Curious question

[albertabrightalberta]

I know this has been discussed in the past but I'm not sure whether what was done in this buyer's experience is allowed (per USPS).

So what is the actual rule on this? 

While looking at handbags, I noticed this in a seller's feedback: 

[12345jamesstamps]

'free packing supplies'...where...my trash bins where my neighbors always buy from Amazon products and boxes are discarded.

[dcrtechandelec]

Disclaimer: I do not do this. I am well-aware that USPS branded packaging materials are property of the United States postal service.

Although I will add: These are materials offered online. For free. God only knows how much gets ordered from people who do not understand that they are only for a service that is more expensive. Once said people have them and realize they won't even be using priority mail all that often (or at all), what should the reasonable approach be? Should they throw them out and let them rot in a landfill without so much as one use? This is honestly what I wonder when something is listed as $0.00 on the internet. Seems like an incredibly wasteful practice that, because it states property of some other entity, an otherwise unenforceable policy dictates that you are a criminal for not wanting things to go to waste. Seems like the most rational approach would require materials to be picked up in-person, but at the same time, there are incentives for a business trying to push their more expensive services. Unfortunately even if the practice is inherently wasteful. 

[chevymontecarlo88]

Any Walmart store (or other retailer) has a pleather of stuff.

I can see you now on the hills of San Fran carrying bundles of boxes on your motorcycle. 🏍

[albertabrightalberta]

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@dcrtechandelec wrote:

Once said people have them and realize they won't even be using priority mail all that often (or at all), what should the reasonable approach be? 

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I've brought extra priority packaging to the post office and they're happy to accept them to give to customers. 

The local p.o. where I go has limited space so they only (normally) have flat rate packaging supplies. But when customers come in looking for non-FR items, they can offer them. 

[dy60609]

The local p.o. where I go has limited space so they only (normally) have flat rate packaging supplies. 

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They "normally" only have "flat rate" packaging by design. They have the "flat rate" rather than other Priority packaging so that customers use the "often" more costly "flat rate" service. When the employee goes to ebuy (internal USPS sourcing) the "flat rate" is the only variety of Priority boxes/envelopes that can be chosen to have shipped to the office internally.