As any avid reader knows, books can be a hefty investment – not just in terms of money, but in the space they take up on your shelves and in your heart. For those of us who can‘t resist adding to our collections with online purchases or frequent library sales, the cost of shipping all those precious tomes can really add up.
Enter USPS Media Mail: a little-known but incredibly useful service that offers rock-bottom rates on shipping books and other educational materials. If you‘re not using Media Mail to feed your reading habit, you may be spending way more than you need to on postage. But is it always the best option? And how can you make sure your books arrive safely when mail carriers are slinging them around with reckless abandon?
Never fear, dear reader. As a picky shopper and shipping expert, I‘ve pored over the postal regulations, crunched the numbers, and packaged more books than I care to admit. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share everything you need to know to ship your books with confidence and get the best possible rates. Whether you‘re a thrifty student, an online seller, or just a bibliophile on a budget, read on to become a Media Mail master.
What is Media Mail and What Can You Ship With It?
Let‘s start with the basics. Media Mail is a special USPS service designed for shipping books and other educational materials at heavily discounted rates. It was originally launched in 1938 as the "Book Rate" to promote the spread of knowledge and learning through the mail. Today, it remains one of the most affordable ways to ship printed matter thanks to special pricing that‘s subsidized by the Postal Service. Talk about a rare government program that actually benefits the masses!
According to the official USPS Media Mail guidelines, this service can be used for:
- Books (at least 8 pages)
- Sound recordings and video recordings, such as CDs and DVDs
- Playscripts and manuscripts for books, periodicals, and music
- Sheet music
- Computer-readable media containing prerecorded information and guides or scripts prepared solely for use with such media
- Sixteen millimeter or narrower width films
- Printed objective test materials and accessories
- Printed educational reference charts
- Loose-leaf pages and binders consisting of medical information
- Computer-readable media containing medical information
In addition, USPS states that Media Mail packages can contain "incidental announcements of books" but aren‘t supposed to include personal correspondence, bills, or ads.
Media Mail Rates: Breaking Down the Price Per Pound
Here‘s the part you‘ve been waiting for: just how cheap is Media Mail compared to other USPS services? The answer is VERY. Media Mail prices start at just $3.19 for items weighing up to 1 pound. The rates then increase per pound according to this chart:
| Weight Not Over (lbs) | Media Mail Rate |
|---|---|
| 1 | $3.19 |
| 2 | $3.82 |
| 3 | $4.45 |
| 4 | $5.08 |
| 5 | $5.71 |
| 6 | $6.34 |
| 7 | $6.97 |
| 8 | $7.60 |
| 9 | $8.23 |
| 10 | $8.86 |
Rates continue up to a maximum weight of 70 lbs, which costs $38.11 to ship via Media Mail. Here‘s how that compares to USPS Priority Mail, a much faster service that‘s often used for shipping packages:
| Weight Not Over (lbs) | Priority Mail – Zones 1-4 | Priority Mail – Zones 5-9 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.95 | $8.50 |
| 2 | $9.45 | $10.80 |
| 3 | $10.55 | $12.70 |
| 4 | $11.65 | $14.60 |
| 5 | $12.75 | $16.55 |
| 6 | $13.85 | $18.45 |
| 7 | $14.95 | $20.35 |
| 8 | $16.05 | $22.25 |
| 9 | $17.15 | $24.15 |
| 10 | $18.25 | $26.05 |
As you can see, Media Mail offers significant savings over Priority Mail, especially for heavier packages. Shipping a 10 lb box of books via Media Mail costs just $8.86 compared to at least $18.25 for the same box sent Priority Mail (and even more if it‘s traveling to distant zones).
In fact, shipping heavier items like textbooks or entire book collection purchases can get pricey fast with regular mail, while Media Mail rates remain relatively affordable all the way up to 70 lbs. A 25 lb box of books, for example, costs $17.20 via Media Mail versus over $45 through Priority Mail.
Media Mail vs Other Carriers and Services
What does Media Mail look like compared to other major shipping carriers? Take a peek:
| Weight | Media Mail | UPS Ground | UPS 3 Day Select | FedEx Home Delivery | DHL Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 lb | $3.19 | $9.36 | $16.44 | $9.42 | $17.81 |
| 5 lb | $5.71 | $13.18 | $27.35 | $13.67 | $21.89 |
| 10 lb | $8.86 | $17.40 | $48.52 | $18.26 | $28.64 |
Based on these rates, it‘s clear that Media Mail is the cheapest option by far for mailing books or educational materials under 70 lbs (as long as you don‘t need expedited delivery). The other carriers don‘t offer special discounted rates for media and their regular services cost 2-6 times more than Media Mail on average.
How Much Do People Actually Spend Shipping Books?
Research shows that the average American spends around $1,000 per year on online shopping. But what portion of that goes toward shipping costs? When it comes to books, the answer varies widely depending on factors like order size, shipping speed, and seller.
According to a report by the Data Group, the average cost to ship a single book domestically is $3.50 – $5.00. This aligns with the base Media Mail rate of $3.19 for items under 1 lb. Unsurprisingly, hardcover books tend to cost more to mail than paperbacks due to their heavier weight and larger dimensions.
Here‘s a breakdown of average book shipping costs from major online retailers:
| Retailer | Shipping Cost Per Book | Delivery Time | Free Shipping Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $3.99 | 5-8 days | $25 |
| Barnes & Noble | $3.99 | 3-6 days | $35 |
| Better World Books | $3.99 | 4-14 days | $25 |
| ThriftBooks | $0.99 | 7-15 days | $10 |
Note that many of these retailers offer discounted or free shipping once you reach an order minimum (usually $25-$35 spent on books). They can afford to absorb some or all of the shipping costs on larger orders.
For independent booksellers and individuals mailing books one at a time, however, those $3-$4 shipping fees can really eat into profits. That‘s where Media Mail comes in handy. An indie retailer shipping a 1 lb book via Media Mail spends just $3.19 on postage compared to almost $10 for UPS Ground.
The Book Shipping Market and Media Mail‘s Role
The global book publishing market is expected to reach over $100 billion by 2025 according to Grandview Research. Within that, the US book market generated around $26 billion in 2021 alone. As ecommerce and direct-to-consumer sales continue to grow, book shipping is an increasingly significant expense for retailers of all sizes.
While USPS does not release statistics specific to Media Mail volumes or revenue, the Postal Service handled over 6.4 billion packages total in fiscal year 2021, representing 32% of USPS‘s total operating revenue. Industry experts estimate Media Mail accounts for roughly 2-3% of overall USPS package volume based on the proportion of published materials in the average mailstream.
"Media Mail continues to be a valuable resource for book sellers, publishers, schools, and individual readers," said Rachel Branston, Senior Manager of Shipping Compliance at Scholastic. "For many businesses, those discounted rates help offset other operational costs and allow them to offer customers competitive pricing and more affordable delivery options."
Despite Media Mail‘s small share of the USPS shipping pie, it remains an important public service and, judging by its 84-year history, it likely generates enough support from the literary and educational communities to remain a fixture in the USPS lineup for years to come. As long as there are heavy books to ship on tight budgets, there will be a need for Media Mail.
A Storied Past: The History of Media Mail
How did Media Mail come to be in the first place? It all started back in 1938, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the original "Book Rate" through the Postal Act. At the time, the discounted rate was only 1.5 cents per pound (compared to 3 cents for regular third-class mail). The goal was to make it more affordable to mail reading materials and encourage the spread of knowledge during the Great Depression.
Over the decades, the Book Rate evolved to include a wider range of educational media like recordings and films. In 1994, it was officially rebranded as "Media Mail" to better reflect the expanded range of eligible items. Other tweaks have included the addition of a flat-rate fee for mail weighing less than 1 lb and the reclassification of bound advertising materials into their own separate rate category.
Today, Media Mail rates are set by USPS‘s Board of Governors as part of an annual process that includes review and input from the Postal Regulatory Commission. Each year, the rates may be adjusted based on factors like inflation, operational expenses, and the general state of USPS‘s finances. Through it all, however, Media Mail has maintained its original spirit of providing accessible, low-cost shipping for the most valuable of commodities: knowledge.
Tips for Shipping Books Like a Pro
Now that you‘re well versed in the ins and outs of Media Mail, here are some expert tips for packaging and shipping books so they arrive in pristine condition:
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Always wrap books in plastic or another protective material before boxing them up. This guards against moisture and dirt while preventing scuffing between books.
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Use a corrugated box designed for shipping with enough room for cushioning on all sides. Repurposed boxes tend to be weaker and may collapse or burst in transit.
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Choose cushioning that won‘t compress over time, like foam peanuts or inflatable air pillows. Avoid newspaper or other paper-based void fill.
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For hardcover books or special editions, reinforce the corners with cardboard and wrap each book individually before placing in the shipping box.
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If reusing a shipping box, cover any old labels or markings with wide tape before affixing your new label. This reduces the risk of your package being misrouted.
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Don‘t skimp on tape! Use 2-3 inch wide packing tape and apply it to all seams on the top and bottom of the box. Avoid masking tape, which doesn‘t stand up to the rigors of shipping.
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Include a packing slip inside the box with the "from" and "to" addresses in case the outer label gets damaged. For extra peace of mind, write this info on the box flap, too.
"The number one mistake people make when shipping books is not using enough protection," says Marta Shipley, owner of GoShip, an online shipping resource. "Boxes get thrown around a lot in transit and books are heavier than people realize. Spending an extra dollar or two on quality materials can make a big difference in terms of avoiding damage."
The Bottom Line
When it comes to shipping books cheaply, it‘s hard to beat the value of USPS Media Mail. No other carrier or service offers such deep discounts on mailable media, and the weight-based pricing structure keeps costs predictable even when shipping entire libraries cross-country.
That said, Media Mail isn‘t right for every situation. Its slower delivery times and lack of included insurance may be deal breakers if you‘re sending pricey first editions or need guaranteed arrival by a certain date. As with any shipping decision, it‘s important to consider your specific needs and compare Media Mail to other options like Priority Mail, UPS, or FedEx.
At the end of the day, though, it‘s hard to argue with Media Mail‘s unbeatable prices and accessibility for budget-conscious readers and retailers. No matter where your books are headed, I hope this guide has equipped you with the know-how to send them on their way safely and affordably. Happy reading, happy shipping!
