USPS Priority Flat Rate Package with Standard Priority Mail Postage

[normalname87415]

I'm curious if anyone is familiar with the rules regarding paying standard priority mail postage for a flat rate box. There are times where paying the priority mail out right for an item in a medium flat rate box would be cheaper than sending the item as a medium flat rate. Has anyone tried paying standard priority mail postage for flat rate packages? I'd be curious to know if USPS is a stickler for this. I know that they can be strict on a lot of other things, but I would also think that they'd be happy to receive the business either way. Any insight on this would be appreciated, cheers. 

[tdumonde2014]

You must pay the "flat" rate if you are using a flat rate box. Go to usps.com and order free priority boxes.

[rock.star]

A flat rate box must have flat rate postage period.
If you want to use standard priority postage use a regular priority box or a plain brown box.

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

Using a flat rate box with regular weight postage is cheating the USPS.

You may be charged extra with the new USPS system. Worse though is that your buyer may be assessed extra postage when they get the package OR the package may come back to you postage due. Some sellers get deserved negatives when this happens.

order a range of boxes and use the most cost effective for your sale.

[johnrj1226]

The USPS has a system to charge back the shipper when they under pay the actual shipping charge - they call it APV.

Read:  https://stamps.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4737/~/the-usps-automated-package-verification-%...

[muttlymob]

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@normalname87415 wrote:

II'd be curious to know if USPS is a stickler for this.

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Why yes, yes they are.

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@normalname87415 wrote:

I know that they can be strict on a lot of other things, but I would also think that they'd be happy to receive the business either way.

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I think they are happier when customers pay the right postage.  Customers who intentionally underpay for the service rendered don't tend to make businesses happy happy happy.

[steelernation2007]

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@normalname87415 wrote:

I'm curious if anyone is familiar with the rules regarding paying standard priority mail postage for a flat rate box. There are times where paying the priority mail out right for an item in a medium flat rate box would be cheaper than sending the item as a medium flat rate. Has anyone tried paying standard priority mail postage for flat rate packages? I'd be curious to know if USPS is a stickler for this. I know that they can be strict on a lot of other things, but I would also think that they'd be happy to receive the business either way. Any insight on this would be appreciated, cheers. 

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This is considered a misuse of Priority Mail boxes and could get you into trouble with USPS if it's done often enough.

[a_c_green · Accepted solution]

They will indeed catch the discrepancy. Both the Priority Mail label and the Flat Rate box have their own barcodes, and the automatic scanning equipment on the conveyors looks at both, to be sure that they agree. As yours will not, the box will be flagged for a closer look. You might want to look into using a Regional Rate A Priority box instead. That is roughly the same size, and will ship at the 2-pound rate, regardless of its actual weight.

[centaur_1202]

So if you cut hair for a living, and someone gave you half of what you charge and told you that you should be happy getting the business...... you would be ok with it??

[lgonzalez28]

There are other platforms (unnammed) that offer 5lb shipping for under $7 and they not only allow the use if frb, but actually encourage it. I am sure they have a deal with USPS, but I find it odd, like I would be doing something bad. 

I would be scared my package would get flagged accidentally and charged dues to the buyer. 

Obviously, this is not an eBay option, but I can see how some sellers may have questions like these.

Edit to laugh at myself, ooops not so "unnamed", sorry 

[johnrj1226]

@normalname87415 

Can't think of  too many business that would be happy to be short paid for their goods or services.

Would you be happy if a buyer paid you 75%  of the listed price and asked you to just ship it as you should be  happy with that amount???

[stanleysoverstock]

Keep in mind that modifying a flat rate box is not allowed. A regular priority box can be cut down to size or even telescoped together. Then it is by weight and dimensions and still requires priority postage. Around here we are very thankful for the USPS.

Have a Blessed Merry Christmas. Andrew

[vanman1029]

This is a grey area. I've seen on different fb posts that sellers use FRPB and paying regular postage is allowed, and other posts it is forbidden. I live in a rural area and the small post office I use the clerk insists the FRPB use FRPB postage, period!

[nobody*s_perfect]

It's not a gray area at all. There might be posts that say it's allowed, but you will not find anything from USPS itself which says it's allowed. In this case, the local clerk is correct.

Section 1.4.2 of the USPS manual explains it concisely: " Each USPS-produced Priority Mail Flat Rate Box is charged a flat rate regardless of the actual weight (up to 70 pounds) of the mailpiece or domestic destination. "

https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/123.htm

[fern*wood]

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@vanman1029 wrote:

This is a grey area. I've seen on different fb posts that sellers use FRPB and paying regular postage is allowed, and other posts it is forbidden. I live in a rural area and the small post office I use the clerk insists the FRPB use FRPB postage, period!

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You can't find anything on a fb post that isn't true...I'd be embarrassed to even repeat something like that from a fb post.    It isn't gray, it is uninformed.