Priority mail regular envelope vs priority mail padded envelope.

[shar1gre]

Hi  everyone, I sold an item and I had previously selected the priority mail padded envelope option. I would like to know if it would be ok for me to bubble wrap the item or even put it in a different brand of padded envelope i.e UPS and then put that inside the plain type priority envelope. Also would it be ok to place tape on the outside envelope for reinforcement.  I can place tape on the inside but that would be harder to do than taping on the outside.  I just wouldn't like the item to break through the envelope.  It doesn't have any sharp or pointy edges but I just want to take extra precaution and prepare for the worst. The item was slightly too big for a small flat rate box and the padded priority envelope seemed like the next best choice. I had previously bought the same type of item and it was packaged in  padded priority mail envelope.  Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[chapeau-noir]

As long as you don't change the dimensions of the flat rate envelope, you can stuff whatever inside that's legal to be shipped.  You can put some reinforcement tape on the outside of the envelop, but you can't use it to change the dimensions.

If it's the regular Tyvek envelope, you'll be paying regular priority rates (not flat rate), if it's the cardboard flat rate envelope, you'll be paying a little less to ship through that - but you'll notice that when you choose the envelope type.

[mtgraves7984]

 I think either of your methods would work, and you'd be charged for whichever Priority envelope you have on the outside... be it padded or cardboard. Oh... when I use Priority mailers, I put tape around the outside edges. That's cool.

[fern*wood]

I would try to place my item in a small box -- you can place that in the flat rate envelope if you wish.  I don't like items that can break in envelopes even when padded.

[shar1gre]

Thanks for your response. I  was actually considering placing the item in a box then bubble wrapping the box and placing it in the envelope. The envelope is the same size as the padded priority type. I am not too concerned  about the item being damaged, which would be difficult to do, I was more concerned with the item breaking through the envelope and getting lost/ misplaced that way.

[shar1gre]

Yes, the envelope I intend to use is a priority envelope but not the padded type so the cost factor will not change. Since the shipping method listed when I printed the label referred to a padded priority envelope, I was wondering if I was obligated to only use the padded type envelope. I can always get the padded type at the post office but was hoping to already have it packed and just drop off.

Thanks for responding.

[justafemster]

I've been shipping in the cardboard flat rate priority envies since the seasonal price change.  I save $0.75, which is exactly what the post office raised the rates to on flat rate envies.  Post office wants to play pricing games?  So can I!  They're not making any more money off me and still doing the exact same work. Silly humans!

You can use any packaging that you feel safe with.  I'll always opt for the cheaper option when it's feasible. 

[chapeau-noir]

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@shar1gre wrote:

Yes, the envelope I intend to use is a priority envelope but not the padded type so the cost factor will not change. Since the shipping method listed when I printed the label referred to a padded priority envelope, I was wondering if I was obligated to only use the padded type envelope. I can always get the padded type at the post office but was hoping to already have it packed and just drop off.

Thanks for responding.

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Generally, the label you print should be used for the shipping method you're using (padded flat rate or the cardboard flat rate or tyvek or whatever) as costs change, but since the padded flat rate costs a little more to ship than the cardboard FRE, I doubt the USPS is going to care.

[m60driver]

For what it is worth, I have been taping my Priority envelopes to add strength for years and never had any issues.  I have long been on first name basis with many of my local postal clerks and they would have told me if there were any issues.  For that matter, if you are a regular seller it is very good business policy to become friendly with at least one local USPS postal clerk so you can get straight answers to your questions when using USPS.