Using a FR Box without FR postage

[anasazirose]

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? 

[fab_finds4u]

I go with the last one.

[toomuchstuffagain35]

I go with NO.

[buyselljack2016]

I believe the answer is in the DMM, but I'm not in a google mood.

[toomuchstuffagain35]

If you're going to THAT much effort, why not just choose another box?

time is money ya know.

[anasazirose]

---

@toomuchstuffagain35 wrote:

If you're going to THAT much effort, why not just choose another box?

time is money ya know.

---

LOL, I agree.  Sometimes we think too much and do too little.  Last week a local post office only had FR boxes, no regular priority boxes, so I asked if that was allowed, right after I asked if they had any more pony car stamps... 

[wastingtime101 · Accepted solution]

Priority Mail packaging provided by the USPS must be used only for Priority Mail.
Regardless of how the packaging is reconfigured or how markings may be
obliterated, any matter mailed in USPS-produced Priority Mail packaging is
charged the appropriate Priority Mail price.

https://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/full/mailingstandards.pdf

Above was updated as of January 2023. The appropriate price for a flat rate box is flat rate pricing.

[buyselljack2016]

Last I knew Post Offices could not "order" non-flat rate Priority boxes to be stocked. They were not listed in  USPS ebuy to be procured.  Part of the "upsell" was to not have Priority boxes stocked that could ship for less that "flat rate".  

[simba6]

Nope. If it's caught, you would be back billed if it had less than the flat rate postage on it.  If they catch it right away it might be returned.  They still in some cases will deliver it postage due and collect at delivery. That makes for a very unhappy buyer.

[wastingtime101]

It's also printed right on the box.

[1786davycrockett]

Not worth the hassle, one way or the other.

Just use a different, unmarked, non-Priority box -- there seem to be plenty of them available.

[richard1rst]

---

@buyselljack2016 wrote:

Last I knew Post Offices could not "order" non-flat rate Priority boxes to be stocked. They were not listed in  USPS ebuy to be procured.  Part of the "upsell" was to not have Priority boxes stocked that could ship for less that "flat rate".  

---

On the other hand YOU can order regular postal boxes on usps.com and have them sent directly to you. Or you can use any old regular box. It does NOT have to be or be marked priority mail. The label says that for you.

[anasazirose]

---

@wastingtime101 wrote:

Priority Mail packaging provided by the USPS must be used only for Priority Mail.
Regardless of how the packaging is reconfigured or how markings may be
obliterated, any matter mailed in USPS-produced Priority Mail packaging is
charged the appropriate Priority Mail price.

https://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/full/mailingstandards.pdf

Above was updated as of January 2023. The appropriate price for a flat rate box is flat rate pricing.

---

Somehow, I knew you'd come through with the facts, AND the rules!  Thanks so much!

[toybrats]

No.  The ONLY exemption is that recently discontinued regional flat rate boxes.  My post office never has the regular priority mail boxes either.     The box says FLAT RATE REQUIRED then you pay that again with the exception of the regional priority mail boxes.

[a_c_green]

---

@toybrats wrote:

No.  The ONLY exemption is that recently discontinued regional flat rate boxes.  My post office never has the regular priority mail boxes either.     The box says FLAT RATE REQUIRED then you pay that again with the exception of the regional priority mail boxes.

---

Right; the Regional Rate boxes can still be used for standard weight-/zone-based Priority mailings. The verification scanning has been updated to allow standard Priority postage on a Regional Rate box (and I have one such shipment traveling this week). 

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. (I posted photos of that here a while back.) In addition, there's a separate rack in the outer 24-hour lobby where people can pick up and drop off unused packaging as needed. (I've got an oversupply of larger boxes that I really need to drop off there sometime, from my days of selling much larger stuff.)