Altering or Modifying USPS Priority Mail Boxes

[dherbert53]

I have often combined or telescoped two Priority mail boxes so that a large item will fit and placed the correct postage label on the box,  Yesterday, for the first time, a buyer's item was returned from a postal facility with this sticker:  

While I suspect that this is Barney Fife working at a post office in New Jersey,  I hesitate telescoping boxes again. One would think that USPS would be thankful for all the business they could muster...instead, they are being petty and unreasonable.  Has anyone had a similar experience and what did you do about it?  Thanks, Deano in Cincy

[nobody*s_perfect]

You don't need to work out another method.   It is OK to ship your fabric in a flat rate envelope, it is even OK to put tape on the envelope.  You just need to convince this local PO outpost that this is correct.

[lja440]

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@dherbert53 wrote:

You may be correct, I did not realize it was a Flat Rate box...but in the larger picture,  should it really matter which box a shipper uses...they've made plenty of money off of my business during the last several years.  D

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You most certainly did realize it was a Flat Rate Box, you purposely covered up the Flat Rate markings.

And yes it does matter.  Same as it matters if you go into a department store and switch price tags on the items. It's called  theft.

[lja440]

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@warbuyer99 wrote:

They have no idea how much money you have spent and it really doesn't matter at all. There isn't any wheeling and dealing for misuse of postal supplies.

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Indeed. If you switched the tags out on items in a store  and were caught they sure wouldn't just fluff it off because you had spent money there before. No they would wonder how many times they hadn't caught you and watch you like a hawk everytime you showed your face  from then on.

[lja440]

 thing is seeing what you have sold this box is a poor choice. There isn't enough depth to provide any room for any padding of the item (toy trains). Most likely if it went through the system the item would have sustained damage. My Father-in-Law collects these and has floor to ceiling shelves in a room with a set up in the middle. He would be steaming mad to receive  cars without any protection.

[flyingdollar]

I had an order to today for a larger order so the envelope was even bigger. So I relented and put it in a med flat rate box. 
But the next order I get for a smaller amount I'm going to try it again and see. Because my post office has a number of windows and several postal employees there. May-be it is just her idea and not shared by all. 
But she also told me that they can decide somewhere between the drop off point and the final destination to charge the buyer extra postage.  So I wouldn't want my buyer to get stuck paying more. 
Planning to try to use some padded mailer and see if I can use them on some order's. 
Thanks to all for the help and suggestions.  

[dasarock]

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@dherbert53 wrote:

I have often combined or telescoped two Priority mail boxes so that a large item will fit and placed the correct postage label on the box,  Yesterday, for the first time, a buyer's item was returned from a postal facility with this sticker:  

While I suspect that this is Barney Fife working at a post office in New Jersey,  I hesitate telescoping boxes again. One would think that USPS would be thankful for all the business they could muster...instead, they are being petty and unreasonable.  Has anyone had a similar experience and what did you do about it?  Thanks, Deano in Cincy

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just use plain brown box the items fit in.  and order some of the priority mail stickers from usps (free/1 per side).  this way you preclude returns like this.  hope this helps.

[dasarock]

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@dherbert53 wrote:

I actually looked up the policy which was cited. Here's what it says:

"Express Mail and Priority Mail packaging provided by the USPS must be used only for Express Mail or Priority Mail, as applicable. Regardless of how the packaging is reconfigured or how markings may be obliterated, any matter mailed in USPS-provided Express Mail or Priority Mail packaging is charged the appropriate Express Mail or Priority Mail rate." 

It appears that USPS only concern is for proper postage, NOT if the box is reconfigured...it is NOT forbidden to alter the boxes to fit the item inside...but you can prove me wrong if you can!  🙂

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this is true …. EXCEPT for flat rate priority boxes whose postal rates are fixed by cubic metrics measurements, free weight up to 70lbs.

[judydu2]

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@dasarock wrote:

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@dherbert53 wrote:
this is true …. EXCEPT for flat rate priority boxes whose postal rates are fixed by cubic metrics measurements, free weight up to 70lbs.

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I Frankenstein Priority boxes all of the time.

Just leave the Flat Rates alone.

ALL of the Flat Rates.

[wellchosendiscount]

DMM Notice: Proper Use of Flat Rate Containers

Third paragraph,

If an FRE or FRB is presented at the post office of mailing and the customer has manipulated or reconstructed it, the container is accepted using weight and zone—not the Flat Rate price.

Sounds like you can modify the Flat Rate boxes according the their policies. Maybe post office has to mark it in person. Haven’t tried it yet.

[kh-stanley1]

Hello Everyone,

Due to the age of the thread, it has been closed to further replies.  Please feel free to start a new thread HERE if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thanks for understanding!