USPS "Priority" boxes

[shagmedelic51]

Had to pay postage due for package that craft paper had torn  on box, exposing a usps priority box . Was told that I could refuse and have sent back, etc,etc. Was told that these boxes are THEIRS (perhaps forever). Have read several threads about this stuff , recycling and other , so I am wondering what the usps would do if I sent a transparent plastiscene or plastic box that fit just over that priority box, which would be in the use JUST as packing material. Wonder if it would get their panties in a twist about this as it seems that the usps considers these boxes are as I said begore,THEIRS. Also was ,I think, inadvertantly told that these boxes are inspectable, so I guess that you shouldn't ship a bunch of your ols love letters as perhaps they could "inspect" them. I have images of a SNL sketch with post office workers in the back of the place with a box open and one guy taking another letter out of the box and saying "Get a load of this! 'Dearest Snookums, Had a wonderful time...'" and otherworkers just laughing  amongst other opened boxes. I don't think this should be allowed as a person should have an EXPECTATION of privacy. What if this were business stuff? Maybe usps convicted of corporate espionage?

[emerald40]

If you are not sending an item priority mail then you shoud not be putting it in a priority box.

And you probably already knew this because you tried to cover it with paper.

What you did is stealing, plain and simple.

[partial*eclipse]

Yes, if you obviously used a Priority box as packing material you'd have to pay the Priority rate regardless whether it was covered in paper or clear plastic.  That doesn't mean that USPS staff  can open the box and inspect the contents. USPS cannot open Priority Mail boxes for inspection without specific reason to do so (such as leaking or ticking).  They can, however,  open and inspect Media Mail packages.

UPS and FedEx will not accept boxes wrapped in brown paper.  But USPS does, even though they are prone to getting torn.

[partial*eclipse]

@emerald40

OP was the recipient of the package in question, not the sender.

[gracieallen01]

Hmmmmm. Let me see here ....

So, you took a box that a company gave you, FREE, to use, IF you used it as they had originally designed it.

Then, you put something in it and, to save on the cost of shipping it - by the comapny that gave the box to you - you hid, disguised, covered up, or otherwise tried to sneak the box past them - and mailed it off for less than it would have cost otherwise.  Right?

And, they caught you - Right?

Now, what was your question again?

[bubbleman2010]

Reading comprehension 101.....