I am a new PBS Member.  I use Printable Postage through PBS.  My media mail shipments have been arriving in 2-4 days --- much quicker than I had expected.  Is there any way my PO is sending the items through 1st class rather than Media?  I'm just really surprised my books are getting to their destinations so fast!

Tell us where the scans are going thru and we can tell you if its a first class mail stream or a media mail stream.

I know recently in the Dallas area my media mail stopped traveling thru theDallas NDC network (media mail stream) and started going thru Coppel (the first class mail stream).  There are some reasons potentially why as the Dallas area just went thru a major mail processing change.  Although the media mail handling is incorrect thru the Coppell first class stream, but I don't need another project right now to figure out where the breakdown is in mailflow and as an employee customer I can enjoy the 2-3 day delivery my books are experiencing to recipients.

Here are a few ......................

1. 10/22/2010 3:00 PM ET - Electronic Shipping Info Received - LELAND, NC
2. 10/24/2010 2:14 AM ET - Enroute - DENVER, CO
3. 10/25/2010 4:14 AM ET - Arrival at Unit - COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
4. 10/25/2010 10:24 AM ET - Unknown-PC - COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
5. 10/25/2010 10:54 AM ET - Unknown-OF - COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
6. 10/25/2010 4:00 PM ET - Delivered - COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

1. 10/24/2010 9:00 PM ET - Electronic Shipping Info Received - LELAND, NC
2. 10/26/2010 9:14 PM ET - Enroute - INDIANAPOLIS, IN
3. 10/27/2010 5:46 AM ET - Arrival at Unit - INDIANAPOLIS, IN
4. 10/27/2010 10:01 AM ET - Unknown-PC - INDIANAPOLIS, IN
5. 10/27/2010 10:31 AM ET - Unknown-OF - INDIANAPOLIS, IN
6. 10/27/2010 2:20 PM ET - Delivered - INDIANAPOLIS, IN

1. 10/25/2010 1:00 PM ET - Electronic Shipping Info Received - LELAND, NC
2. 10/26/2010 10:11 PM ET - Enroute - CINCINNATI, OH
3. 10/27/2010 7:20 AM ET - Arrival at Unit - DAYTON, OH
4. 10/27/2010 9:38 AM ET - Unknown-PC - DAYTON, OH
5. 10/27/2010 10:08 AM ET - Unknown-OF - DAYTON, OH
6. 10/27/2010 12:20 PM ET - Delivered - DAYTON, OH

Alot depends on the weight Jennifer.  There's a break at 7 oz. (IIRC) where it's actually cheaper to send First Class, and PBS will automatically choose FC for books under that weight.  Over 7 oz. is cheaper Media Mail, and PBS will use that rate for those weights.  Therefore, if you have been mailing smaller books they could easily be traveling First Class.

What's been printed in the maililng labels?

ETA - Welcome to PBS!!

I purchased a scale to check my weights at home - they were all sent Media Mail & that is what was printed on the label.  Thanks for the warm welcome!

Welcome, Jennifer. My only comment on your book speed is that - sometimes that happens :-) If the mail load is low, the media mail is processed as quickly as first class, if the mail system is busier,the media mail tends to sit. If you are sure the mail is marked media, and that you are paying media rates,(which it appears you are) then, sit back and enjoy.

Sometimes it just happens that way Jennifer, may your mail always be so speedy!

i joke about it some times like i said i think the book i mailed media mail was a stowaway in the first class

its kind of like card sometime media mail can be as fast as first class but then they can also be on the slow boat to china

Indianapolis is a first class facility - so that example was sent in the first class stream.  Denver and Cinnicinnati - without seeing the associated ZIP of the facility (which would be noted on the Postal DC page)  could either be the first class faility or the NDC facility.

All of my Media Mail items get to their destination within a few days.  I'm very impressed with it.  The postal workers always seem surprised, however, when I tell them this.  Of course they want you to buy First Class instead, but I'll take whatever savings I can get since I spend alot each month on shipping. 

I've been mailing books since 2004.  A lot really does depend on the sorting facility.  Also I have noticed that this time of year the PO starts to beef up for the holiday season so for about 6 weeks until the holiday packages increase I see a real improvement in service (delivery times).  Now come February - not so much.

Got a book Nov 1, 2010  marked Media Mail mailed on Oct 30 th from MO to GA.  I'd call that bordering on Express Mail!

Unless it's going coast to coast or overseas, media mail usually is just as fast as first class.

It won't be that way long..........we are already starting to notice an increase in packages at the post office. Media mail will soon be taking a back seat and slowing down.

sometimes media mail gets there really fast, other times slow.  It goes only when there is room, so the estimated time can be from 4 - 15 days.  I find sometimes that a book is cheaper first class and wil mail it that way.  I have mailed 2 books to the same address and l got there quick and l took over a week.

At Christmas time, your books may take much longer.