I just received an order for eight books. I am planning on mailing them Media Mail. Question - Can I use a box to mail these books or does it have to be in an envelope or different packaging. After reading all the info on Media Mail on the USPS website I am more confused than ever!!! Also if it is a box are there any dimensions that are maximums???

Thank you.

I'm sure there are maximum dimensions for a box, but I've used boxes to send over 20 books media mail (pretty large boxes) and didn't have any problems. Yes, you can use a box to put those 8 books in for media mail.

Debi, you can use any size box as long as it isn't a priority mail box (will arrive postage due for the higher priority rate if caught). I just recycled an old appliance box to mail 45 books out in a BOB deal. I mailed it media mail with no problem. Have fun.

Pam

Babs & Pam - thank you so much - I'm off to the Post Office.

Best wishes.

I've used cereal boxes, maxi pad boxes (the jumbo packs from BJs)-whatever box I have on hand that'll fit the books.

Also if you don't have a box that's a good size: make bricks out of them with saran wrap (not press n seal) and then wrap them up with a sturdy paper of some kind.

Never seem to have a good maxi pad box when I need one LOL.   Last week I did get some books sent to me in a shoe box.  That will definately get recycled, those things are sturdy and I havn't had shoe money for a while so no shoe boxes of my own laying around.

Its good to hear a reminder about the USPS priority mail boxes. I truly didnt think twice about recycling a couple of them for PBS orders. Luckily mine weren't "caught" but I won't do it again.   I did notice the post office lady look at it funny but I didnt think anything of it until I read hear thats a no no.  I had just never thought about it being against the rules and feel lucky it didn't cause a returned package. I'd have been so mad at myself.

I recently sent out 8 books in an Amazon box, just the right size.  I get 'em I keep 'em for when I need them.

I took it to the PO and the clerk told me for eight cents more I could send it priority mail, this was a Saturday and the person had the books Monday!  I did pay the extra just because I knew it would be a big surprise.  I was surprised that it got there so fast over a weekend.

Amazing that the price difference was between media mail and priority.  Not that I'm going priority for a book on a regular basis!!!.

Geri, that makes no sense to me.  Do you remember what the actual weight was?  The only place I can find an 8 cent difference between Priority and MM is at the 8 pound MM rate ($5.11) and the 2 pound Zone 3 Priority rate ($5.20), and that's actually a 9 cent difference.

Are you sure the clerk wasn't looking at the FCM rate, or parcel post?