posted on November 14, 2000 08:27:04 PM new
I got something strange in the mail. It was in an envelope and a note from USPS saying that Priority boxes are expressly for just that.
I had to send back a signed reply card that I understood that(or if I wanted anymore boxes via mail it would be denied unless I signed!)
Does this mean I was reported?
What do you all think?
Carole (I'll figure these animated balls out sooner or later!
posted on November 14, 2000 08:36:09 PM new
No, you weren't reported...everyone gets one of those when they set up an account to have priority mail supplies delivered to them.
But ya know, I find it funny that they won't let you use priority mail boxes for anything else, but USPS has no problem accepting packages other services boxes (UPS, FedEx, etc.)
posted on November 14, 2000 08:38:30 PM new
Hi Carole~~ Due to the amount of priority supplies that are being "handed" out and the abuse by many, the USPS has now made it mandatory that anyone getting supplies will declare they only use priority boxes for priority mail.
The biggest abuse are the video boxes.....
Also, once a priority box, always a priority box. You can not recycle the box for regular mail.
The newer boxes have USPS or priority mail stamped on the the inside, so if they are flipped inside out, the postal clerk will know.
[ edited by toollady on Nov 14, 2000 08:41 PM ]
posted on November 14, 2000 08:43:50 PM new
You can't recycle the box for regular mail? Why not? What does the USPS have against reusing an already paid-for item instead of throwing it in the landfill after one use?
Now I can see why they wouldn't want you using it again for priority mail...but for regular mail or UPS shipping? Who cares?
posted on November 14, 2000 09:09:55 PM new"You can't recycle the box for regular mail? Why not? What does the USPS have against reusing an already paid-for item instead of throwing it in the landfill after one use?"
Maybe the USPS figures some merchants are so cheap and manipulative they'll request the Priority boxes and use the excuse "It was used" if they are questioned about using them for other purposes.
posted on November 14, 2000 09:46:17 PM new
Another thing that I really think is great is, you can request for printed return labels! Pretty cool to see my "Ebay ID" pasted on the upper left corner....looks soooo official.
Yep, had to sign too. I don't mind. Free boxes ... thanks!
posted on November 14, 2000 11:28:55 PM new
avmom....That is neat, printed labels. I looked all over the usps site & couldn't find any info. Could you tell me where you find how to get printed labels.
Jane
posted on November 14, 2000 11:34:52 PM new
When I first ordered my Priority Mail supplies online I ordered the "continuous feed" labels and did NOT specify that they be pre-printed with my return address. I was delighted and surprised when they came that way!! I had filled in my ebay ID for "company" and they came with the ebay ID and my address, really cool.
Now, when you look at the site it says something about having to call the 1-800 number if you would like pre-printed labels, so maybe they don't do it automatically anymore? I just ordered more labels so I'll find out soon enough if they come "plain" or "printed". But if you want to make sure, go to the USPS Priority Mail ordering section of the website and look for the continuous feed mailing labels, and there is a notation there on where to call to order them with your address on them.
posted on November 15, 2000 12:18:06 AM new
Strange, because when I went to the post office today to get the rate on a package for both priority and Parcel Post the Postmistress told me "Oh,just turn the box inside out".
And I have reused priority boxes sent to me to send things back out again (priority too) (thereby saving the PO the cost of another box).
I can understand them not wanting you to turn them inside out and use for cheaper mail.I cannot understand not recycling a used box.
posted on November 15, 2000 12:31:16 AM new
I've been encouraged to turn the boxes inside out as well by my post office and one clerk even suggested I do that with the tyvec envelopes! I live in the heart of a major city, I wonder if that might have something to do with it? But I think there should be uniform use rules for everyone, this could lead to many problems.
posted on November 15, 2000 03:15:57 AM new
PRIORITY BOXES ARE NOT A GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY TO SMALL BUSINESSES! THEY ARE PAID FOR BY THOSE WHO USE THEM LEGITIMATELY FOR PRIORITY MAIL. And anyone who misuses them is forcing the honest shippers to subsidize their business.
If the RECIPIENT's post office notices it, they can (and most will) charge them postage due for the diference between Priority and the poatage the shipper paid.
So far I have had it happen once, left a sizzling negative for it, and have reported several sellers (when I get home and see the brand new inside out box on the book rate package ... I'm annoyed at the knowledge that Priority rates are going up, in part because of these sellers who blithely ignore USPS regs. and the USPS has sent memos to ALL branches ... it's the idiots who don't read or believe the memos that eill get you in trouble).
posted on November 15, 2000 03:43:13 AM new
A seller that knowningly turns Priority boxes inside out to take advantage of the service gets on my bad side. To put it bluntly they have to have the integrity of a whore on heroin.
posted on November 15, 2000 04:20:47 AM new
A lot of things I order come in Priority boxes. I cannot bring myself to throw them out. I've been taught (five years working at a very conservative bank, don't you know) to never waste things. I reuse them by covering them with brown kraft paper. I'm still having trouble seeing what's wrong with that. I would never turn them inside out, that's tacky. I reuse all boxes I get unless the USPS has managed to mangle them (you know, you get that nice note from them that says (not word for word, of course): Sorry but something happened to your package. Maybe aliens invaded the post office overnight and stomped on everything, we don't know, but we are very sorry.) RCA hasn't complained about me reusing the box they had printed up to use specifically for their product. If they don't care, why should the USPS care if I "recycle" something? They've already gotten their postage out of it.
posted on November 15, 2000 04:24:30 AM new...they have to have the integrity of a whore on heroin.
Except that at least a whore on heroin has the excuse of a serious addiction. Misusers of Priority boxes are just plain cheapskates - shoplifters, frankly, or the folks that steal cable TV service. If you honestly can't afford to buy (or scavenge) your Priority boxes for non-Priority use, maybe you need to look at your business plan.
As to why "you can't recycle the box for regular mail...What does the USPS have against reusing an already paid-for item instead of throwing it in the landfill after one use?" - a uniform "no reuse" rule helps prevent a he-said, she-said argument between clerk and customer at the postal desk. If it's inside out, it's misused, end of story.
[ edited by HartCottageQuilts on Nov 15, 2000 04:25 AM ]
posted on November 15, 2000 04:58:02 AM new
I never use Priority Boxes inside out but I was interested in the comment that the new ones have printing on the inside. I have seven sizes here for which I have received shipments within the last 2 months to replentish stock and only the video boxes have inside printing. Are there others out there with printing?
posted on November 15, 2000 05:06:23 AM new
I use enough of my own boxes at my expense and get no discount. I often use more than one box or envelope to send priority items.
When I am sending a box priority with a big space around odd shaped items I will use a smaller priority box to fill a void instead of packing material. When I send 123 blocks of steel in a flat rate envelope I will roll them in a Tyvek envelope and reverse tape them so they won't slide around. Otherwise the corners tend to poke out.
I was in UPS last week and a fellow brought in a whole bunch of boxes taped up with priority mail tape. Did not bother the UPS people at all.
posted on November 15, 2000 05:07:59 AM new
I have never seen one with printing inside and ordered as recently as last week. Never get video boxes though.
posted on November 15, 2000 05:12:58 AM new
Not quite the end! First of all, by recycling them you would have your address label on the inside and the postage stamp so your buyer would know you were not using them illegally!
Scavenging would be a no-no too,wouldn't it? After all someone else paid for that box, those peanuts, that plastic,and that paper and whatever else you use.
That just leaves buying new which means adding handling fees and increasing your cost to your buyer. I don't have to examine my business plan to know my buyers want the cheapest rate I can give them on heavy stuff. It's a moot point anyway, I guess since 98% of my shipping goes out priority.And a lot of that doesn't always use priority boxes but pays priority rate.Possibly that was why my postmistress was so lenient with me. She just loves to see us bring in stacks of priority mail in this little crossroads that doesn't handle that many packages.
I wonder if they get an allotment or bonus or something if they increase priority mail for their post office? My rural route driver was very happy to pick up my priority boxes in rural Indiana too.
posted on November 15, 2000 05:21:46 AM new
As soon as the mighty USPS stops interpreting my 'Fragile' stickers as having read 'Football' (thereby destroying my well packaged items)
I promise to cease and desist from turning their boxes inside out...
posted on November 15, 2000 05:22:07 AM new
abacaxi, uaru and hcq are absolutely right on! If you want FREE shipping boxes, tape, labels and Priority stickers delivered to your door, follow the d*mn rules. What's the hardship? If you want to reuse them, save and reuse them as Priority Mail boxes. It's interesting that some complain about bidders not following an auction TOS, but will complain about the USPS "TOS" for free shipping supplies. Sheesh.
posted on November 15, 2000 05:26:16 AM new
It's so nice to have Lone Rangers out there protecting us from our friendly USPS gouging us with a rate hike. I would actually APPRECIATE a seller who gave me the option of paying Fourth Class and sent me the item in an inside-out, wrapped box. Instead of leaving him negative feedback--I'd PRAISE him to the hilt!
posted on November 15, 2000 05:29:56 AM new
my local UPS office WILL NOT allow you to use boxes put out by others9usps priority, fed ex etc)...they stated if the postal inspector saw them delivering using those boxes they could get into trouble........I spoke with the terminal manager and called the 800 number to verify this and was told the same by all......If you are doing it now you are just lucky.....as most of us know each ups office seems to have their own set of rules they follow and ignore.........
i was shipping very large items, flat, such as cardboard display items, taping and pieceing them together using priority tape and boxes............
i was not detered, i still do this but a different way, which i will not elaborate on since i do not want to ruin a good thing............
posted on November 15, 2000 05:51:03 AM new"I would actually APPRECIATE a seller who gave me the option of paying Fourth Class and sent me the item in an inside-out, wrapped box. Instead of leaving him negative feedback--I'd PRAISE him to the hilt!"
Hey, just think maybe you'll get a seller that is able to reduce costs by shoplifting and you can give him glowing recommendations like "a seller that circumvents the system to offer lower prices".
Probably one of those sellers that cheats the other guy and passes the savings on to you, right?
posted on November 15, 2000 06:23:14 AM newAs soon as the mighty USPS stops interpreting my 'Fragile' stickers as having read 'Football' (thereby destroying my well packaged items) I promise to cease and desist from turning their boxes inside out...
I'm trying to figure out the relationship between these two here. Do you mean that you're recouping the cost of damaged goods by stealing Priority boxes?
Do you recoup the "cost" of obnoxious salesclerks at the Safeway by "snacking" your way through the produce section? Or the "cost" of a boring RL job by taking home a ream of copier paper?
Or is this some sort of "protest" on your part regarding the UPS? In that case, I'm sure for maximum effect you notified them that your misusing Priority boxes is an indication of your dissatisfaction with their service. Otherwise, how would they (or any of us) know that your stealing is actually grassroots political action?
posted on November 15, 2000 08:49:35 AM new
I recycle priority boxes by reusing them...as priority boxes. They're good for several trips, if well-taped, and not only is this legal, it saves on landfill space.
Not too long ago, I received an auction item from a seller who packaged it in a priority box turned inside out, that had obviously been around the world once too many times. It had actually broken open at a corner, but the silverplate set was complete. Of course, he didn't bother to individually wrap the pieces, nor did he include any internal packing material, but he DID manage to charge me $6.00 for a "packing fee" along with postage. He got a negative, of course.
posted on November 15, 2000 11:44:53 AM new
I'm the one or orignated this thread and I am SHOCKED that people who don't know me are saying I'm worse than a 'WHORE and drug abuser'.
WHO ARE YOU to have the audacity to say that to ANYONE?
Especially when I was simply asking for an answer to a question. I did NOT invite your MORAL SOLICITUDE or condemnation. (And for you to do shows something about YOU-doesn't it?)
I use these boxes because I sell SMALL STUFF..I would BUY them except they are so OUTRAGEOUSLY priced at the Post office to purchase.
I live in a town of less than 5,000 people and there is NO WHERE inexpensive to purchase these.
Does anyone know WHERE I can get a good rate?
I am simply a small time ebayer...and a good person (with flaws) and don't feel ANYONE here has the authority to DEGRADE me.
Except for this thread...everyone has been polite and professional. WHAT HAPPENED?
Carole being attacked by the wolves...and hung out to dry.
posted on November 15, 2000 12:11:11 PM new
Carole - and anyone else who turns the boxes -
If you don't wnat to spend the money to purchase your own shipping supplies - then simply ship everything priority - you can then use their supplies 'legally'. (Gee that seems too simple!)
The priority boxes are a perk for paying the priority rate - I can understand why the post office doesn't want them abused - it just drives rates up - and then we can all complain some more.
Personally, I think that the boxes are probably going overboard - Maybe if they didn't give them away, we wouldn't be facing another rate hike.
As far as inexpensive - if you do a search for packing supplies - there are several companies that you can order from online. If I remember correctly, Office Max is pretty inexpensive and has free shipping - although there are probably others that are cheaper.
posted on November 15, 2000 01:04:40 PM newIMLDS, go back and read this thread.
Nobody said you are worse than a "WHORE and drug abuser". The worst comparison anybody made was that people who steal priority boxes are like a "whore on heroin" - IOW, I'm assuming, that they'll do anything to get what they want. I, OTOH, rather mildly compared stealing Priority boxes to shoplifting.
Anyway, let's assume that you now are on notice that Priority packaging is - let me get out a Priority envelope here - "provided solely for use in sending Priority Mail. Misuse may be a violation of Federal law." And you've signed the card, right, and sent it back? Do you intend to continue your practice of misusing Priority packaging?
I find it kind of funny that the folks who freely admit to breaking the rules always act so shocked and wounded and downright offended when somebody calls 'em on it.
posted on November 15, 2000 01:23:46 PM newI live in a town of less than 5,000 people and there is NO WHERE inexpensive to purchase these. Does anyone know WHERE I can get a good rate?
The Priority Mail boxes are free, and delivered right to your door if you order them online at http://www.usps.com
They are not meant to be used inside out, and anyone that orders them will end up getting that post card from the PO that you sign in agreement. They are provided free for people to use to ship via Priority Mail, not for people to turn inside out and send a less expensive way. To do so is the same as stealing.
Recyling them is another story as long as your PO doesn't have a problem with it. All the ones I have gotten in the past year have been stamped on the inside, video, the size 4 and the size 7 ones.
posted on November 15, 2000 01:26:59 PM new
McJane,
Call this USPS 800# and request for boxes & shipping labels:
1-800-527-1950 (edited for the purpose of correcting telephone #).
Carole,
I use a terrific box company. I'm lucky enough to have one locally, but there are a few distribution center throughout the US. Hopefully there is one near you. I highly recommend thier customer service & I have a friend who has boxes shipped to her...she says "I love these boxes, they save me money vs. ordering them elsewhere, thanks!"
Here is thier URL:
http://www.uline.com
Hope that helps ... can't beat purchasing a 4"x4"x4" for $.13/piece - sold in quantities of 25+.
avmom
[ edited by avmom on Nov 15, 2000 01:46 PM ]
(I'll figure these animated balls out sooner or later! 