Using USPS Regional Boxes now that they are discontinued

[akideaco]

It's been awhile since I listed anything on eBay and my basement is full of Priority Regional A & B boxes, which I've just learned were discontinued last year. On the USPS website it states the following: 

"Customers with Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes A and B in their inventory can still use them for shipping, but they will be processed as weight and rate packages." 

I had sold two items and shipped them USPS Ground Advantage and placed them in the regional rate boxes since it was the cheapest option. The clerk at the post office immediately said that I cannot use those boxes since they are Priority boxes and I'm shipping Ground Advantage. I explained the website did not state that I have to use the boxes for Priority service, and instead the postage would just be calculated by weight/rate. However, another USPS worker chimed in, siding with the clerk. The clerk said if I ship them like this, I'll just get an additional charge on my account. 

Does anyone have experience with this? I feel like if the clerks were correct, then the website should specifically say that the box still needs to be used for Priority service. I get it has "Priority" written on it, but it also has "regional" on it, and that part doesn't apply..so why would the Priority part? 

[safetyfirst5-91]

The clerks are correct, Priority mail boxes, no matter if they are regional, will be billed at the Priority rate.

[annadryl]

The Regional flat rates have been discontinued but you can and should still use the old boxes when they're handy for Priority. I do. They were free and should be recycled anyway. Since they are clearly marked as the red and blue boxes still in use it would make no sense to use them for other services such as GA. Imagine the confusion in the system...

[fm2000]

When the USPS announced the discontinuation of Regional Rate, they stated the RR boxes could still be used but  would be charged the calculated Priority rate.

With the new Ground Advantage Cubic, GA will normally be cheaper than the Regional Rate A and B boxes at the calculated Priority rates, even with the cost of a new plain box factored in. A shame, the RR A and B boxes are  perfect for certain items.

[orangehound]

Our local post office is only allowed to stock Flat Rate priority mail packaging, but they have told me that they wish they could have other options so that customers could ship items cheaper.  They gladly accepted all our old Regional Rate boxes for these situations.

(We are rarely using Priority Mail since the USPS restructured their pricing ... we still use PM for some weight/zone combinations where the cost difference over Ground is close to the cost of a generic shipping box, and to Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico.)

[klhmdg]

You can use the RR boxes but there is no more Reginal Rates.

These boxes are for Priority shipments only.

The USPS clerks were 100% correct.

Use the boxes if you want but you must pay Priority shipping.

All free USPS boxes are for Priority shipments. USPS does not have free boxes for Ground shipments.

[akideaco]

Thanks all, looks like I got my answer and I will no longer use the regional boxes for anything but priority shipping. I wish the USPS website spelled that out a bit better to avoid any confusion, but maybe I'm just dense and should have assumed they were still Priority mail only. 

Thanks everyone! 

[simba6]

Any boxes or shipping supplies the USPS gives out for free can only be used for their more expensive shipping. Such as priority or express.  That applies to old or even used ones.   UPS and Fedex also give out shipping supplies. Those too can only be used for their more expensive services too.

If you have any of the old flat rate boxes, those too have a problem.  They don't have the correct bar code and can cause issues if used.  Best to just toss those and get a fresh supply.

[lesegouts]

I wonder if USPS shot themselves in the foot with GA. I can't remember the last time I shipped PM. It's just not competitive.

[714ricki]

Your USPS clerk is correct. You can only use those regional USPS Priority mail boxes now as regular non-flat-rate USPS Priority Mail shipments.....don't use them for USPS Ground Advantage shipments.😎🙏

[rfmtm]

The replacement for Regional is discounted Cubic Rate Priority from eBay or PirateShip. The trick is lining up box sizes that fit the need in the lowest price tier. For example the Regional Rate "A1" box, while it can go cubic as is, if you can cut the height down a quarter inch it goes into the next lower price tier saving even more money.

Cubic Rate is calculated as follows:
Cubic Box OD = L" x W" x H" / 1728 Round Down all dimensions to lowest quarter inch before calculation, then Round Up the result to the next .1 cubic foot.
Cubic Max OD = 0.500cu ft
Cubic Max Weight = 20#
Cubic Max Length = 18"L

I have started a spread sheet to input my standard and modified box sizes to auto calculate the best price rate, which is often better than Regional, and certainly much better than going to a larger Priority Flat Rate box than needed.

Note there is also Cubic Priority for envelopes as well as Regular and Cubic Ground Advantage.