Blocking out the barcodes of Priority Boxes for Cubic Pricing

[iamalwaysright]

Since the Regional rates have been gone for awhile, I'm sure many more sellers have been using Cubic since then. Has anyone gotten any issues with cutting down some of these boxes (not flat rate ones) to stay within a cubic tier threshold but not covering the barcodes then getting charged extra on the APV afterwards?

I haven't tried it yet myself to find out, wondering if anyone has. And I'm trying to streamline the packing operation by not having to cover the numerous barcodes on each side of the boxes. It would be nice to be able to confidently use the RRA boxes as under .20 Cu and the 1095 box as under .30 Cu. The 1092 box is already below .30 Cu and is able to hold most of things I used to put in the RRB box.  But the 1095 is only a tad larger and I could use the extra room and still stay within .30 Cu.

[buyselljack2016]

It has been posted that it is not necessary to black out barcodes on obsolete packaging, but I still do it on the obsolete, and also when I resize any packaging.

With the APV I have visions of that "size" data being programmed into the system, and do not wish to have to attempt to dispute a charge back assessed.

I do not use a lot of them, so it is worth the piece of mind for me to just take care of those barcodes.

[iamalwaysright]

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@buyselljack2016 wrote:

It has been posted that it is not necessary to black out barcodes on obsolete packaging, but I still do it on the obsolete, and also when I resize any packaging.

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What about current USPS packaging? Box 1095 is still being produced and used. If someone can weigh in that has successfully many times and not been "penalized" for leaving the barcodes, please let me know. Thanks.

Also @buyselljack2016 how do you block it out? Using a permanent marker and blocking out each one completely would take time. My thought is to simply use a piece of the ebay packing tape over it. The tape isn't totally opaque but I'm guessing it should do the trick right? Mainly because the ebay logo on the tape is opaque and should cover enough of the barcode. If so, that would make it much quicker to do.

[richard1rst]

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@iamalwaysright wrote:

Since the Regional rates have been gone for awhile, I'm sure many more sellers have been using Cubic since then. Has anyone gotten any issues with cutting down some of these boxes (not flat rate ones) to stay within a cubic tier threshold but not covering the barcodes then getting charged extra on the APV afterwards?

I haven't tried it yet myself to find out, wondering if anyone has. And I'm trying to streamline the packing operation by not having to cover the numerous barcodes on each side of the boxes. It would be nice to be able to confidently use the RRA boxes as under .20 Cu and the 1095 box as under .30 Cu. The 1092 box is already below .30 Cu and is able to hold most of things I used to put in the RRB box.  But the 1095 is only a tad larger and I could use the extra room and still stay within .30 Cu.

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Actually, the bar codes are at the ends of the boxes, not in the middle. So when I cut down the boxes I simply cut off the end with the bar code. Problem solved.

And, yes, I have done it many times and never had a charge back.

[krazzykats]

White shoe polish.  Quick, easy, and neat.

[iamalwaysright]

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@richard1rst wrote:

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Actually, the bar codes are at the ends of the boxes, not in the middle. So when I cut down the boxes I simply cut off the end with the bar code. Problem solved.

And, yes, I have done it many times and never had a charge back.

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Box 1095 has barcodes on 5 of the 6 sides of the box all located on the ends and corners of each side. And it only needs to be cut down 3/4 inch on the longest dimension to fall under .30 Cu. All 5 barcodes will still remain. Covering them would be more practical than cutting.

I agree if you if you cut so the barcodes aren't complete, they are impossible to scan. I worry about when they aren't cut nor covered, unlike what you normally do.

[iamalwaysright]

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@krazzykats wrote:

White shoe polish.  Quick, easy, and neat.

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😄Forgive my ignorance, but does shoe polish rub off?

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@iamalwaysright wrote: ... how do you block it out? Using a permanent marker and blocking out each one completely would take time. My thought is to simply use a piece of the ebay packing tape....

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A roll of Priority stickers is a handy way to cover up unwanted bar codes, old addresses, etc.  

Technically they're intended for use on boxes other than the official free Priority boxes, to help identify them as Priority Mail, but I don't think anybody will object to their use on the free Priority boxes; that use is still for purposes of clarification. The stickers are available in rolls of 250 or 1000, with different designs:

https://store.usps.com/store/product/shipping-supplies/priority-mail-sticker-label-roll-of-250-P_LAB...

https://store.usps.com/store/product/shipping-supplies/priority-mail-sticker-label-roll-of-1000-P_LA...

Sorry I can't help with the original actual question. I haven't shipped via Cubic yet.

[buyselljack2016]

Again, I don't do it that often, but yes, black marker. Takes mere seconds to do that. 

[richard1rst]

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@iamalwaysright wrote:

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@richard1rst wrote:

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Actually, the bar codes are at the ends of the boxes, not in the middle. So when I cut down the boxes I simply cut off the end with the bar code. Problem solved.

And, yes, I have done it many times and never had a charge back.

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Box 1095 has barcodes on 5 of the 6 sides of the box all located on the ends and corners of each side. And it only needs to be cut down 3/4 inch on the longest dimension to fall under .30 Cu. All 5 barcodes will still remain. Covering them would be more practical than cutting.

I agree if you if you cut so the barcodes aren't complete, they are impossible to scan. I worry about when they aren't cut nor covered, unlike what you normally do.

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That is odd because I have a pile of 1095 boxes and I only see 2 bar codes. Both are on the thin side of the box and both are on the same end of the box.

Looks like they changed the design from when I got these which was about a year ago.

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@richard1rst wrote: ... I have a pile of 1095 boxes and I only see 2 bar codes. Both are on the thin side of the box and both are on the same end of the box.

Looks like they changed the design from when I got these ...

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The image below is from the current USPS page for ordering supplies.  Looks like you got the older version.

https://store.usps.com/store/product/shipping-supplies/priority-mail-box-1095-P_O_1095#moreinfofoote...

[deserdog]

I have cut down many priority boxes so they can go cubic rate. I write the new dimensions and weight on the label side of the box. I do not do anything to the barcodes. I have never had an adjustment on the modified boxes.

[pickermall]

I thought the bar codes were for inventory control at the USPS? If so, why block them out? Maybe I'm wrong?

[lesegouts]

I use one of those ink rollers that obliterate any marking, and also have a message within. About $1 and great for using Regional boxes as it is no longer offered. Had to convince the clerk to accept them.

https://www.temu.com/mini-identity-cover-roller-stamps-eliminators-roller-confidential-stamp-package...

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@pickermall wrote:

I thought the bar codes were for inventory control at the USPS? If so, why block them out? Maybe I'm wrong?

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The bar codes tell the package-scanning equipment which type of box is going through, so they are especially useful if it's a flat rate box. USPS doesn't want  sellers to get away with putting weight-based postage on a flat rate box when the weight-based is lower.   There was  a big mess a couple of years ago when some small flat rate boxes were accidentally printed with the bar code of a larger flat rate box, so sellers were getting loads of erroneous postage due charges. Here's some information about the eqiupment that USPS uses at their sorting centers to detect underpaid (and overpaid) postage.

https://link.usps.com/2017/10/05/what-is-apv/

http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/ship-smart/ebay-shipping-partners/avoid-extra-postage-costs....

Inventory control for the boxes would be based on how many boxes are shipped by USPS to sellers, from their warehouses.