Can I re-use boxes to ship with USPS?

[alphaheat]

I have some Amazon and various brown boxes laying around. I was wondering if I can use those boxes to ship my items. I've always used the boxes that USPS provides for free on their site but I ran out and it takes 3-5 days for them to deliver so I don't have enough time. 

Would this service work? 

 

[southern*sweet*tea]

You certainly can, just be sure to use non-flat Priority. If light enough you can use First Class.  You may want to black out any bar codes or numbers on the box. 

[alphaheat]

Thanks a lot for the response! 

I don't want to get it wrong so could you point out which service you are referring to? 

Here's a list of available ones on eBay. 

[yuzuha]

You can reuse plain old brown boxes for any type of package service you want (First Class, Priority, Parcel Select) EXCEPT for Priority Flat Rate.  Priority Flat Rate can only be shipped in the specially marked boxes provided by the USPS.

[alphaheat]

Thanks! So Priority Mail - Large Package would work right? 

[copper.boom · Accepted solution]

"Large Package" is for packages that are more than 1 cubic foot and bumps up to dimensional rate.

You would select "Priority - Package/Thick Envelope" for the package dimensions and weight shown in your first post.

[copper.boom]

P.S. Please reuse boxes more often! It's better for the environment. 🙂

[variety_nook]

"I ran out and it takes 3-5 days for them to deliver so I don't have enough time. "

If you're talking about ordering your boxes online through the USPS, their Priority Mail boxes are also available at your local Post Office, and not just the, Flat Rate boxes. Unless of course, it is your local PO that has ran out and needs to order more.

For future reference, You may want to reorder boxes long before you get close to running out. Sometimes even when ordering online they can be placed on back-order. Happened to me and it took almost a month before I received the boxes. I was able to buy my own boxes and use Priority Mail stickers that I had on hand, but hey! It's hard to beat FREE shipping supplies.  

[lja440]

Tips for re-using boxes:

Mark out or remove any old labels and barcodes

Use only boxes that are still sturdy, no crushed edges or corners and nothing that has gotten wet.

If the box originally contained any item that could not go by air (alcohol, aerosols...), be sure to totally block out any reference to them or your package could be bumped to a ground service or returned to you.

[mr_lincoln]

@alphaheat  I re-use boxes all the time, most boxes for what I sell are custom size so I cut them, fold them so all printing is on the inside.  If you have a size that is perfect but has a bunch of printing on the outside you can take a thin knife and slit the manufacturer's glue joint, open the box and reverse it then glue the mfg glue joint again ... all brown on the outside.

The most efficient box that I have found to make is what the industry calls a tri-seal - bascially something like a dount or pizza box in basci form.  It is like a tray bottom with lid ... so you don't double up on weight with double flaps top and bottom.

Here's a pic of a a box where the printing was put on the inside so when closed it is a basic brown box.

[thatsallfolks]

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@variety_nook wrote:

If you're talking about ordering your boxes online through the USPS, their Priority Mail boxes are also available at your local Post Office, and not just the, Flat Rate boxes. Unless of course, it is your local PO that has ran out and needs to order more. 

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I've been in a half-dozen local PO's, and the non-flat-rate Priority box selection was slim or nonexistent in every one. So I ordered what I needed.

[daddyjaxx]

I reuse any boxes I receive.  Thankfully, the major place I order from never uses flat rate. even if it is cheaper.  I only use flat rate if it is cheaper than using a non flat rate, which is rare for me.

[variety_nook]

@thatsallfolks Wow, No Kidding!? There must be some lazy Postmasters running those PO's!

I live in a small bedroom community of about 6,000, even the small PO here has a stock room just off the end of their service area with stacks of various sized boxes. The larger city where I used to go prior to moving here always had boxes too. As a matter of fact, they were in racks in the customer service area along with greeting cards, packing supplies and all sorts of various Mailing/Shipping paraphernalia. Heck, even the two grocery stores that I shop at have USPS satellite services at their customer service counters with wall displays of the various PO Boxes available along with the dimensions posted. Guess it must just depend on the region.  

[lja440]

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@variety_nook wrote:

@thatsallfolks Wow, No Kidding!? There must be some lazy Postmasters running those PO's!

I live in a small bedroom community of about 6,000, even the small PO here has a stock room just off the end of their service area with stacks of various sized boxes. The larger city where I used to go prior to moving here always had boxes too. As a matter of fact, they were in racks in the customer service area along with greeting cards, packing supplies and all sorts of various Mailing/Shipping paraphernalia. Heck, even the two grocery stores that I shop at have USPS satellite services at their customer service counters with wall displays of the various PO Boxes available along with the dimensions posted. Guess it must just depend on the region.  

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I wouldn't call 6000  a small community. 

Anyway. PO's are limited to what boxes they can order and how many. There are work arounds, I order boxes for my own use and take a couple of each size when I get them to the PO. Both where I work and the retail office are limited to the Flat Rate mailers. A customer who lives on my route but works as the Postmaster (PMR actually) at a small PO just over the county line can't order any at all. She orders them to her home in her husbands name.  A lot of it is based on the physical size of the post office. None of the 3 offices I have mentioned have a storage room, the one doesn't even boast a display rack, she keeps some in her trunk and a few between the counter and wall.

[variety_nook]

@lja440  Like I said, Guess it must just depend on the region. No problems in my area. Not even at the grocery store customer service counters satellite USPS locations that I mentioned. Perhaps the limited numbers that they're allowed to order are based on demand in that region/area. That would be my guess anyway, otherwise, limiting an item that's in demand would be counterproductive.  But then again, we are talking about a government entity, in which case, that would be of no surprise.