Vio Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I have a flat rate box here and I want to mail my brother and his wife a few things I've made. Do I have to use the flat rate price for that box, or can I use the priority rate which comes out to less than the flat rate, and still use the box with the proper postage. Either way it's going priority mail, and accurate postage will be paid. Does it matter if you mail a package using a flat rate box, for regular priority mail, is what I'm trying to ask. Thought about this too late and post office is closed, and putting together some stuff for him, and just wanted to have it ready to drop off at the post office on Monday. I can print the label through that click and ship thing, either flat rate or the regular priority weight/zone based mail. The weight based one comes up cheaper to mail, but I have no idea if I can still use the free flat rate box to use for regular priority mail. Anyone know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OverSoyed Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 If its a flat rate box, you have to pay the flat rate price. Stupid, but thats the postal service for ya!They have regular priority mail boxes that are larger, and can be used for weights up to 70 lbs.You may be able to still use the flat rate box if you cover up where it says flat rate, but I'd contact the post office first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebbles Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Yeah, I'm 98% positive you can't use flate rate for regular PM, but you can always ask. Do you have any other boxes? Any will do as long as what you print says "PM" on the label. Well, any that aren't huge. LOL! I have PM boxes in just about every sizs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vio Posted May 25, 2008 Author Share Posted May 25, 2008 No I just have a box that says priority mail, flat rate on it. Thank you. I'll just call before I head out to find out, on Tuesday. I might have a regular box somewhere that does say flat rate on it. Will look thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CareBear Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Flat rate boxes REQUIRE flat rate pricing. Flat rate goes priority, so it also says that on the box.And no, you cannot just cover it over. Geesh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SliverOfWax Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Don't worry, Vio. We'll all come and visit you in federal prison after you've covered the Flat Rate logo on that flat rate box. What's your favorite kind of cookie? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CareBear Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 cake, it's gotta be a cake. so we can bake a file into it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Amorelei Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I won't go visit her in prison. The closest I come to prison is watching SuperMax on MSNBC. I will, however, tell you that a well-known supplier just turns the boxes inside out. Personally, Wal Mart is open 24 hrs and they sell boxes. Although, by the time you go buy a box, it might be just as cheap to pay flat rate. Regardless, I wouldn't do any tampering with the USPS's box. When I was in paramedic school, one of my classmates had a previous felony conviction for arson. He was on a volunteer fire department, you see, and some felt they weren't running enough calls. A few of them started setting fires so they could run calls. All well and good until he set the post office on fire. You don't mess with the federal gov't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LynnS Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I think the rates are good for the flat rate boxes. I don't see where you will see a big dfference.4 years ago I took (1) 8 ounce candle to the PO and asked what it would be to mail.The cost was almost $4.00 for 1 candle. Yesterday I mailed 6 candles and 12 packs of tarts and it cost $9.80 for the small flat rate.I think that is good considering what 1 candle would have cost 4 years ago with regular mail. I use priority envelopes from PO.They are FREE and to mail 10 packs of tarts it was $4.50. Getting these envelopes and boxes FREE is a plus.I did ask what the larger flat rate box went up to and it is still the same cost($12.95)LynnS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CareBear Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 you may also be able to grow feathers and fly it there yourself in less time. but I"m not sure so check first with your creator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debscent Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 V, just take the box, turn it inside out, and retape. It's going to family, not a customer and it's recycling. As for taping over logos, etc., THEN checking the PO, waste of time IMO. (Sorry, I will only assume that this post will be followed up with even bigger writing in the future). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ring of Fire Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Flat rate boxes REQUIRE flat rate pricing. Flat rate goes priority, so it also says that on the box.And no, you cannot just cover it over. Geesh. OS, yes, by all means, ask the PO if you can just block it out. If not, use all the above measures, ROFLMAO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissMary Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 You may be able to still use the flat rate box if you cover up where it says flat rate, but I'd contact the post office first.I guess it wasn't big enough for you to read the first time!Well, I guess you can't read either!!Flat rate boxes REQUIRE flat rate pricing. Flat rate goes priority, so it also says that on the box.And no, you cannot just cover it over. Geesh. You CANNOT, I repeat, just as CB said... CANNOT just "cover" up the flat rate logo. It's considered tampering with government property. Yes it's lame, but I've already studied this. Since the boxes are free, the PO gets pretty PO'ed when you use a box in this manner. The boxes are configured into the pricing of a flat rate item.Just like CareBear said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ring of Fire Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 LMAO...what a way to start the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane42 Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 V, just take the box, turn it inside out, and retape.I wouldn't do that either...alot of people on Ebay were getting in trouble for doing that. I realize they probably were not going to pay Priority, but it is still not being used for what it was intended. I picked some up by mistake once - when I went to mail a package, I just wanted to pay Priority - not the Flat Rate. Guy at the PO told me I had to repack it in a Priority box - would not cover up the flat rate info. Unfortunately, this package was going to Italy for Christmas...not time to drag it home to repack..so I paid double the cost of Priority. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debscent Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 Sorry V, gave bad advice, I didn't realize that there was a crackdown on this, by turning the box inside out, or that it was a problem. See, high post count really doesn't mean much.LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReneeM Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 ROFLMAO!!!!It's true..put the correct postage on it and ship it. Man, something so simple turned into such a long thread...too funny.Jakalex, too funny, and VERY accurate! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vio Posted May 26, 2008 Author Share Posted May 26, 2008 LOL Well I want to do this legally, so I wasn't planning on doing anything illegal suggested, if it is deemed illegal by the post office. I'm just thinking because I have a box, to recycle, that I would do it if it could be done, but it's not worth getting into trouble if it's not legal. I'll ask the post master tomorrow and post back here what the official post office response is, that I get personally. If you look on usps's site, the priority mail boxes all say priority mail, and are all free kind of supplies, so I'm sure they'll have the one I need there that has no flat rate on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbara AL Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 Vio,I use the #4 and #7 boxes from the USPS they are Priority Mail but not Flat Rate. The #4 is smaller and the #7 is larger.Barbara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vio Posted May 26, 2008 Author Share Posted May 26, 2008 Thanks Barb! Will check those out if they have them. Hopefully they'll have one at the po for free when I go there so I don't have to buy one. PO is so close, would save me some gas, especially these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbara AL Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 You can order this boxes on line at the USPS website they are free they will send them in a bundle of 25 I have both sizes.Barbara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vio Posted May 26, 2008 Author Share Posted May 26, 2008 Thank you for the info! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deb12c Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 Your post office should have some priority (not flat rate) boxes that you can get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vio Posted May 26, 2008 Author Share Posted May 26, 2008 Yup I just haven't needed to look yet, so never knew for sure. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerrie Posted May 26, 2008 Share Posted May 26, 2008 Oh, whatever you do, don't turn those boxes inside out. I actually had a supplier...can't remember who it was now...that sent me some supplies in a flat rate or priority box that was turned inside out. I reused it, thinking nothing of it, and my A-HO postmaster threatened me when he saw me use the box. He actually could see a tiny bit of white on one corner of the box and immediately assumed it was a flat rate or priority box turned inside out. I didn't try to lie about it, didn't know it was an illegal thing to do, and told him I received it that way and I could peel off my address label and show him the previous label. He didn't want to hear any excuses, but he was pretty nasty to me. So if anyone wants to do that, they better wrap in in some kraft paper to cover those corners. Most clerks probably don't really care, but I have this one who acts like every dollar lost in the USPS comes out of his pocket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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