I don't understand Saturday I got a book returned to me as - not eligible for media mail rate...I can't for the life of me figure out why the book was returned.  The only thing in the mailer was the book, I didn't even send a note for the recipient...just the book!  So now I have the book back and have PM'd the recipeient to see if she'd like me to remail the book (I even offered to send it priority or First Class to compensate for the extra time) but I'm confused as to why I got it back in the first place, I've mailed out several books since I joined and none have ever come back to me before.  What did I do wrong???  I don't want this to become a habit as it costs me alot in postage.

you could take it to post office and ask why

also ask this same question in postage fourm

The only thing I can think of is packaging - no USPS supplies marked for higher rates?

I would take it back to the PO and ask. If it is their error they should send it without you needing to pay postage again. If they claim the PBS packing slip makes it ineligible, they are wrong.

I will take it and ask, but the PBS packing slip wasn't "in" the package it "was" the package.  It was wrapped in the PBS wrapper with plastic on the inside. 

Was there any printing on the plastic you used? Such as, was it a bag from Walmart with their name on it?

Was there any printing on the plastic you used? Such as, was it a bag from Walmart with their name on it?

Even if there was, and it was an inspected package, is that really considered against media mail regulations?

The last three times I actually used plastic I reused a Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Old Navy bags. I guess it's good I've needed them for other things lately so I don't wrap my books in them!

A store name on a bag is not considered advertising, according to my post office workers.  But. . . I know each post office seems to read the rules differently.

Unfortunately Janessa, the best method is just to ask.  There may have been a small problem (sounds unlikely) or an uneducated postal worker (which happens more than we'd like).

A store name on a bag is not considered advertising, according to my post office workers.

I have used bags from Sephora, Bath and Body Works, Starbucks and Lush to mail books in and the clerks at my P.O. have never said anything about them.

I had a book appear back in my mail box for no apparent reason.  I brought it back to the PO and asked-they couldn't figure it out either.  They reposted it for me for free.  I would bring the book back and ask why it couldn't go media mail. 

You didn't print the label on teh back of like a sales flyer or somethign did you? 

Maybe they considered the Information for the Mailer / Information for the Receiver portions of the wrapper to be outside the definition of incidental first class material allowed to be included with media mail.

Yes, please ask. I've had weird stuff go on several times and even when the counter people had no clue why something happened, they were very nice about taking the information to check into it, then getting the package back on it's way.

Thanks I will most certainly be taking it to the post office to find out why it was returned.  I am also going to send it first class to the reciepient so that it will hopefully arrive before the arrival on the system.  I feel bad she had to wait so long.  Yes the plastic was a grocery bag but all it said was Thank You :)  Thank You :)

Jaynessa, much of media mail arrives in approx 7 to 10 days.  If you remail with a reasonable expectation of the book arriving before it goes lost (30) days, the receiver will not expect upgraded postage. 

Check PBS guidelines tho, there are guidelines for notifiying receivers of late mailing (or re-mail) and one for requesting permission to send (3 weeks IIRC). 

Requesting members are usually very understanding when there's legitimate reasons for mail delays.