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anasazirose · ‎05-11-2023

I know we have some Post Office Pros here, so I'm looking for facts, but opinions are welcome as well.

If a person takes a USPS Flat Rate Box, cuts all the pertinent flat rate requirement verbiage from it, covers that with opaque tape and or postal stickers, then clear tape, and pays regular Priority rate, it that legal?

I spoke with 3 postal employees at 2 post offices. 1 said it's fine, but cautioned that some clerks may not accept it if they recognize it as a FR box, and said once it's accepted, it would have to be a Karen to pull it, not to mention very observant.

Another clerk at the same post office said since it's no longer marked as FR, it's fine and the computer prompts ask if it's a FR box. Since it's not marked as such and has no UPC to scan, they would enter no. This person also said it would be best to cut down another box to fit the item or find a different box. They also said you can put 2 boxes together, but not the FR boxes (which I knew) they also cautioned that the item could arrive postage due or be billed to the payer account if someone had an issue with it.

Another clerk said it's absolutely not allowed. They would not accept it, and if they saw it they would absolutely take it to the postmaster.

So, does anyone have opinions....or better yet, facts?

frugalmarketplace · ‎05-12-2023

NO you cannot , that is postal fraud.

Can I Use Boxes Ordered at The Postal Store® for Other Purposes?

Boxes ordered from the Postal Store can be used only for the class of mail specified on the box (Priority Mail Express®service, Priority Mail® service, or Global Express Guaranteed®) and must be closed using the adhesive provided. These boxes should not be re-used and do not need to be as they can be ordered from the Postal Store at no cost. Misuse may be a violation of federal law.

turnpiketreasures1 · ‎05-12-2023

If someone spots it, they say you can get fined, but what will happen is you'll be charged for the extra if you have an account with them. If no account, they can actually send the box back to you as postage due. A friend had it happen in Arkansas a couple of years ago. I used to wrap them with brown paper and use them, then I got to thinking about it and decided it was theft in a weird way. After all, you're getting a free box, why then scam the postage due. It's the little things that add up.

a_c_green · ‎05-12-2023

@a_c_green wrote:
As for the post office not stocking regular PM boxes, I would say that's true in most cases, but not all. Our local PO offers both Flat Rate and what's termed Variable Rate PM packaging in a large two-sided USPS lobby display, Flat Rate on one side and Variable on the other.

Just to be complete, I was over at the PO to mail some packages this morning, so I took a couple photos of the Priority Mail lobby stand. It holds Flat Rate shipping supplies on one side and Variable Rate supplies on the other:

Flat Rate Shipping Supplies

Variable Rate Shipping Supplies

It's been there for a quite a few years, so it's possible that the USPS doesn't officially support this type of display anymore, but our PO keeps it fully stocked.