Shipping USPS Priority Mail and using Flat Rate boxes

[stuff_from_dan]

I have several used athletic shoes that I'm selling on Ebay, but I recently got burned on shipping, so I'm turning to the community for insight. I sold a pair of Asics running shoes for $13.99 plus $11.99 shipping and shipped them priority mail and used a large flat rate box. I sold a second pair of similar running shoes a couple of weeks later for $24.99 and free shipping (and chose to ship priority mail) to the buyer and shipped them using a large flat rate box.  On the second pair, I was expecting to roughly pay the same amount for shipping that the first pair shipped for (around $8, if memory serves).  About two weeks later, Ebay charged me $10.50 for using the "wrong label." I now understand that to use the large flat rate boxes requires a charge of $18.30, but I see plenty of sellers who are charging $8-$12 for shipping shoes "priority mail" or "expedited mail." Can you mail things priority mail and not use the flat rate boxes? Does USPS have priority mail shipping boxes that are not "flat rate boxes?" Or, can I just use any box I have and ship it priority mail? Is there a difference between "priority mail" and "expedited mail?" Thanks!

[fab_finds4u]

No difference between Expedited and Priority Mail. 

USPS has a Priority Mail shoe box that uses calculated shipping. You can use your own box though. 

[koinonia215]

You MUST pay the going fee for any flat rate boxes. You just happened to get lucky on the first one because the USPS didn't catch it. You never have to use the USPS supplied boxes for priority mail. They do also have some that are not flat rate boxes. Go to the USPS website and look under shipping supplies and you will find what they have available. You may even order them online.

[lja440]

There are many Priority boxes that are not Flat Rate. In fact used athletic shoes I would use the Priority TyVec envelopes (also not a flat rate) they add nothing to the weight of the shoes. Smaller sizes you may be able to use the Padded Flat Rate Envelope. Or you can use any brown box you have on hand.

Economy, Standard and Expedited are ebay terms, Priority is a mail class.

[sassykzt]

You may want to look into the regional flat rate box B  ( 12.25 x 10.5 x 5.5) .  If your buyer is close the cost is substantially less than a flat rate box.