My boyfriend took our books to the local PO today (I had a regular book, he had two audio books).  When he called me he said that the guy "threw them into the bin". from across the room, apparently.  I guess I shouldn't worry, I'm sure these packages get thrown around all the time. My boyfriend said that he made a comment along the line of, "that was not nice" and the employee was like, "They're just books, right? Then it doesn't matter."    :(  I'm hoping that his books weren't damaged.  They didn't have much padding, just a layer of plastic and the packaging. 

Oh well, it just irritated me a little--thanks for letting me whine/vent :)

My counter clerks have made comments about the handling packages receive in the sorting centers (tossed across the room).  But there is an element of disrespect to do so in front of customers. 

Not surprising some of the older books arrive with spine/glue damage if they are handled so carelessly. 

But not all media mail is books, such as your bf's audio books.  Prerecorded CD's and DVD's may also travel as media mail, and those may not hold up well to being thrown around the the Sampsonite Gorilla.

Not to mention, your books might be able to be thrown into a bin ... but what if they land on someone else's more delicate package?

Don't they sell beer at baseball games? Maybe the baseball-playing postal workers wanted the complete ballpark experience.  I received a PM today from a requester who said that the package I sent had beer spilled over it.  Fortunately, the plastic I wrapped the books in protected them and they were okay when unwrapped.

Certainly something to keep in mind when packaging books........it is not at all unusual to get tossed around.

As for being stacked on top of other stuff, mail is put into big bags.....not like they are sitting neatly stacked atop each other

This is probably why I routinely receive damaged books in one fashion or another.    While, I no longer ship out books on pbs, I still do so on another swap site, and I do my best to package books in such a way that swappers get their books undamaged.  I've noticed that it's mostly the corners which get abused the most.  The front and back covers are rarely ever damged.  I never protect those areas; I simply don't have the bubble wrapping for it.