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

[a_c_green]

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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:  

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That snarky scribble about "If it fits, it ships" suggests to me that you were telescoping Flat Rate boxes together, which is verboten. The Flat Rate packaging must be used as-is. The regular Priority Mail boxes can be reworked or combined as needed (or you can just use your own brown boxes and apply Priority Mail postage), but Flat Rate boxes cannot be modified. Is it possible that you were using Flat Rate boxes by mistake on this shipment?

[nobody*s_perfect]

Did you use any flat-rate or Regional materials? Those are supposed to only be used for the designated special rates.  If you used only regular (not special rate) boxes and if you shipped via Priority Mail, then there's nothing "improper" and thus no reason for that package to be returned to you.

The selection of reasons (besides"Other") are related to delivery difficulties, which implies that this decision was made at the buyer's Post Office.  The DMM section number on the red stamp is apparently obsolete since it doesn't refer to anything relevant in the current version.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@a_c_green wrote: ... That snarky scribble about "If it fits, it ships" suggests to me that you were telescoping Flat Rate boxes together, which is verboten. ...

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Or that could be Barney Fife thinking that if it doesn't fit into one regular-rate free box, you're not allowed to double up.

[fern*wood]

Please post a photo of your creation.

@dherbert53 

[a_c_green]

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@nobody*s_perfect wrote:

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@a_c_green wrote: ... That snarky scribble about "If it fits, it ships" suggests to me that you were telescoping Flat Rate boxes together, which is verboten. ...

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Or that could be Barney Fife thinking that if it doesn't fit into one regular-rate free box, you're not allowed to double up.

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True, dat. I've thought for some time now that they've been hammering on ads for Flat Rate Priority Mail shipping so much and for so long that many people may not even be aware that there's any other kind of Priority shipping. That lack of knowledge might extend to certain workers in a sorting office someplace.

[kensgiftshop]

As long as they were not Flat Rate boxes, shouldn't be any problem.

[dherbert53]

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!  🙂

[a_c_green]

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@dherbert53 wrote:

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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What you're quoting is for regular Priority Mail (or Express Mail) packaging, and we are agreeing with you that there's no problem with doing that.

What we're asking you here is whether you may have used Flat Rate Priority Mail boxes instead...? The Flat Rate boxes cannot be modified or combined; they can only be used as-is. Since that "If it fits, it ships" slogan was written on the label, it suggests that they're seeing Flat Rate packaging for your modified box. Is that the case? Posting a photo of your problem package will be helpful.

[penguins_dont_fly]

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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:  

<snip photo>

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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@dherbert53 

Deano … a picture of the full "frankenbox" would help in determining what the issue is.

As others have said … regular PM supplies can be modified … Flat Rate PM supplies cannot (this includes Small FRB, Medium FRB, Large FRB, RRA & RRB and Flat Rate Envelopes of any type)

[dherbert53]

Here is the frankenbox!  p.s. the local post office here agrees that PM boxes may be combined.  Deano

[nobody*s_perfect]

That's a large flat rate box, also called the "Board game box."

https://store.usps.com/store/product/shipping-supplies/priority-mail-large-flat-rate-board-game-box-...

[warbuyer99]

The board game box is a flat rate box. You can not modify it.

https://store.usps.com/store/product/shipping-supplies/priority-mail-large-flat-rate-board-game-box-...

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@warbuyer99 wrote:

The board game box is a flat rate box. You can not modify it....

Nope, not even if you use two Priority Mail stickers to cover up the 'Large Flat Rate Box" printing at the top of the box.

[penguins_dont_fly]

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@dherbert53 wrote:

Here is the frankenbox!  p.s. the local post office here agrees that PM boxes may be combined.  Deano

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That is a Large Flat Rate Box.

Just because you covered up the "Large Flat Rate Box" with stickers doesn't make it a regular box … or mean that the USPS can't tell that it is a LFRB 😞