New priority mail boxes

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

Yeah, that tinyurl link just goes to the main page of USPS. I went to tinyurl, did a preview of the link, saw the product ID, tried going there directly and got redirected to the main USPS site. However, doing a search on the product ID indicates that it's the "Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Board Game Box".

I assume someone will correct me if that's not the box everyone was talking about. Here are the dimensions.

Inside Dimensions: 23 11/16" x 11 3/4" x 3"
Outside Dimensions: 24 1/16" x 11 7/8" x 3 1/8"

The Priority Mail® Large Flat Rate Board Game Box is ideal for shipping board games. And like our other Priority Mail Flat Rate™ products, it is a quick, easy and convenient way for you to ship featuring pre-determined rates regardless of weight (domestic shipments only) or destination.

Some key benefits:
Fits two average-sized board games.
Can be used for Domestic Priority Mail ($14.95) and International Priority Mail ($35.50 to Canada and Mexico; $58.50 to all other countries; 20 lb weight limit applies for international).

 

[avidgeek]

Thanks Ice Cream..... that tiny url was also just taking me to the main usps page. It's great, now I don't have to sacrifice two usps priority boxes and join then to create a pcb box. I don't actually do that anymore as you could get away with it in the early 2000s, not so much now.

I've had usps flat rate boxes (with a pre-paid label) returned to my house because it was standard priority rate. I even went as far as spray painting the box one color.....doesn't always work. I think Mod is right, they're tagging these boxes with something. Now its time to reverse engineer and find out what they're using so we can live in a free usps box society!!!! Wait, the boxes are free but you know what i mean.

 

[SuperSprint]

Nope, it takes you to the priority mail box I mentioned specifically. You must have something blocking it.

I get the main page also.

post office usually does not let that fly. I would think if you printed a label and did not present it to the clerk, you could get away with it, but flat rate boxes are supposed to be be for flat rate mail..

I print my own labels (endicia), but I have daily pickup and I drop off at the PO and no one has ever said as word. I don't even look at the boxes anymore. Pick a size, select priority or flat rate based on cost (which is not flat rate 99% of the time), let her rip. I would think that if it was a big issue someone would have said something in the last 10 years...

That said, why would they care? Half their non-priority boxes are free. For example, a 10" x 7" x 4 3/4" (Box A1) Priority box is free for any mail class. What would a 11" x 8½" x 5½" (Box O-FRB1) also free be restricted to flat rate use only?

 

[awarner]

As a buyer, would you have trouble paying $15.00 to ship a board though? Just curious.

-Al-

 

[Talon2000]

I ship Priority for most everything. Sure you can ship Parcel, and it'll take 7-10 days, and save $3-$5 How many people want to wait up to 10 days in a society of instant gratification.

I agree shipping is getting out of hand.

 

[modessitt]

I had two cases of these boxes dropped off at the house a couple months ago. They make great boxes for storing those big Atari boards in...

 

[Bellybuttons]

Because of the new size they were cool with me using the older USPS Sticker
I covered up the Flat Rate with them.
Looked good as well so if you have them use them.
Don't just slap them on make sure they are nice and straight then slap on the pre-printed postage.

But I'm out of the Blue ones and the white priorty sticker you can still see the text.
So Large Flat rate prices are biting in.

But what is a girl to do but charge the $15 for shipping.

 

[SuperSprint]

I ship Priority for most everything. Sure you can ship Parcel, and it'll take 7-10 days, and save $3-$5 How many people want to wait up to 10 days in a society of instant gratification.

I find that parcel typically only saves 50c-$1.00 and is sometimes more expensive.

But what is a girl to do but charge the $15 for shipping.

Buy a brown box for 50c and charge $8.00 for regular priority mail?

 

[smalltownguy2]

I find that parcel typically only saves 50c-$1.00 and is sometimes more expensive.



Buy a brown box for 50c and charge $8.00 for regular priority mail?

Sheah, right. $8? Maybe if you're mailing a cotton swab from your house to the house across the street.

The days of shipping anything for less than $10 are LONG gone.

 

[SuperSprint]

Sheah, right. $8? Maybe if you're mailing a cotton swab from your house to the house across the street.

The days of shipping anything for less than $10 are LONG gone.

I shipped ~650 packages USPS Priority Mail in the past 60 days. The average cost was $7.60.

But my point was that if PM Flat Rate is more expensive that regular Priority, new corrugated boxes are often much cheaper than the "Free" box. About 1/2 our business goes UPS ground, and obviously none of those boxes are free.

 

[eightbitwhit]

Thank you very much for the heads up on these. I've got some headed to the house!

 

[YellowDog]

I have shipped using flat rate boxes. I just cover the flat rate with white electrical tape and the bar code on the box and my post office doesn't care.

I have also just discovered Priority Mail Regional Rates [insert stupid little trademark thingy]: https://www.usps.com/ship/priority-mail-regional-rate.htm

This may be of some interest as it looks like it is about 1/2 flat rate if you are within a couple of zones.

ken

 

[Tighe]

I have shipped using flat rate boxes. I just cover the flat rate with white electrical tape and the bar code on the box and my post office doesn't care.

I have also just discovered Priority Mail Regional Rates [insert stupid little trademark thingy]: https://www.usps.com/ship/priority-mail-regional-rate.htm

This may be of some interest as it looks like it is about 1/2 flat rate if you are within a couple of zones.

ken

The post offices by me don't allow that.

 

[channelmanic]

Postage went up!

USPS Flat Rate Priority Envelopes went from $13.95 to $16.95 for international shipping.

The small Flat Rate boxes with Delivery Confirmation as a set went up 30 cents.

 

[darthi8nt]

They just sent me new sample boxes of brand new sizes and such.

 

[mattosborn]

I have shipped using flat rate boxes. I just cover the flat rate with white electrical tape and the bar code on the box and my post office doesn't care.

That is not advisable.... Your PO may not care, but the receiving PO may. Someone sent me a package like that and my PO made me come pick it up and pay postage due. Not cool.

 

[SuperSprint]

That is not advisable.... Your PO may not care, but the receiving PO may. Someone sent me a package like that and my PO made me come pick it up and pay postage due. Not cool.

I was just looking through the Domestic Mail Manual online (sec 123 - Prices and Eligibility) and I can find NOTHING that says flat rate boxes must shipped at the flat rate price. It's very clear that to get the flat rate, you must use the specified boxes but not the inverse. If anyone runs into this, I would ask them to show you where in the DMM it says they may not be used or that a flat rate must be charged.


But if you want to see real craziness, I found this


Bonus! Ultimate Cheat Sheet for Priority Mail Boxes:

Use the Small Flat Rate Box if possible, as it is less expensive to ship than any other box. Otherwise…

Items shipping at or below the 2-lb rate:
Use regular Priority boxes or your own box.

Items shipping at or above the 3-lb rate:
Use Regional "A" Boxes for all items that will fit into them. Otherwise…

Items shipping at the 3-lb rate that will NOT fit into "A" Boxes:
Use regular Priority packaging, EXCEPT for those sent to "Zone 8" (the farthest zone). These are best sent via Medium Flat Rate Boxes, which will save you $1.64 if your item will fit into one. (i.e., your item is too big for an "A" Box but not too big for a Medium Flat Rate Box.)

Items shipping at the 4-lb rate or higher that WILL fit into Medium Flat Rate Boxes:
Use the Medium Flat Rate Boxes in "Zones" 5-8. Otherwise the Regional "B" Boxes will be cheaper, so use them instead in "Zones" 1-4. As the "B" Boxes are also larger, virtually anything that fits into a Medium Flat Rate Box should fit into a "B" Box.

Items shipping at the 4-lb rate or higher that will NOT fit into Medium Flat Rate Boxes, but WILL fit into Regional "B" Boxes:
Use the Regional "B" Box in all cases EXCEPT for those sent to "Zone 8" (the farthest zone). These are best sent via LARGE Flat Rate Boxes, saving you $0.42.

Items shipping at the 4-lb rate or higher that will NOT fit into Regional "B" Boxes, but WILL fit into Large Flat Rate Boxes:
Send 'em in the Large Flat Rate Boxes! But you knew that.

Items shipping at the 4-lb rate or higher that will NOT fit into ANY Flat Rate packaging:
Sorry, buddy—you're on your own! You'll have to ship at the regular (weight- and zone-based) rates. Try the big O-BOX7 or use your own packaging.

Guide ID: 10000000021146713Guide created: 03/20/11 (updated 01/25/12)

 

[Talon2000]

More shipping crap.

Ordered a Flyback, and Highscore save kit from AS.

2lbs in a box smaller than flat rate. Shipping with UPS cost me $15 Or rather I was charged $15 because you don't have the option of USPS.

Ordered Parts from TRBR Bigger box, Heavier, and cost was $7.05

I hate shipping costs.

 

[Frax]

More shipping crap.

Ordered a Flyback, and Highscore save kit from AS.

2lbs in a box smaller than flat rate. Shipping with UPS cost me $15 Or rather I was charged $15 because you don't have the option of USPS.

Ordered Parts from TRBR Bigger box, Heavier, and cost was $7.05

I hate shipping costs.

Last time I tried to get on this soapbox, I got chewed out here. Something about they're charging you for the handling, because they're too dense to roll that into the price of the actual product...but then OMG, ON PAPER THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE THE CHEAPEST PPRICE...

*roll eyes*

Just give it up.