USPS parcel post

[iodlee]

guys - i underestand first class mail weight limit is 16oz but parcel post is 70lb right? Why doesn't parcel post appear as an option in ebay shipping tool? Any other good online resource to print those labels at home and hand to the mailman and save the inconvenience of going to the post office

thanks

[nobody*s_perfect]

USPS hasn't used the term "Parcel Post" for a few years.  The new names for that service are "Retail Ground" and "Parcel Select Ground" (which is the online version that you can purchase through ebay).  

However, you will find that in most cases it costs the same as shipping via Priority Mail, which also has a 70-pound weight limit.  The notable exception is for packages that are over 1 cubic foot (1728 cubic inches) and going to Zones 5 - 9 because they incur a "dimensional weight" for Priority Mail. 

[iodlee]

just amazing shipping a 3lb package from 11375 nyc to texas 75033 costs $12 in priority

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

Not if you use an RRA box or can fit the item into a flat rate padded envelope. Sellers need to ship smarter.

[blueeggsandspam]

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@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth wrote:

Not if you use an RRA box or can fit the item into a flat rate padded envelope. Sellers need to ship smarter.

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@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth

Is there a RRA Box for Dummies guide somewhere? I've never used them, but see them mentioned often. 

[mudshark61369]

@iodlee,

 "shipping a 3lb package from 11375 nyc to texas 75033 costs $12 in priority".

Is that in a USPS box, or a plain box with a dimension over 12"?  Priority rates do go up with package size.

[sam9876]

Notice 123.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@blueeggsandspam wrote:

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 ... Is there a RRA Box for Dummies guide somewhere? I've never used them, but see them mentioned often. 

USPS Priority Mail has 3 types of pricing: Flat rate, Regional rate, and regular rates based on package weight and distance.

The 4 Regional-rate boxes are known as A (2 shapes) and B (2 shapes). Each of these boxes has a maximum weight capacity and has a postage cost based on the destination Zone: The "A" boxes ship at the 2-pound rate and have a maximum weight of 15 pounds; the "B" boxes ship at the 5-pound rate and may weigh up to 20 pounds.   Thus, using one of the Regional A boxes will save you money if the package weighs more than 2 pounds.

[blueeggsandspam]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

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@blueeggsandspam wrote:

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 ... Is there a RRA Box for Dummies guide somewhere? I've never used them, but see them mentioned often. 

USPS Priority Mail has 3 types of pricing: Flat rate, Regional rate, and regular rates based on package weight and distance.

The 4 Regional-rate boxes are known as A (2 shapes) and B (2 shapes). Each of these boxes has a maximum weight capacity and has a postage cost based on the destination Zone: The "A" boxes ship at the 2-pound rate and have a maximum weight of 15 pounds; the "B" boxes ship at the 5-pound rate and may weigh up to 20 pounds.   Thus, using one of the Regional A boxes will save you money if the package weighs more than 2 pounds. 

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Thank you. I'm going to order some A & B boxes just in case, but checking the dimensions on the USPS site, they might not work for me. My items that are over 2 pounds typically need bigger boxes. 

[adkhighker]

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@blueeggsandspam wrote:

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@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth wrote:

Not if you use an RRA box or can fit the item into a flat rate padded envelope. Sellers need to ship smarter.

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@the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth

Is there a RRA Box for Dummies guide somewhere? I've never used them, but see them mentioned often. 

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Same here. I could use a good guide for that as well. I tried studying up on an article about the regional boxes a while back and when I was done with the article I was just as confused coming out as when I went in. I'll have to try it again sometime.

[blueeggsandspam]

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@adkhighker wrote:

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Same here. I could use a good guide for that as well. I tried studying up on an article about the regional boxes a while back and when I was done with the article I was just as confused coming out as when I went in. I'll have to try it again sometime.

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Exactly! Everything I read about them makes my eyes glaze over. They used to have a bigger one, didn't they? What happened to that size? I'm not sure these smaller ones will work for me. 

From the USPS site:

Regional Rate Boxes A and B are best used for small, dense packages being shipped short distances.

A - Inside Dimensions: 10" x 7" x 4-3/4" Outside Dimensions: 10-1/8" x 7-1/8" x 5"

B - Inside Dimensions: 12" x 10-1/4 x 5" Outside Dimensions: 12"-1/4 x 10-1/2" x 5-1/2"

 

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

I’m hesitant to make recommendations because the rates are all changing at the end of the month. 

Right now RRA is always cheaper than MFRB. MFRB is cheaper than RRB for far zones but  more expensive for near zones.

I use the PFRE or LFRE when I can. Next I go to RRA for a bigger order that fits. Even bigger order goes either into medium flat rate or RRB depending on zone.

I used a large flat rate box yesterday for the first time in years. Should have used them on other recent orders 😡

it really can save save a lot of money if the RR boxes work for you. Why pay the PO extra?

[iodlee]

is there a tool that you can input exact box dimensios, weight, zip codes and it'll recommend a shippoing method? USps or ebay website don't show the regional boxes

[sam9876]

"Regional Rate Boxes A and B are best used for small, dense packages being shipped short distances."

False.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

Right now the RRA box ships at the 2 pound rate and the RRB at the 5 pound rate. That's changing with the new prices though. 

There has been some discussion on the boards about why the RR boxes are available for shipping labels but not the calculator.