USPS Media is the cheapest way to ship educational material. However, it has some drawbacks, not the least of which is in its reliability and delivery speed. Media mail is reserved for educational material only; as such USPS reserves the right to inspect media mail packages they receive as they see fit. This means opening the package and inspecting the contents. Often times they will firmly re-secure it and ship the package without incident; however, there are incidents in which the packaging or product may be damaged by these inspections, leading to damaged product delivery or a lost item. There are incidents where USPS mixes with some other products that do not belong to Acutrack.
For bulk orders, we suggest you use FedEx Ground.
Return postage fee:
USPS handles returns for media mail differently. USPS First-Class, Priority Mail pieces are forwarded and returned at no additional charge. However, for Media Mail, USPS will charge a return postage fee if your package is returned.
Surcharge:
Acutrack have a surcharge of $0.50 to cover this special handling and customer service associated with this service
Media Mail Eligibility: https://liteblue.usps.gov/news/link/2013/04apr/Media-Mail-Guidelines.htm
Item |
Eligibility |
DMM Reference (if any) |
BOOKS |
|
|
Activity Books |
No |
173.4.1.a Not consisting wholly of reading matter |
Books |
Yes |
173.4.1.a |
Coloring Books |
No |
173.4.1.a Not consisting wholly of reading matter |
Comic books |
No |
173.4.1.a Predominantly pictures/may contain advertising |
Cook Book |
Yes |
173.4.1.g Printed educational material designed to instruct individuals for improving or developing their capabilities |
Graphic novels - adaptations of novels in “comic book” format contain ISBN numbers issued by Library of Congress |
Yes |
Contains no advertising |
Telephone Book |
No |
173.4.1.a Advertising is not eligible for Media Mail |
CATALOGS |
|
|
Catalogs, all types, publication date is irrelevant |
No |
173.4.1.a Paid Advertising is prohibited as Media Mail content |
Independent Consultant Catalogs - e.g., Partylite, Avon, Tupperware, Mary Kay, Lia Sophia, etc. |
No |
173.4.1.a Paid Advertising is prohibited as Media Mail content |
DIRECTORIES |
|
|
High School yearbook |
No |
173.4.1.2.a Books consisting wholly of reading matter |
Church Directories - pictures and addresses of members |
No |
173.4.1.2.a Books consisting wholly of reading matter |
MAGAZINES |
|
|
New magazines |
No |
173.4.1.a Advertising is not eligible for Media Prices |
Old magazines |
No |
173.4.1.a and Customer Support Ruling PS-091-Age of documents is irrelevant |
MAPS |
|
|
Atlas - Maps |
Yes |
Customer Support Ruling - PS-236 |
Maps - single |
No |
|
NOTE: Maps printed on pages of books are considered for postal purposes to be reading matter. Thus, a book that is devoted to maps and which has at least eight printed pages and contains no advertising matter, could qualify to be mailed at the Media Mail rates of postage. |
|
CSR PS-236 |
Brochures (e.g., Golf outing, recreational event, vacation home rental, etc.) |
No |
173.4.1.a |
Calendars |
No |
173.4.1.a |
College course catalog |
No |
Reference- catalog is a catalog as defined above |
Flash Cards-instructional |
Yes |
Customer Support Ruling # PS 017 |
Genealogy - Family Genealogy charts |
No |
173.4.1.g Reference charts must be conveyed by non-narrative matter |
Instruction Manuals |
Yes |
173.4.1.g |
Journals (blank or with writing) |
No |
|
Invoices, sent with Media Mail items |
Yes |
173.6.2 |
Personal Note/Greeting Card, sent with Media Mail item - includes Birthday Cards |
Yes |
173.6.4 Incidental First Class - closely related, but secondary to host piece |
Photo albums/Picture album |
No |
173.4.1.a |
Postcard, enclosed with eligible media mail items |
Yes |
173.4.2.a |
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