End of free USPS priority mail supplies?

[craigsfinds]

Just got an email from ebay saying USPS is studying the cost-effectiveness of free shipping supplies for priority mail. Huh? I'm I to understand USPS is not already factoring the cost of their "free" supplies into their prices? Give me a break. This is a thinly veiled attempt to justify jet another rate increase.   

[nobody*s_perfect]

Here's an existing thread on this topic:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/It-looks-like-the-Post-Office-might-start-charging-for-Priorit...

[a_c_green]

---

@craigsfinds wrote:

Just got an email from ebay saying USPS is studying the cost-effectiveness of free shipping supplies for priority mail.   

---

You got an email from eBay about this? What did it say; can you paste it in here? What was the point of their sending it to you?

[dirk12955]

I got no email about this.

[lovefindingtreasures2]

I received it as well, it was an "eBay Main Street" email eBay Policy Update - October 2019.

Here is the link:
https://www.ebaymainstreet.com/news-events/do-you-use-free-usps-supplies-make-your-voice-heard?utm_s...

[lja440]

Of course they factored in the costs, they are looking at the waste, fraud, and abuse of these supplies. 

That is why it is important to call the senders PO and report the abuse and leave feedback that reflects the abuse.

I once received a package of 45 rpm records that the seller used 24 PFRE's to pack them. None could be reused (and my order was on back order at the time to boot). He put one record in the envelope folded it over another and sealed it these he then stacked with another record between and wrapped the stack in tape. Not only did he miss-use the envelopes but it took quite a while to get to the records and I damaged some trying to free them.

It's not just USPS either. The carrier that delivers SurePost to our PO noticed a long Parcel Select package that the sender used the UPS Express branded padded envelopes to cover the item. The driver took several pictures including the label. He said that miss-use was becoming a real issue with them also.

Just do a search here on the boards regarding miss using Priority supplies. You know that what makes it to the boards is just a tiny percentage of the scope of a problem.

[lja440]

Frankly getting mad at USPS for looking into this is like getting mad at the seller for expecting to get paid for the thing you bid on.

[hurryagain]

...well...the few (dishonest) ruin it for the many.

This is what happens when people steal...oh!...I mean "appropriate" these supplies for reasons other than what they are intended for...

Isn't it just marvy???

[postingid2017]

Same with the tape many years back.  It was being abused so the USPS stopped giving it away. 

[gwzcomps]

Order them while you can. Also always report people who abuse the "free" supplies or abuse the postage services.

[mansons2005]

I wouldn't go house-a-fire ordering them now - the USPS is smart enough that if they do start charging for them you can be sure that they will issue new boxes and the old ones will no longer be accepted. Or there is the possibility that old ones willl be accepted, but there will be a surcharge - sort of a retroactive payment due.

[richard1rst]

---

@craigsfinds wrote:

Just got an email from ebay saying USPS is studying the cost-effectiveness of free shipping supplies for priority mail. Huh? I'm I to understand USPS is not already factoring the cost of their "free" supplies into their prices? Give me a break. This is a thinly veiled attempt to justify jet another rate increase.   

---

I'm sorry but can you explain why the post office is REQUIRED to give you anything for free?

When your costs go up which reduces your profit do you look around for ways to cut your costs?

And yet you criticize them for doing exactly that.

Some supermarkets are now charging extra for the plastic bags used to bag your purchases. They are trying to promote you bringing and recycling your own.

411 (directory assistance) used to be free. Now AT&T and U S Cellular charge $1.99 (maybe others too)

Airlines now charge extra if you want peanuts, a drink or a meal that used to be free with your ticket. And a fee for checked bags.

Every gas station used to have a free air pump for your tires. Now they charge you.

How many more examples do you want?

Get over it.

[lja440]

Excellent points.

Remember when restaurants would automatically bring you water, now in most you have to ask for it.

We just got a new air pump at the Circle K  it takes credit cards.

[thevintagezone-1]

Would that mean there would be no Flat Rate Priority boxes then? It would just be regular Priority without any special boxes.

[a_c_green]

---

@thevintagezone-1 wrote:

Would that mean there would be no Flat Rate Priority boxes then? It would just be regular Priority without any special boxes.

---

I could see the Flat Rate PM boxes all becoming prepaid, perhaps. Sort of like their Forever stamps.

To be clear, "Prepaid Forever" Flat Rate boxes are already available for ordering from the usps.com website. The unpaid ones might just go away.