Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info

End-of-Year Fundraising Drive In Progress. Please visit our home page to see this and other announcements: https://www.mmdigest.com     Thank you. --Jody

MMD > Archives > April 2016 > 2016.04.08 > 03Prev  Next


Shipping Music Rolls by USPS Media Mail
By Joyce Brite

I ship about 250 to 300 packages year, mostly books and sheet music,
but also piano rolls.  Most of the packages are sent by Media Mail.
On the roll packages I write, "Player Piano Rolls, Media Mail
173.4.1.e".

Piano rolls are specifically referenced in Section "e" of the USPS
regulations on Media Mail:

  "Sound recordings, including incidental announcements of recordings
  and guides or scripts prepared solely for use with such recordings.
  Video recordings and player piano rolls are classified as sound
  recordings."

Ref. http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/173.htm 

Packaging and appearance are important when shipping rolls, books,
or other media.  I use mostly new boxes that are purchased in bulk from
Uline.  I occasionally use recycled boxes but they have to be clean,
in good condition, and with no or very few markings on the outside.

The key is to make the packaging look professional.  An obviously used
box with markings from a toy, electronics or grocery store chain that
is marked "Media Mail" arouses the suspicions of the postal inspector.

Labeling can also be important.  Use a printed label rather than
a hand-written one.  Instead of your personal name for the return
address use "XXXXXXX Music Rolls"

Technically speaking, you are allowed to use a well-used box and a
hand-written label for Media Mail packages, but those are also the
packages which are most likely to be inspected by the Postal Service.

Joyce Brite


(Message sent Fri 8 Apr 2016, 21:36:24 GMT, from time zone GMT.)

Key Words in Subject:  Mail, Media, Music, Rolls, Shipping, USPS

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page