Are catalogs media mail
In the United States, catalogs are generally considered to be "periodicals" for the purpose of determining their shipping classification and rates.
Periodicals, including catalogs, are typically shipped using the United States Postal Service's (USPS) Periodicals Rate, which is a discounted rate compared to First-Class Mail. However, Periodicals Rate is only available for publications that meet specific eligibility requirements, which include:
- Being published at regular intervals (e.g., weekly, biweekly, monthly).
- Containing a significant amount of original content (e.g., articles, stories, reviews).
- Being intended for general circulation, rather than being targeted to a specific individual or group.
If a catalog meets these criteria, it can be shipped using the Periodicals Rate, which is often referred to as "Media Mail." Media Mail is a cost-effective way to ship books, periodicals, and other printed materials, as it offers a discounted rate compared to First-Class Mail.
However, if a catalog does not meet the eligibility requirements for Periodicals Rate, it will be shipped using First-Class Mail or another USPS rate, which may be more expensive.
It's worth noting that some online retailers and publishers may use the term "Media Mail" to describe their shipping options, even if their catalogs do not meet the eligibility requirements for Periodicals Rate. In these cases, the shipping rate may be higher than the actual Media Mail rate.