LetterAgent
Mail physical letters by just asking your AI assistant.
Media Mail is USPS's cheapest shipping rate, reserved for books, printed music, sound recordings, and films: a fraction of regular parcel cost in exchange for slower handling. Only specific items qualify, packages can be opened for inspection, and slipping a personal letter inside disqualifies the whole package. Canada Post has no equivalent; its similar library rate is restricted to libraries.
| Qualifies | Does not qualify |
|---|---|
| Books of at least 8 printed pages | Magazines and comic books with advertising |
| Printed music and sheet music | Blank notebooks, diaries, and calendars |
| Sound recordings and video recordings | Video games and computer drives with software |
| Printed educational charts and test materials | Personal letters, cards, and photographs |
| Loose-leaf pages and binders of medical information | Any advertising or merchandise |
Media Mail is a subsidized rate that dates back to the idea that spreading books and educational material serves the public good. The trade is speed: Media Mail rides in the slow lane, moving when there is spare capacity, so it can take noticeably longer than first-class or priority parcels. Tracking updates can be sparse for the same reason, since the packages move on whatever transport has room. It is the right choice when the contents are cheap to replace and nobody is waiting on them, like mailing a textbook to a relative. It is the wrong choice for anything time-sensitive.
USPS can open Media Mail packages to verify the contents qualify. You are allowed to seal the package, but seal it knowing it may be opened and resealed in transit, so do not pack anything that would be ruined by that. The practical takeaway: only mail things that obviously qualify. If a package looks like it might contain something else, it is the one that gets opened, and if it does not qualify, it can be sent postage-due or returned.
The classic mistake is tucking a handwritten note or a greeting card in with the book. Personal correspondence disqualifies the entire package from Media Mail, and this is the violation inspectors find most often. An invoice or packing slip related to the contents is fine; a "happy birthday, love grandma" note is not. Mail the note separately as a letter and keep the book package purely books.
Canada Post has no public Media Mail equivalent. Its Library Materials rate offers similar cheap shipping for books, but it is restricted to libraries sending to other libraries, not to the general public. Canadians mailing books to friends and family use regular parcel rates.
Ready to mail it? Send your letter with LetterAgent - describe it to your AI assistant, approve the exact quoted price, and it's printed and mailed.
LetterAgent is a working name. Prices include print, postage, and our service fee. US prices in USD, Canadian prices in CAD (Canadian prices exclude applicable sales tax, added at checkout). Currently in private testing.
Need help? Ask your assistant. It can check a job's status any time. If it ever can't handle something: hello@getletteragent.com