’re not only sending books and punish you.
Technically speaking, USPS could charge you for mail fraud. However, it’s more likely that the package will either be returned or be held for postage due by the recipient.
You or the recipient may be required to pay any difference between the Media Mail rate or First-Class/Priority Mail rate.
How long does USPS Media Mail take?
USPS estimates that Media Mail will arrive in between two and eight business days.
It’s still important to understand that depending on the distance traveled and USPS busy, this may take longer.
Does USPS Actually Check Media Mail?
Although the USPS checks Media Mail for accuracy, it is not always as thorough as you might expect. USPS’s method is more spot-checking and less systematic.
USPS cannot keep up with the volume of Media Mail mail packages it receives every day. USPS processes more than 173,000,000 First-Class mail items every single day.
The USPS doesn’t have the time or resources to check all Media Mail mail packages.
With that in mind, USPS probably inspects several thousand pieces of Media Mail packages each day.
Although it may appear like a lot, this is only a fraction of the mail that Media Mail has sent.
So long as it conforms to USPS standards your package is unlikely to be flagged.
How do I package books to ship with the USPS
Here are the steps you can take to make sure your books get safely to their destination.
Wrap the book in bubble wrap or clear plastic bags and secure the ziplock if it is a bag. Fold the top and secure it by tape.
Wrap books with a corrugated card roll to protect them during shipping.
Then, place books in a box with packing materials like bubble wrap, packing peanuts, or craft paper for added protection.
To find out more, you can also read our posts on USPS laptop shipping, USPS guitar shipping, and how fast is USPS media mail.
The USPS Media Mail is an excellent option for shipping books. Not only are rates more than 50% cheaper than other services, but your package will still arrive in a timely manner.
.Usps Book Shipping In 2022 (Price, Delivery Times + More)
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