Feedback question …

[kickin.assets]

Normally this isn’t an issue, either a transaction was great where positive feedback is left or it was meh, I leave no feedback, and just move on from it.

Decided to try some off brand thermal labels. Bought said labels (which work awesome with my rollo btw ❤️)! Sellers shipping/service/product was excellent. So what’s the problem you ask?

Seller used a Priority box “hidden” inside of a poly bag, utilizing USPS ground and not Priority. I understand why they did this as labels were $22 with free shipping. Box was heavy (2000 labels), so more than a few pounds.

Now I know many think, no big deal, you received what you purchased and loved it so this should just be a carry on, let it go thing … but … I use priority padded flat rate envelopes almost every day and do not want these free supplies to go away because of the abuse.

Think if it was a unknowledgeable new seller or very small seller, I may have let this one slide but it is a BIGGER seller (1300 pos feedback/12 neutral/2 neg last 30 days). So is this a leave nothing, move on and forget it or 🤔. I really shouldn’t be this po’d as I received better than expected product/deal. Help! Lol

Many thanks for thoughts on this matter!

Kiks

[redlinear]

Shredded paper.
Business here in town that employeed special needs people/kids.    They shredded papers and documents for..mostly other local businesses, including the banks.  
And sold the shredded paper to other local businesses to use as packaging. 
Non-Profit, made enough to keep special needs people employed. 
ALL involved knew where the shredded paper was going, and where it came from.  
ALL good with it.
    Until I shipped a package to somebody (probably somebody above).  Threw a fit about it.  Apparently they could make out part of a checking account number.  And, decided that with a few tons of this stuff, they might be able to make out a whole checking account number....and make a deposit I guess???
   Reported it to our states Attorney General and several other agencies.
Who, in turn, sent me and the shredder business a very nice letter.
   That was the end of that.  They sent everybody home and they closed up shop.
Now the banks have some other company shredding for them, at a much greater expense.
And if I wanted, I could still buy the shredded paper, but it's too costly and too far to drive now.
And, I've got plenty of Priority Boxes anyway...
   

[youn2240]

I buy all my packaging or reuse some larger boxes but if you want to use the USPS shipping materials out of regulation like an outlaw I say go for it. I pay em lots of money so feel free to take anything you want out of their lobby. Sounds like something those tariffs can pay for. 

[gator08041971]

I did this recently.  I had a large quantity of boxes from back when I was doing a lot more priority shipping as it was sometimes cheaper than another option.

I haven't used Priority to ship anything in over a year.  I kept a few of each size box that I might use, took nearly a 100 boxes to the post office.

They were happy to get them.

I do reuse previously used boxes or mailers for packaging materials, but only used ones.  Often they are cut up and used to wrap books or movies, things like that.  I will reuse old bubble mailers as well for packaging support.  Sorry, but not sorry about it.  I would rather recycle them.  Often they aren't good enough to be reused as main outer packaging again.

New materials I will NOT use for anything but for shipping with that method.  Used is fair game in my view.  I wouldn't even use doubling or extra materials that are new when shipping priority. (Like using new priority bubble mailers to pad an item in a priority box that was being shipped priority - I don't do that either)

But that's me.

[redlinear]

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@mommaknows wrote:

@redlinear It really comes down to what one feels is the right thing to do. I am big on doing what feels right to me. We all need to follow our hearts. 

Maybe the next time your at your local Post Office ask them. 😉 

---

I asked our mail carrier.  She said "Use them! Do whatever you want with them"
  Of course, she loves us.
The more packages she can scan, the better her vacation time or pay.

[cstpos]

@kickin.assets  I agree. I don't like it either. We received a box and the seller had rolled up 9 USPS Padded FRE as packing material. They were new, but couldn't be reused. When they rolled or wadded them up, that little strip we all love stuck to everything around it because the peel-off part had partially come off.

If you plan on buying from then again, you might not want to leave a neg or neutral. 

I found this online:

Yes, you should report a seller who uses USPS Padded Flat Rate Envelopes as internal packing material for a non-Priority Mail service, as this violates federal regulations and constitutes a form of theft from the postal service. You can report this misuse to the USPS Inspector Service or by contacting the local post office identified by the seller's return address.
 

Why it's a violation

• Federal Law:

  Using USPS-produced packaging for services other than the one it's designed for is a violation of federal law. 

• Theft:

  The packaging is provided free of charge for specific mail services, and using it for other classes of mail is considered theft of USPS services and resources. 
• Financial Impact:

  This misuse leads to higher costs for the USPS, which can contribute to increased postage rates for everyone else. 

How to Report It

1. 1. Contact the Postal Inspector:

   .

Visit the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) website to file a complaint. 

• 2. Contact the Local Post Office:

  .

Find the seller's local post office using their return address zip code and report the misuse to the postmaster. 

What to Include in Your Report

The seller's information (name, address, or selling platform). 

Details about the item or service the USPS packaging was used for. 

A copy of the shipping label and any photos or documentation you may have

[redlinear]

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@youn2240 wrote:

I buy all my packaging or reuse some larger boxes but if you want to use the USPS shipping materials out of regulation like an outlaw I say go for it. I pay em lots of money so feel free to take anything you want out of their lobby. Sounds like something those tariffs can pay for. 

---

Outlaw may be a stretch.
However, I kinda like it......   I'm an Outlaw!!  

[youn2240]

Also not a bad idea to report any suspicious last names to ICE just in case. 

[orangehound]

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@redlinear wrote:

Now that there's Ground Advantage?  Seldom do we have a need to ship Priority.
   Should I just throw all these boxes in the trash can?  Waste them?
   Or should I make use of them somehow?  
Like interior padding for Ground Advantage

---

@redlinear 

We took all but a few of them to the local post office, and they gladly accepted them.  They told me that (a) they cannot get anything other than flat rate boxes, and (b) customers really appreciate the "gift" as they are then able to ship Priority Mail with less cost.

All we have left is about 20 various PM boxes and envelopes, and haven't sent anything PM for the last year.

[fern*wood]

I sorted out my "box room" recently and loaded them into my husband's pickup truck.  He said the post office was happy to take them.  I kept a few for myself in case I don't have all of my listings revised. 

I'm sad about it, though, since having those boxes made shipping so much easier.  I still use them sometimes, even though it cost me more, if I can't find a proper plain box.  Plus I keep in mind the cost of buying boxes occasionally which makes the GA savings not as great.   I'm guessing this is the postal service's way of getting out of the box business and the cost of GA is creeping up to rival Priority, so it's a big win for them. 

[gloryglorygifts]

That is one of my pet peeves. I bought just a handful of items last year from ebay sellers and two of them used postal supplies to pack the items inside. Mentioned it on here and got a lot of who cares, so I just left pos and spoke about the product only.

You do what you feel is right.

[gurlcat]

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@redlinear wrote:

When USPS had First Class and Priority.   We shipped anything over 1 lb Priority.
Kept thousands of those Priority Boxes on hand (every different size/style).
Now that there's Ground Advantage?  Seldom do we have a need to ship Priority.
   Should I just throw all these boxes in the trash can?  Waste them?
   Or should I make use of them somehow?  
Like interior padding for Ground Advantage

There are quite a few online sellers out there with the money and the means to use their own custom made PERFECT boxes.  An expanding foam machine.  New Bubble Wrap. Styrofoam packing peanuts. The best packaging tape available.
   Should they start leaving y'all poor feedback because you're doing the best you can with what you have?

And for those of you that Sell?  Best be carefull leaving feedback.  That'll come back and get ya later. I know.

---

Amen to all this ^.   I can't even use my sewing table because the whole space under it is occupied by Priority packaging from back when I sold larger items, and I don't know what to do with it.  Several times I've been tempted to use one of the slimline small boxes made for CD's (that I didn't even mean to order, mistook them for a different size).  -They would be perfect for certain jewelry items, but absurd to actually use Priority tier shipping for. 

 But each time I consider slipping one inside a poly bag, I picture a buyer who would think I'm a **bleep** and chew me a new one for it. 

@kickin.assets  Do whatever your gut says, but I think it is well worth considering that the seller could be in this same boat, just using old supplies they would otherwise have no use for. 

[gurlcat]

One thing to ask yourself, did you get the best labels for the best price from this seller, and (packaging aside), would you buy from them again?  You may think 2000 labels will last forever ... until they don't.  Funny coincidence, I'm about to dig through my purchase history in hopes of finding the last seller I bought labels from (not thermal but regular printer).  I used my last one yesterday, and the "backup" ones I have are utterly awful.  It's not always possible to tell what quality is being offered -I just know the last seller I bought from had the BEST I've ever used, and the price was great too. 

But if I had negged him or wrote him a lecture email, I'd expect to be on his BBL.  Just saying.   

[christworks]

Some of you people pat yourselves on the back as if you never do anything wrong. You are probably the same people who don't return shopping carts to the corral, park in handicap spaces without a tag, or do other things that you justify to yourself as "okay."  We all do things like that! Anyone who says they don't is a liar -- or you are doing something much worse. If I could see into your lives at everything you do, I'm sure I'd find plenty of worse things to report. Get over yourselves. 

[farmalljr]

Actually no, not everyone is stealing. You must be, since your position seems to support doing it because no one is "perfect". Matter of fact more than 50% of my packages do not contain stolen USPS supplies. So no, most people are not stealing USPS supplies. 

[mommaknows]

@christworks WOW! Where are you taking this....

The bottom line is wrong is wrong and to call out people, myself included, for making that point, well is amazing to me especially with your name "christworks." This isn't about anything but what was posted and not any "worse things to report." Hopefully you will be better. 

Ps. No, we don't  "all do things like that."