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Can you use USPS priority mail boxes when shipping with USPS Ground Advantage?
Are you able to ship USPS Ground packages with the free USPS priority mail boxes?
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Are you able to ship USPS Ground packages with the free USPS priority mail boxes?
jasa889272
·11 months agoToday I dealt with this issue…
I asked them to show me the law or proof besides just the box because I’ve been doing it this way for years…
they took my packages without scanning them basically saying they are seized…
But yet one now has updated in the system and is going to arrive at the destination but the other 2 still have absolutely no update??? Isn’t that in itself illegal??
mind you I paid MORE than the prepaid priority mail amount so why wouldn’t they just refund me for the original label and put a new priority label over it…? Why did they have to take my packages now making me lose an upsetting amount of money..
usps is horrible… going to use fedex from now on since it seems like they have all around less issues
magicjohnsonsvariety
·11 months agoOh yeah, fedex is much better...🙄
extrabook
·2 years agoWhat about for Ground Advantage Returns? The seller sent me the item in a priority mail envelope, but the return postage is Ground Advantage Return (no weight or zone listed). I would guess you can't use the Priority Mail envelope.
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Returns/Seller-gave-me-a-USPS-Ground-Advantage-Returns-label-But-he-had/td-p/34158936
kingyahoo2
·2 years agoWow, that point was lost on me. First Class was always under a pound, then it was replaced by Ground Advantage under a pound. Suddenly Ground Advantage can be used up to 70 pounds. I always use Priority Mail Boxes over a pound. Guess I have some adjusting to do, and maybe a couple bills will come in the mail.
wastingtime101
·2 years agoGround Advantage weight limit has been 70 lbs since day 1 of its launch - July 9 2023 @kingyahoo2
kingyahoo2
·2 years agoWow, that totally slipped by me unnoticed. Thanks for the info. Fortunately I don't ship packages over a pound very often, and sometimes I don't use Priority Mail boxes to do so. I doubt I sent 3 or 4 in the unacceptable manner. But all of my listings over a pound I listed as Priority Mail only, for sure. Are buyers offered a choice of GA or PM automatically? That would be why I didn't notice it.
nobody*s_perfect
·2 years agoNo; buyers can only choose a shipping method that the seller has chosen to offer in the listing. If your listings are set up with Priority Mail, then your buyers will not have the option to chose Ground Advantage. And you should not ship via Ground Advantage, since that would be a downgrade in service level.
USPS invented the service name "Ground Advantage" last year; it's merely the merger of the services formerly known as First Class package (weight limit 15.99 ounces online, 13 ounces retail), Parcel Select Ground (weight limit 70 pounds), and Retail Ground (weight limit 70 pounds).
wastingtime101
·2 years agoWhat is "the unacceptable manner" @kingyahoo2 ?
You do not have to use Priority packaging to ship using Priority service.
But if you do use Priority packaging, then you have to ship Priority service.
kingyahoo2
·2 years agoUnacceptable - I mean I shipped GA in a PM box. I had no idea. I never even looked at the label. It's two pounds, it's PM, always been that way. Until it wasn't. I looked at my last 10 months listings, I think I shipped two in PM boxes with GA labels. I always complied with weight, of course. Though over the year I have RECEIVED some severely overweight packages that no one questioned. 20 some years ago someone shipped me a desktop PC, Media Mail, and no problem at all.
nobody*s_perfect
·2 years agoSince 2017, USPS has had special equipment at their sorting centers, to detect underpaid or overpaid online postage labels, and to automatically adjust the sender's account. So those "severely overweight" packages probably were caught and the Postage Due was charged to the sender. The same system will probably detect your underpaid packages that were sent in Priority Mail boxes with Ground Advantage postage. This automated system saves a lot of aggravation for USPS staff and package recipients.
https://link.usps.com/2017/10/05/what-is-apv/
http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/ship-smart/ebay-shipping-partners/avoid-extra-postage-costs.html
wastingtime101
·2 years agoThose APV charges are usually applied within 2-4 weeks (latest I experienced was 6 weeks). So if the seller is looking over orders from past 10 months they may have skated on the misuse of Priority boxes - or they were charged cost adjustments but didn't see the messages.
714ricki
·2 years agoThe USPS Priority Boxes can only be used for the USPS Priority Service level. If you try to use them for Ground Advantage, then either the parcel will be returned to the shipper for additional postage or the USPS will try to collect extra postage from the recipient. 😱
nobody*s_perfect
·2 years agoThe APV system will automatically charge the sender for the underpaid postage.
https://link.usps.com/2017/10/05/what-is-apv/
http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/ship-smart/ebay-shipping-partners/avoid-extra-postage-costs.html
iamalwaysright
·2 years agoNo
3456789
momtoabeautifuldaughter
·2 years agoUh no, they are for Priority Mail only.
if you use them you have to pay for Priority shipping
simba6
·3 years agoNope. Those boxes require priority postage on them.
ajs_coins_and_alchemy
·3 years agoSeller recently shipped me a Ground Advantage Package in a Priority Box. I was charged $2.95 additional postage at the post office upon pickup (difference in price between the postage paid by seller and the appropriate priority label). I then went to the seller for reimbursement.
Do not do this ... you will not get away with it and you will inevitably P-Off your buyers... big time.
stephenmorgan
·3 years agoNope cannot do this. USPS may reject the package, send you a bill for Priority Mail or may ask the person receiving package to pay the additional amount for Priority Mail.
https://faq.usps.com/s/article/How-do-I-Use-or-Reuse-Boxes-Properly
Can I Use Priority Mail Express® Service or Priority Mail® Service Envelopes for Other Mail?
If any Priority Mail Express service or Priority Mail service packaging or packaging supplies e.g., Priority Mail tape to seal a USPS Ground Advantageâ„¢ package, are used on any other class of mail, the applicable Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail price will be charged.
Any matter mailed in these free boxes is charged the appropriate Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail price, regardless of how the packaging is reconfigured (including being turned inside out, cut, shrunk, enlarged, etc.) or how the markings are obliterated.
Mail dropped in a Collection Box receptacle using inappropriate packaging (including, for example, mailing Priority Mail items in an Priority Mail Express box) is either:
nenn_7395
·2 years agoAnd they say laws are made to keep the people safe... what About the law that says I have a ton of USPS priority mailboxes that I cannot use with USPS ground. That's a waste of boxes and a waste of time. Quit categorizing boxes and making dumb federal laws that make the general use of them against the law. No wonder so many people disregard laws - there are too many ridiculous laws made up for no good reason.
buyselljack2016
·2 years ago@nenn_7395
Priority boxes are free from USPS to use for Priority shipping.
USPS is not here to give you "free" boxes to use for a less costly service.
techvaluesatoz
·2 years agoAnd, how much did you pay USPS for those boxes? Nothing, right? That's because they give them to patrons with the understanding/agreement that they will be used only for USPS Priority or other higher cost USPS shipping services to be billed when used. When you order the free ones with free delivery from USPS, you must ascertain that you understand and agree to the conditions of order, acceptance, and use.
I applaud your interest in seeing that the boxes are properly used and stay out of the landfill, at least until they fulfill at least one shipping use. Your local PO will receive clean condition ones for inventory and redistribution (at least the ones that are not sized and printed for the specific and discontinued Priority Regional Rate A and B uses). It is probably good to keep a few of various sizes on hand, and even the Regional Rate boxes may be used for regular Priority Mail shipping, though at regular rates billed for box size, weight, and destination.
house*of*paws
·2 years agoHi @nenn_7395
It’s only a waste of boxes if you keep them. 🙂
Now that you know the boxes were intended to be used only for Priority shipping … aren’t you planning to return them on your next visit to the post office?
krazzykats
·2 years agoMy post office is always glad to take my extras.
house*of*paws
·2 years agoThen problem solved. 😊
I'm not a seller. I save the packing peanuts I get from buying items in large, lawn bags ... and then take the full ones to my local UPS store, which is happy to recycle them when they pack stuff in the store.
a_c_green
·2 years agoDefinitely. If you're not going to use the Priority Mail boxes, drop them off at the local PO. There are shelves and racks there for free Priority packaging, so just refill the shelves.
I get so many purchases coming to me with Priority Mail Flat Rate Padded Envelopes used as stuffing inside the box that I let them flatten out again, then periodically stack them up and bring them back to our local PO.