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.   

[lja440]

---

@a_c_green wrote:

---

@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.

---

That is probably what will happen.

[mudshark61369]

@richard1rst,

"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".

@craigsfindsdid make a point in his OP the USPS may give us the postal items for free but the cost is already factored in to their budget.  Just as Free Shipping is factored into a seller's item price.   I think most people realize those supplies are not actually free, but maybe not. 

What needs to be addressed is why a Chinese seller's item can be shipped from Ca. to N.Y.  for less than half of the price a domestic seller pays for standard shipping.  Yes I know all about the UPU treaty,  which was created to give developing countries a break so they can compete against developed nations.  However, the UPU still has China's economy in the same economic group as Botswana, giving them rates paid by the least developed nations.  

Then there is the fact that the USPS turns over its profits to congress much the same way Social Security deposits are.  What they get back from Congress is an operating budget and many tax exemptions, but the loss they take because of the UPU treaty is not profit, so they get less back than they should.  

[craigsfinds]

"@craigsfindsdid make a point in his OP the USPS may give us the postal items for free but the cost is already factored in to their budget.  Just as Free Shipping is factored into a seller's item price.   I think most people realize those supplies are not actually free, "

Good to see someone actually read the post before commenting. : )

[readabouthorses]

---

@lja440 wrote:

---

@a_c_green wrote:

---

@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.

---

That is probably what will happen.

---

I've never looked at the Prepaid Flat Rate boxes and envelopes .... is the prepaid rate at the retail rate or the online rate?

[nobody*s_perfect]

Retail.

Current retail price for those boxes is higher than the proposed 2020 online rate.

[tsme35]

I get the feeling USPS is just wanting to get out of the online shipping business, raised international rates over 300%,  doubled parcel post back in June, zone rating 1st class and now thinking about getting rid of free boxes. I get them wanting to cut corners and save money but its sad when most of us know its because of the outrageous retirement pension and paying for Chinese shippers. They keep this up and their gonna price me right out of business, I'm having a hard time finding inventory that will sell with the increased shipping, now add states taxes. 

[toooldtorock]

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

Priority Mail was sold in part on the availability of free shipping boxes.

Otherwise you are just using First Class Mail with a premium attached.

[lja440]

---

@toooldtorock wrote:

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

Priority Mail was sold in part on the availability of free shipping boxes.

Otherwise you are just using First Class Mail with a premium attached.

---

No, Priority came LONG before any free supplies.  Priority mail started in 1968.

[toooldtorock]

"No, Priority came LONG before any free supplies.  Priority mail started in 1968."

And the Pony Express predates Priority Mail.

That doesn't change anything I said. The Post Office sold the service letting people know

you can obtain free shipping boxes.

[nobody*s_perfect]

I don't think that the free boxes go all the way back to 1968.

[toooldtorock]

"I don't think that the free boxes go all the way back to 1968."

I never talked about when Priority Mail started. I couldn't care less when it did start.

I merely pointed out for years they sold the service by promoting you get free supplies

if you use Priority Mail.

That is the point, for years and up to this day they promoted free supplies.

[lja440]

Yes they advertise  the free boxes, the boxes in turn advertise the service. That is why logos exist.

[parlayman1ad0o]

Maybe people wouldn't have to use those priority boxes if they didn't try and **bleep** you with those other small boxes they have available at the post office.  Has anyone every looked at the cost of those.  The small little box they have which is about half the size of the of the small flat rate box cost 3.21 just for the box.  I had seen them a timre before and thought that would be good when I had to ship something small one time.  I grabbed it and asked how much it would be for she said 3.21 i thought that meant the total price.  Then i put the small item wearing 3 ounces and went to the clerk and it was 3.21 plus the 3.50 for the 3 ounces.  She rang it up and it was $6.71 for a small hotwheel to ship.

[lja440]

---

@parlayman1ad0o wrote:

Maybe people wouldn't have to use those priority boxes if they didn't try and **bleep** you with those other small boxes they have available at the post office.  Has anyone every looked at the cost of those.  The small little box they have which is about half the size of the of the small flat rate box cost 3.21 just for the box.  I had seen them a timre before and thought that would be good when I had to ship something small one time.  I grabbed it and asked how much it would be for she said 3.21 i thought that meant the total price.  Then i put the small item wearing 3 ounces and went to the clerk and it was 3.21 plus the 3.50 for the 3 ounces.  She rang it up and it was $6.71 for a small hotwheel to ship.

---

You must be talking about the Ready Post boxes. No those are not free but they also are not limited to shipping only via Priority mail. It's the same deal as you get a box at Walmart or Staples. Ready Post are a convenience item UPS and FedEx sell similar. I NEEDED a large box quick and the only ones I had were a shade too small and no longer sturdy enough to Frankenbox, I went to the UPS store and got one. It cost over $12 for just the box. It was the one rare occasion that I listed without having the correct mailer on hand for the item and it cost me, lesson learned.

I ship a lot via Media Mail I buy LP mailers, I also make my own mailers for books and CD's from recycled cardboard, my daughter works at Lowes and saves me the flat pallet sheets. 

[no_zero369]

---

@lja440 wrote:

---

I ship a lot via Media Mail I buy LP mailers, I also make my own mailers for books and CD's from recycled cardboard, my daughter works at Lowes and saves me the flat pallet sheets. 

---

Oh a real cheapskate eh?  

looks like we are cut from the same cloth!  But isn't getting those pallet sheets "cheating?"    I'm SO jealous!