I recieved two separate books today and the "wrapping" on each was different than what I usually see.

The first book was wrapped in a large size zip-lock baggie with a postal label sticker for the address/stamp etc.  Clearly makes it easy for the post office to see if that one was media mail! Happy to say the book made it safely here....though it only came from one state  away and was an average size paperback.  Not sure a longer mailing distance or a hardcover book would have made the trip as safely.

The second shipping package was actually two books requested from one sender. The sender wrapped them both together...a larger paperback and a good sized hardcover.........with no cardboard or other protection ...IN A PLASTIC GROCERY STORE SHOPPING BAG!! And a bright blue one at that!!  Needless to say these two books did not arrive safely and I have nicely marked them as "recieved damaged". Hopefully the sender will think up a new wrapping style.

Anyone else have any uniquely wrapped books delivered to them???

I've been pretty lucky myself. I wonder if people are just lazy, not too bright or just cheap? I try to recycle as much as I can, but you do actually have to purchase tape and mailers(if you use them.) I get a lot where people don't use plastic, but so far the mail carrier has made sure she puts them on the porch if there are too many to fit in the box.   I truly don't know what people can be thinking!...

Denise

I'm a big confused.  What was wrong with the blue grocery bag?  Almost anything can be used if taped properly.  Not sure what you mean by marking it "received damaged" as it should have been RWAP - damaged by the post office. 

I've received and sent books wrapped in some unconventional things.  I've used wrapping paper (the post office workers love my "present" wrapping), grocery bags, PBS wrapper, calendar pages.  All taped securely and tightly and have had no problems.

It was a thin plastic blue grocery bag......and while there was some packing tape around the books (I guess to keep them from shifting around) it just wasn't enough to keep them safe.

The areas that weren't covered in packing tape all ripped leaving the books exposed.  While creative and thrifty it was definitely  not protective enough of a wrapping material. I really think this was more of the senders fault than the post office.

Update....the sender with whom I had ordered two books...which cost me two credits....only returned ONE CREDIT. Should I be entitled to both

credits back if both books got damaged?

Since the books were damaged by the USPS, she really isn't obligated to give you any credits back. You can ask for them if you feel that poor wrapping attributed to the damage, but if the sender feels they wrapped at least to PBS standards then they don't have to refund the credits. Since it is the fault of the USPS for damaging the books, the sender isn't held responsible for that. It sounds like she is willing to split to loss with you when she could have opted to not give you anything back.

I like the ziplock idea it stops the USPS needing to open the package to check if its a book or not. I mentioned it in another thread last week :)

The blue grocery bag is inadequate protection, especially without lots of packing tape.  Like tissue paper and some of the cheap holiday wrap, the plastic bag is brittle and easily damaged . . . a poor choice for Media Maul.

The zip lock is heavier (more flexable, less brittle) plastic (esp. freezer bags) and I'm curious how they travel.  Was this one folded down snug to the book as recommended for envelopes?  Or just loose with the potential for USPS damage while sorting?

ETA - have I received unique packaging . . . a few books arrived wrapped in heavy calender paper, and one or two in holiday wrap (my least favorite to see in the mail box b/c the colors run when wet and the paper is brittle and easily damaged).

PS - Very soon, I'm going to try mailing in heavy (clear) plastic!

I received a book that was wrapped in big bubble wrap with packing tape all around it!  It was pretty cool and got here fine.

I have received books in the just a Ziploc and would not recommend it. Paper is smoother and will glide along the sorting machines, plastic is going to catch a lot more. The ones I have gotten were full of holes by the time they made it to me, luckily the senders had wrapped in a way that there were multiple layers of the plastic on it or the books would have been damaged. They were even fairly tight against the book, the machines were just able to puncture it alot more.

I received a book last week, sent across the country in a gallon sized ziplock bag and it arrived in perfect condition. Having said that, the book was the exact size of the bag and the sender had printed out the 1 page mailer and it was inside the bag, protected, with the address, etc. showing. I was very impressed by how well it travelled and I would use that idea for a book that fit exactly, as the sender did. I don't know if the results would have been the same if the book was loose, sliding around inside the bag.

I'm going to try a plastic bag if the book seems to fit perfectly inside the bag. I might try sending something to myself that way, although it wouldn't have to travel far to get to me. I work a few counties away so I might experiment by sending it to myself from work, and seeing how it arrives a few counties away.

I got two books yesterday sent in bubble mailers that were nowhere near the size of the book (way bigger) and the books arrived fine, but they were sent first class.

I use plastic bags on most of the books I mail, but that is underneath the paper wrapper! I use a lot of bread/roll bags but I always turn them inside out so there is no risk of food crumbs next to the book.

Stacey, oversize bubble mailers are a little more durable than plain manilla but can still be damaged by Media Maul.  The regular unpadded manilla is at high risk for damage (or arriving with pieces missing) if oversize and not folded down snug & taped...but excellent for mailing when properly fitted and taped.

Update....the sender with whom I had ordered two books...which cost me two credits....only returned ONE CREDIT. Should I be entitled to both

credits back if both books got damaged?

I'm with Melanie, you're lucky you got one credit back. She wasn't obligated to give you any credits since it was damaged by the PO.

I never ask for credits back when it's PO damage, even if the wrapping job is poor. I wouldn't ever return credits for damage by PO either, though.