PAINSS
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posted on May 7, 2001 05:41:43 AM
PRIORITY MAIL BOXES ARE THE PROPERTY OF THE U.S. GOVERMENT, AND ARE FREE TO CUSTOMERS.
THERE IS A PERSON THAT HAS ABOUT 25 AUCTIONS ON EBAY SELLING THEM.IS THIS LEGAL?
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jrb3
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posted on May 7, 2001 06:03:20 AM
No it is absolutely illegal
What are they listed as?
I just did a search and couldn't find any may have already been removed.
Joe B
[ edited by jrb3 on May 7, 2001 06:05 AM ]
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sadie999
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posted on May 7, 2001 06:24:10 AM
I found one, and amazingly there's a bid or two. Good grief.
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PAINSS
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posted on May 7, 2001 06:42:19 AM
JRB3...I DID A SEARCH UNDER SHIPPING BOXES.THE TITLE FOR THE PRIORITY BOXES IS
125 SHIPPING/PACKING/BOX BOXES. HE STILL HAS ABOUT 25 AUCTIONS RUNNING.I SENT IT TO SAFEHARBOR LAST WEEK, AND DIDNT HEAR ANYTHING.I SENT IT AGIN THIS MORNING.THIS IS CRAZY.
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sharkbaby
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posted on May 7, 2001 06:50:06 AM
OMG!!! This one guy is selling them by the zillions! And he's "suggesting" turning them inside out to use for UPS & Fedex shipping. Ballsy!
Has anything been done yet? If not, I'll chip in and try to put a stop to this........Wrong wrong wrong!
I think he'd be in BIG trouble with the USPS if they knew. He's obviously ordering them in super large quantities to sell.
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dannkim
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posted on May 7, 2001 06:53:25 AM
I just sent all the info to powerseller support, we'll see if that gets them ended or atleast some response.
I'll update when I hear something back from them.
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sharkbaby
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posted on May 7, 2001 06:57:39 AM
The worst part of this situation that comes to mind is that something like this could cause the USPS to start charging for their priority supplies....Geez!
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codasaurus
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:01:01 AM
Hilarious...
Clearly an illegal activity. Reported to eBay which has yet to suspend the seller or at the very least to cancel the auctions?
Incidentally, the seller is probably selling old stock. The USPS began printing USPS on the inside of priority boxes some time ago in order to prevent folks from using them as non priority boxes.
Or, and feel free to correct me on this, the seller may be selling "priority" boxes manufactured by someone other than the USPS. Boxes which do not have USPS printed on the inside.
This would allow someone to use the box as priority if they chose or as non priority if they chose. And if the box wasn't manufactured by the USPS then it is not the property of the USPS, is it?
I know that more than a few large mail order businesses seem to have priority boxes made up especially for them. If these boxes are not coming from the USPS then it might be entirely legal to turn them inside out.
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PAINSS
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:04:33 AM
SEEMS LIKE HE HAS TO BE GETTING THEM FREE TO SELL SO CHEAP. 125 BOXES FOR 6.00
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JWPC
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:06:42 AM
NOT ALL BOXES ARE MARKED ON THE INSIDE Because we use a great deal of these boxes, we have noticed only what apparently are the more popular boxes are marked on the inside - many others we have just recently received are NOT marked.
I agree that if these boxes are USPS boxes this man needs to be stopped - the post office may start charging if fools such as this can get away with selling such.
eBay if not stopping him could be an accessory to his illegal actions, right? 
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codasaurus
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:08:42 AM
If there is a moderator about I think that the seller needs to be invited to this discusion. I was able to locate the seller of these supplies based on a prior post here.
Also, the seller is not suggesting that the boxes be turned inside out. Quite the opposite, they state that it is illegal to do so because the boxes and tubes are the property of the USPS.
Perhaps the USPS has no policy about folks re-selling priority boxes?
At any rate, I think that the proper place to forward complaints or reports about these auctions is to the USPS rather than eBay.
eBay could sit on its thumbs in the absence of a specific USPS policy or complaint. But if someone from the USPS calls eBay about these auctions then they will be ended and rather quickly.
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Brooklynguy-07
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:09:01 AM
The best part is that he's charging a $2.50 handling charge and it looks as though he's having the USPS deliver the boxes directly to the buyers house. BAD BOY.
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jrb3
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:10:08 AM
I think I took care of this seller here's what I did.
Went to USPS Fraud Page
http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/ContactUs.htm
Filed Fraud complaint with links to their auctions.
Since you need to give a name city and state in mail fraud form I bid on a lot of the boxes, requested seller contact information and filled in the boxes.
Email me and I'll give you the appropriate information.
[email protected]
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justbijou
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:13:28 AM
I already went to the USPS site and left a couple messages. In both messages I let them know about this Ebay seller/sales, the VERO program, and praised the USPS for supplying the boxes to free of charge to consumers. I also mentioned that I would not like to see this service discontinued because of bad apples.
---Carol
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jrb3
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:13:43 AM
I called my post office manager and he said it is fraudulent to sell these since he is using USPS to deliver them.
Joe B
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justbijou
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:14:49 AM
WOW! Way to go jrb3!!! Smart thinking!
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Brooklynguy-07
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:16:17 AM
Code - I don't quite understand your post about "possibly selling priority boxes manufactured by someone other than the USPS".
He states right in the auction that "priority boxes are property of the United States postal Service". Case Closed.
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jrb3
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:18:49 AM
Just called Kansas City Postal Inspector 314 539 9300.
they were very interested in what was going on it doesn't take long to get a real person either.
JB
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harmonygrove
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:19:19 AM
Well, you have to give the seller SOME credit for figuring out a way to make a buck! LOL
He sells them on Ebay, goes in the USPS website, orders them and has them shipped FREE of Charge to the buyer.
Ballsy and Brilliant (until Ebay NARU's him, that is!)
Harmony Grove Antiques
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codasaurus
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:19:38 AM
BrooklynGuy,
That post was made before I saw the actual auctions in question.
Selling priority mail boxes manufactured by someone other than the USPS might very well be legal.
I just sent an email to the USPS site (www.usps.gov) priority mail response address regarding these auctions.
And to eBay as well.
Hopefully these auctions will be toast in short order...
[ edited by codasaurus on May 7, 2001 07:25 AM ]
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jrb3
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:22:39 AM
Ebay does cover this go to this link on conversion of goverment property.
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/641.html
US Code as of: 01/23/00
Sec. 641. Public money, property or records
Whoever embezzles, steals, purloins, or knowingly converts to his use or the use of another, or without authority, sells, conveys or disposes of any record, voucher, money, or thing of value of the United States or of any department or agency thereof, or any property made or being made under contract for the United States or any department or agency thereof; or
Whoever receives, conceals, or retains the same with intent to convert it to his use or gain, knowing it to have been embezzled, stolen, purloined or converted -
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; but if the value of such property does not exceed the sum of $1,000, he shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
The word ''value'' means face, par, or market value, or cost price, either wholesale or retail, whichever is greater.
Pretty stiff penalties
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MRBucks
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:25:53 AM
Hey...!!!
You people have the mentality of a 'Lynch' mob..!!! Get a grip..!!!
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justbijou
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:26:09 AM
I checked out his feedback and there is feedback from one auction where the item number is for a set of these boxes. The high bidders User ID is VERY close to the sellers User ID and the seller left feedback within 2 minutes of closing the auction early. So if the USPS doesn't get him on selling the boxes then Ebay probably will for leaving himself feedback.
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PAINSS
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:31:22 AM
I just received an email from Ebay. They are looking into it.
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codasaurus
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:32:08 AM
Hello MrBucks,
Given the posting rules and etiquette for AW boards, I won't deign to tell you what I think of your mentality. 
The USPS is a quasi government agency. Supported by the postage fees everyone pays for its services.
Abuses of the USPS can only result in increasing the costs that legitimate users have to pay.
If you found someone reaching into your pocket and extracting the spare change you had, would you expect onlookers to tell you to get a grip when you protested?
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JWPC
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:32:22 AM
I just read the person's ads and he is definitely inferring these are Priority boxes from the USPS - and he is suggesting that you illegally turn them inside out.
This is illegal, and could cost those of us who depend on these boxes from being able to obtain them in the future if such as this is allowed to continue.
I too have written safe harbor, BUT, I also wrote the USPS about these auctions, and I suggest you do too. This is the link to the "Contact" e-mail address for the USPS.
http://new.usps.com/cgi-bin/uspsbv/scripts/content.jsp?B=contact&C=null&D=null&H=null&T=1&CC=null&DD=null
The next time you contact eBay about this man's auctions, you might include all of the auctions he is running. I went to his "current auctions," and just did a copy and past of the endless auctions for the boxes. Often I have noticed eBay won't do anything unless they have specific auction numbers.
Ebay is without excuse if they are given all the auction numbers. I also sent all the auction numbers (via copy & paste) to the United States Postal Service.
I agree with others, Not stopping this man ultimately encourage others, which ultimately will cost US a great deal.
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dannkim
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:35:01 AM
justbijou
I checked out that feedback too, and agree that the names are similar, and if you are correct, I think he did it to give himself his first star, if you notice he has 11 feedback but that would have been number ten thus earning the yellow star.
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sharkbaby
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:36:20 AM
Not to mention the fact that the seller is taking HUGE advantage of the buyers!
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gravid
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:36:59 AM
We had some enterprising people near us go out and take the heavy aluminum bridge railings off a bridge at night. I can't believe nobody came by and saw them to call it in. Same idea.
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justbijou
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posted on May 7, 2001 07:37:24 AM
dannkim - I have to agree with you on that and I think it is a pretty pathetic way to try and earn stars.
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