Cutting down Priority Mail Boxes to Custom Size.

[thebreakroom123]

With shipping cost increasing, I noticed the shipping price largely depends on the size of the box. Is it considered bad form to cut down Priority Mail boxes into custom size boxes, so that it's cheaper and more efficient to ship? I love that USPS will give me free boxes, but the sizes they offer are so weird. Often the box is way too big or needs an extra inch added to the H or W.

I really don't see how it would be an issue, since I'd be shipping Priority Mail anyways. But I know they can be very particular with this sort of thing.

Thanks in advance.

[gwzcomps]

I have cut them down and even doubled them up in the past with no issues. My guess is if they are being used for priority mail that is the biggest concern. Really the only point in cutting them down is to save on weight or reduce the amount of void fill needed. All the "free" Priority boxes should be small enough to fall under dimensional weight rates to the best of my knowledge.

[thebreakroom123]

Yea I don't see how it would be a problem, but you never know. I've heard of people getting in trouble for using Flat Rate boxes to ship Priority Mail. Maybe it just depends on what kind of mood the Post Office employee is in that day hahaha.

[oldwestgold]

I would avoid any flat rate boxes to modify as parcels are photographed, weighed, and scanned going through the processing plants on conveyors. They scan the box product barcode and check against the postage barcode which then kicks back a charge to the sender automatically if it doesn't match up. A & B boxes also avoid modifying.

[lja440]

I have been a carrier with USPS since 2000. As long as it is a zoned Priority box you can modify it, just note that if your frankenbox is over 1 cubic foot you will get into the area of dimential weight.

Flat Rate and Regional weight boxes should not be modified and have set pricing. 

Example; you have a light weight item and it fits in a box 12x12x5.5 You can ship it in a LFRB but have to use the LFRB price. You can't ship by weight using that box. BUT!!! you can take a Priority box 7  (12x12x8.5) and cut it down to the scame exact size and ship by weight. 

[orangehound]

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@thebreakroom123 wrote:

With shipping cost increasing, I noticed the shipping price largely depends on the size of the box. Is it considered bad form to cut down Priority Mail boxes into custom size boxes, so that it's cheaper and more efficient to ship?

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There is no need to cut down a Priority Mail box for dimensional reasons.  All Priority Mail boxes are under a cubic foot, and the USPS does not charge dimensional weights on packages under a cubic foot.

[johnrj1226]

@orangehound 

What you say is true for the current offering of Priority Boxes.  BUT if some one has a stock  of Priority LMB-1 (large mailing boxes) or Regional Rate C) that were 14 x 12 x 12   & the dimensional rates would apply.    Think these boxes both were discontinued in 2016 shortly after they were made available by the USPS.

BTW we do have some LMB1 boxes - they make nice boxes for storing our personal stuff.

[pooh333piglet]

Flat rate boxes are priority mail. 

[pjcdn2005]

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@pooh333piglet wrote:

Flat rate boxes are priority mail. 

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Yes, but the rules are different for changing a Priority mail box vs a Priority flat rate box.  If you use a flat rate box you have to pay the flat rate for that particular box and are not supposed to alter the box.  Priority mail boxes that aren't specified as flat rate can be altered, 

[toysaver]

I make custom boxes all the time.    The standard Priority 'shoe box' is the easiest to cut down or add to.  People ask why?  It may use less packing foam or bubble wrap which saves money and if being cut down may drop the weight and be less to ship.

[simba6]

As long as they are not flat or special rate boxes, you can rework them. You can even use your own boxes for priority mail. 

[thebreakroom123]

Great information in here, thanks all!

The actual cost of postage will probably be minimal by altering the box, but it does help with saving on packing materials, as another person mentioned. And another use, I have an item that just barely doesn't fit in a large priority box, but now I can just alter it with another large box on top of it, to make it a little bigger. Problem solved. 

[nobody*s_perfect]

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@thebreakroom123 wrote:... 

The actual cost of postage will probably be minimal by altering the box ... I can just alter it with another large box on top of it, to make it a little bigger..... 

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There is no savings at all related to the dimensions of the box if the box was not over 1 cubic foot (1728 cubic inches).  None of the Priority Mail boxes that you can order from USPS are over 1 cubic foot. Reducing the size of the box might reduce your package weight and might reduce the postage cost related to weight, but not dimensions.

If you combine larger boxes, to watch out for that dimensional weight threshold.  Combining two of the 07 boxes, which are 12 by 12 by 8 inches, could take you over the threshold size.