Media Mail® Awareness

Media Mail® service has special eligibility requirements for permissible contents. Eligible items include:

books (at least 8 pages);
Sound recordings and video recordings, such as CDs and DVDs;
playscripts/manuscripts for books, periodicals, and music; printed music’
computer readable media containing prerecorded information and guides or scripts prepared solely for use with such media;
16 millimeter or narrower width films;
printed objective test materials and their accessories (e.g. from educational institutes);
printed educational reference charts;
loose-leaf pages and their binders consisting of medical information for distribution to doctor, hospital, medical school and student.

Media Mail prices are based on weight and size regardless of zone. Note: Media Mail packages may not contain advertising except that books may contain incidental announcements of books and sound recordings may contain incidental announcements of other recordings.

Based on concern from Post Office™ facilities on possible inappropriate requests for the Media Mail price, Standard Operating Procedures have been developed at retail acceptance.
The goal of the procedures is to educate our customers on eligibility for the Media Mail price.
What has changed?

• Retail associates will now inform customers Media Mail service has special eligibility requirements and is subject to postal inspection.
• Notice 121, Media Mail Service, has been developed to help educate Media Mail customers on eligibility requirements. Notice 121 is available for through Topeka MDC (NSN #7610-07-000- 4037).
• Media Mail stampers that read “Media Mail—Subject to Inspection” should be stamped on every Media Mail item that is accepted at Retail.
• Postmasters/supervisors will be conducting periodic spot inspections on Media Mail items after acceptance.

What can you do?
• Advise the customer that Media Mail service has special eligibility requirements and is subject to postal inspection.
• Ensure the customer included a return address on the package and the package is properly endorsed as “Media Mail—Subject to Inspection.”
• Notice 121, Media Mail Service, has been developed to help educate Media Mail customers on eligibility requirements. Notice 121 is available for through Topeka MDC (NSN #7610-07-000- 4037).
• Accept the Media Mail packages as you would any normal Package Services shipment without any deviation and dispatch according to local procedures.
• Separate Media Mail packages on spot inspection day if requested by postmaster or supervisor.

DVDs, CDs, CD-ROMs
Sound recordings (DVD, CD)
Cannot be blank
No advertising, except for incidental announcements of other sound recordings
CD-ROMs eligible as “computer-readable media”
Cannot be discs designed for use with gaming systems (e.g., Xbox, Wii, etc.) Other gaming cartridges inserts and plug-ins are not Media Mail eligible (e.g., UMDs)