Best Shipping Prices

[JordanPlayer]

Hey guys, I shipped one of my first items today and paid a bit more than I was expecting to. I know a lot of people are experienced with prices, rates, etc and was wondering what company and shipment type people typically use. From what I have seen it looks like USPS is cheaper than UPS for smaller items. Is it possible to ship individual games through first class mail or does it have to be media mail? This is all within the US also. Is shipping + packaging for under $4 ideal?

[jp1]

USPS is best for most things..First class and priority only. NEVER use media mail for games. For smaller heavier items such as game systems flat rate priority mail is the best.

[dsheinem]

USPS is best for most things..First class and priority only. NEVER use media mail for games. For smaller heavier items such as game systems flat rate priority mail is the best.

I'll disagree here - I frequently use media mail for anything more than one or two games and haven't had any problems. Keep in mind, though, it can only be used legally if you are shipping games/movies/books - not systems, controllers, etc. Just use a padded mailer or a box with some packing material and you'll be set.

Anything with moving parts, you'd want to use first class or better.

[gtmtnbiker]

You can also use PayPal to print shipping labels. So for lightweight stuff, I ship first class and you get free tracking.

[jp1]

USPS is best for most things..First class and priority only. NEVER use media mail for games. For smaller heavier items such as game systems flat rate priority mail is the best.

I'll disagree here - I frequently use media mail for anything more than one or two games and haven't had any problems. Keep in mind, though, it can only be used legally if you are shipping games/movies/books - not systems, controllers, etc. Just use a padded mailer or a box with some packing material and you'll be set.

Anything with moving parts, you'd want to use first class or better.

Cart based games are against USPS policy for media mail and can be returned to sender or worse sent to buyer with additional postage due. Not to mention that media mail takes forever and is treated as garbage for its time in transit.

It is also up for debate as to games on optical media or movies on optical media are allowed considering the "Advertising" on the case artwork that is not allowed. I don't think there is much risk with those though.

Anyway, I consider it to be garbage post and wouldn't use it for anything more important than magazines.
I do a good bit of business outside of racketboy and have done so for quite some time. I used to use media mail and after several angry customers and smashed packages I refuse to use it now. I also don't purchase items that are going to be sent to me with media mail.

[jp1]

Media mail rates are limited to the items that I will list below:

* Books (at least 8 pages).
* Sound recordings (e.g., video recordings and DVDs).
* Playscripts and manuscripts for books, periodicals and music.
* Printed music.
* Computer readable media containing pre-recorded information and guides or scripts prepared solely for use with such media (e.g., commercially available instruction videos/DVDs).
* Sixteen millimeter or narrow witdth films.
* Printed objective test materials and their accessories.
* Printed educational reference charts.
* Loose-leaf pages and their binders consisting of medical information for distribution to doctor, hospital, medical school or student.

Items that DO NOT qualify as Media mail:

* Advertisement of any kind. (magazines do not qualify due to the advertisements).
* Homemade CDs or DVDs. (these items are of a personal nature and anything of a personal nature is 1st class mail).
* VIDEO GAMES or BLANK MEDIA DISCs/disks. Since there is no media on the discs, they do not qualify. (This is a parcel post item and if inspected will be forwarded postage due for the parcel post rate.
* Catalogs including price lists or order forms. This included PRINCESS HOUSE, HOME INTERIORS, PAMPERED CHEF, etc.....
* Business materials. Documents, invoices, estimates, policies, etc.........
* Photo albums, address books, school yearbooks, scrapbooks, etc..........

I just pulled this from an ebay guide on media mail.

[dsheinem]

Media mail rates are limited to the items that I will list below:

* Computer readable media containing pre-recorded information and guides or scripts prepared solely for use with such media (e.g., commercially available instruction videos/DVDs).

Items that DO NOT qualify as Media mail:

* VIDEO GAMES or BLANK MEDIA DISCs/disks. Since there is no media on the discs, they do not qualify. (This is a parcel post item and if inspected will be forwarded postage due for the parcel post rate.

These two seem somewhat contradictory. I've asked my local PO on several occasions and they say carts, DVDs, and disc-based games (with case, manual, etc.) are all just fine to send media mail. As long as it's packed well, I have had very few problems with broken cases, etc. - no more than with first class mail. So either I've been very lucky or you've been very unlucky....

[jp1]

Ahh well, I'm not looking to argue. I will say that my local Post Office has an official usps poster on it with media mail guidelines that specifically points out that cartridge based video games are forbidden. It also points out that media mail is free to be opened and inspected for content. I just wouldn't take the risk of having a customer get a package with postage due.

Some people send large flat rates with standard flat rate labels from paypal and claim it never causes a problem...I still wouldn't do it.

Here is the official guide from usps on qualified items.

http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/173.htm#wp1079569

That's all I'll say.

No disrespect intended. I just simply don't agree.

For further discussion about this topic you can see a thread from atariage.

http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/12 ... edia-mail/

[V3rtigo]

one game by 1st class with tracking is $1.92. i have also had the post office not allow me to drop off video games that were to be sent media mail.

[Hobie-wan]

You can use the USPS site to get an idea how much postage is before hand if you know the weight. That's one of the reasons I picked up a cheap scale.