Buyers want everything shipped for free and they want it the next day. DSRs are just stupid! Buyer’s can do whatever they want with the new system and we are at their mercy. Even if they are thrilled with their purchase, they can ding the stars if one little thing hurts their little feelings.

In fact if there is going to be a detailed rating system it should be more detailed, such as:
Did the seller contact you after auction was over? yes/no
Was the item described accurately? yes/no/neither
Were the shipping charges reasonable? yes/no
When did seller ship item after payment was received? then there could be boxes for 1-2 days, 3-4 days, etc.

The STARS should be eliminated! They are bullsh*t. Luckily, I have an excellent reputation as a seller and my stars are all 4.8/4.9 but I know it could all change with one or two bad buyers in a heartbeat.

First off . . . “Media Mail” by the official definition of the United States Postal Service:

“Media Mail”
“Small and large packages and thick envelopes can be sent using “Media Mail”. Contents are limited to books, manuscripts, sound recordings, recorded videotapes, and computer-readable media (not blank). Informally called “Book Rate,” Media Mail cannot contain advertising, except eligible books may contain incidental announcements of books.”

Started selling (and buying) on eBay nearly ten years ago. In that time, have shipped thousands of items and believe that a few tricks were learned. Whenever I ship a book it either goes out via “First Class” or “Priority Mail”. “Media Mail” is NEVER used! As a buyer, whenever one of these misguided sellers sends a softbound book by way of “Media Mail”, it is received at least 10-days later with the spine always broken. That’s 100% !!! With me, “Media Mail” is not an option!

For general information, what is now termed by the U.S. Postal Service as “Media Mail” used to be known (when I worked for the Post Office Dept. & USPS) as “Book Rate”. This was a special postal rate for mainly schools and libraries so to ship books in bulk. We used to get large duffel bag size canvas sacks stuffed with hardbound textbooks weighing in excess of 70 pounds each. At Postal Sectional Center sorting facilities, Mail Handlers still off-load trucks and toss heavy filled bags filled with “Media Mail” down the chutes which pile up into giant heaps below. With tons of dead weight on top, is it any wonder that your single book or video gets damaged or destroyed? “Media Mail” is also a level below that of “Parcel Post” which is bottom priority for handling, sorting and delivery. It is very slow service!

As a rule, I avoid sellers of books that state shipping to be “Media Mail”. Sometimes though with a good “Buy it Now” deal, the higher set shipping cost within the listing is somewhat misleading. Somehow it’s figured that with $7.00 or $8.00 listed to mail a softbound book, the seller is likely to use First Class and then pockets two or three bucks for his trouble to deal with me. Invoice from the seller is received and locked in on the “Media Mail” mode as the only means of shipping provided. Next step is a message to the seller which is most often responded to with shipping via First Class will cost me ten-bucks (or more). Then the argument starts. As mentioned previously, it’s best to try to avoid this situation in the first place. Previously, before the new Feedback system was put place, the buyer had no leverage. Now, if the seller tries for a shake down to ship the item, negative feedback can be at least suggested.

Fact is, for light articles under a couple of pounds in weight, “First Class” service is not much more money than “Media Mail”. Then Priority Mail is close to “First Class” in cost.
Seeing that many are somewhat new to eBay, I have tried to explain to numerous of these arrogant fools but to no avail.

In fact “Priority Mail” and “First Class” are essentially the SAME service. It’s a Postal Service hype scam to sometimes collect ten-times as “First Class” mail! The one advantage of “Priority Mail” is that the Post Office supplies the shipping containers, boxes and cartons at no cost to the sender. That’s the big plus! For an average size under 9×12” softbound book, I always ship via “Priority Mail” using a Postal Service provided rigid box. Put some packing material within and the buyer receives that item within a couple of days safe and undamaged. Everybody’s happy!

Another rule of thumb for anything sent through the mails or probably any means of transport is speed. Figure that the less time the article has in the destructive hands of the shipping apes the better. Three days is much less time than ten days or more for the goons to wreck or lose the thing.

Also, when is somebody going to crack down on sellers who ship everything and anything via “Media Mail”? Awhile ago, I had an eBay seller thug trying to extort me for shipping on a four-pound Lionel train locomotive using “Media Mail” at a cost of $26.00. Did I tumble off the pumpkin wagon last Tuesday? Needless to say, I didn’t pay it. Gave up trying to be reasonable and instructive with some of these creeps. Most are not simply ignorant newbies but are instead rude nickel n’ dime petty crooks.

Both the U.S. Postal Service and eBay are indifferent to the widespread abuse of “Media Mail”. My complaints to both entities went nowhere. They’re just not interested. eBay sees no profit in policing this problem and the Postal Service is top heavy with incompetent management hacks. Summing it up, my advice is to avoid any seller who insist on shipping, except perhaps a well packed heavy hardbound book via “Media Mail”. For a few pounds or less, First Class is a far better way to go for myriad reasons.