I sent out a package that was returned to me today. I had used a Priority Shipping box that had been previously used. Thinking to be thrifty AND to recycle, I put my squares in and wrapped the box with brown paper and sent it off.

I DID NOT SEND IT PRORITY and that is where the problem arose.

It seems that you can only use these boxes or envelopes for when you pay for Priority Shipping....even if you cover them up!!!

Apparently the Xray machine picked up the logo and since my wrapped box was not labeled with a Priority Shipping Label/Postage Label it was returned to me.

The post office informed me that these boxes are provided for free for Priority Shipping only...and other use is not acceptable...I even showed them that it had been used twice by others and there wasn't a place on it left for an address or labels...they said it didn't matter... If I wanted to recycle the box, to do so in a recyling bin.

I thought I would pass this on with Christmas shipping around the corner...it takes longer to get items to their destinations, and I would hate for this to happen to you and make a gift arrive past Dec 24th.... or for a swap projects to be delivered late, or blocks promised for a special quilt like mine will now be!!!

I think that shipping things is just confusing anymore. My son is in Korea for a year and the shipping rates to send him anything is outrageious.
Judy in Ohio

And they don't understand why everyone is switching to UPS and FedEx! Thanks for the heads up, amma. :)

Thanks for the heads up amma! When you order those boxes online, they make you "sign" a contract that is so bizarre. It says you can't use them for anything but priority mail. I've seen some creative garage sale signs made from those boxes! LOL!

I ship a lot of stuff FedEx through my business and I've found their ground service is quite reasonable. And you don't have to pay for tracking. Plus your package is insured for $100, which is included in the price of shipping. The USPS should be worried about their competition.

Thanks so much for the heads up!! I frequently re-use boxes, so this is a timely warning to me.. one question .. did they refund your postage???

I think it all depends on what post office you talk to.
I've reused the boxes, covered in brown paper bags and it has gone thru with no problem.

No refund of postage... they said I should have asked first! LMBO like I would have sent it that way if I knew...don't know?? why would I ask... kind of a vicious circle.... LOL

They did say that it could go through...if nothing alerts the person who is running the xray machine... I had 5 quilt blocks in the little box with some balled up tissue paper... and they seen the logo on the box somehow with the xray machine... don't know what else to say other than it is a gamble...

That really seems silly. If you wrapped it in brown paper what difference did it make. Like so many things they are hurting themselves with their silly rules. They need to worry about their competition.......or they may put themselves out of business.

Judy my son was in Korea for over a year and I found using the priority boxes the best way to ship. they do not add extra as long as it is a APO box.

Linda D MI

Thanks for the information, Amma.
I just did the same thing today and wonder if the box will come back to me! :mrgreen:
I covered the Priority Box with brown paper since I didn't have any other boxes to use and I didn't want to send it Priority Mail.

(last time I'll do that.............. :shock: )

Will be keeping my fingers crossed for you Joan!!! :wink:

That's crazy... :roll:

Since the post office distributes the boxes free of charge, they would probably lose money if they didn't have some type of regulation regarding their use. They have no way of knowing if the box is new or used when it's wrapped in paper. If you're sending something by priority mail, anyway, getting a free box is a good deal. (Not trying to be argumentative - just looking at it from the company's viewpoint.)

I've used one of those boxes before when I was in a jam and just had to have something. I broke it down though, turned it inside out and then taped it back together. Hope I don't go to jail for that!!!! :shock: :shock:

They do give us fits, don't they? One postal clerk won't let brown paper wrapped boxes through at all and one will help tape the paper down. Makes me crazy with all their rules and lack of being specific!

Hugs,
Sharon

Amma,

Thank you for this advice. I have some priority boxes sitting here thinking that I would do the same thing that you have done. This is another example of why our government operations are not profitable.

Recycle bin? Imagine that.

yup. Bc I have thought of doing this very thing. I had no idea...I believe most things are out of not knowing.
Won't be doing this now, AND, gonna check out those Fedx prices, too. Thanks, Amma, ol' pal! :lol:

A lot of this depends on the Postal Branch that you go to....I will NOT go to the one that my mail comes out of, the people are rude and just snap at customers. I'll never forget the time I paid with a $5 for something and received my change in stamps, because she was nearly out of change. What can you do with a bunch of 5 cent and 10cent stamps???

I just wanted to comment about turning the box inside out...can't do it anymore...they have writing all over the inside of the box, too.

I keep 2 of each size that I would use here at all times for my shipping needs. When I use one, I get another. This system has worked for a few years......

Well, I just read every word on my box that I have on hand (a used one at that), and nowhere does it say that you may not reuse it. It does say, "Please recycle." Maybe that means use it again to me. Tell them to be specific.

The inside of mine is just cardboard -- no printing on it.

Thanks, Amma.
And we wonder why the Federal Government "spends" so much money. :(
It seems like a waste of time to "x ray" boxes if the intent is to "catch"people who didn't use the Priority boxes appropriately.

And, for what it's worth, my PO said the rates will be going up again in the spring...... :shock:

Sandpat----If you go to jail, maybe we can be cell mates anyway.....

Oh you made me wonder why my Sister hasn't called me to say she got the CD I mailed her. I used a box previously sent to me from a friend in Australia. now she paid for the stupid box, i shouldn't have to again.
I guess I'd best call her tonight to see if she got it. sigh!!

Oh thank you! I'd love to at least have a sewing partner...do you think they allow needles?

What about rotary cutters and scissors?

What is APO. Im assuming that is military. He isn't in the military. He is working there for a year.
Shipping boxes to him will cost a fortune Im sure.
Judy

I shall lead the rally to raise your bail money :wink: 8) 8) 8)

Thank you Amma. Maybe, you can bring us a "cake" with "special" fillling or we may have to resort to macrame tearing strips of clothing for materials. :shock: Or course, if they allow needles, we can keep very busy. Want to learn English paper piecing, Sandpat? :?:

I'm game for learning anything new....and I'd love to get that "CAKE"!

Let's request chocolate, okay? ---might as well have something that tastes good-----don't we just get bread and water in the clinker?

so if you recieved a package in a box then stored stuff in it I guess you'd get in trouble for that too?

I agree---my son lives in Croydon, just south of London in England and it costs so much to send him the simplest things.

I checked out the new one price,one size boxes that are new at the post office and what a joke. They are no better. Plus, unless whatever I send is a gift, he has to pay British taxes on it. The Queen has to make her money someway.

He just started quilting a year ago and is quite good at it, but fabrics over there are really expensive. I tried to send him some fabric and they taxed that plus all his tools and equipment---when he asked why, they said that he was taking money from England because he could have purchased the items over there. Very frustrating.

Chocolate cake, with a surprise filling...gotcha!!!

Yes, shipping costs, taxes, it sure can run the expense up when you want to send a gift or help someone out...

I wondered with the electronic world that we live in where people email, send electronic greeting cards, online bill paying...if they are trying to make up in shipping what they are losing in stamps???

I understand your frustration. I made a quilt to send to a very dear friend in the UK who is going through cancer treatment. On the custom's form, I checked the box indicating it was a gift and my English friends still had to pay customs. Customs was 17%! I didn't realize they had to pay custom on gifts. I said the contents of the box were worth $100 so they had to PAY to get their gift! :evil:

I got a package returned like that, too (3 days later). I went back to my post office and got my postage refunded, then went to a smaller post office and sent it as originally planned. I've been hearing a lot of complaints lately about mail being returned for silly reasons. I guess it depends on how much of a nitpicker your postmaster is. They have to make you believe two rate increases a year is actually going somewhere.

Have you noticed the priority boxes have logos inside AND out now?

am i understanding that the reason you covered it was to send it for less than priority mail? i've re-used those mailers by slapping a sticky label over the original address. i buy those 8-1/2 x 11 sheets of peelable sticky sheets and cut off what i need to cover the old address.

on the other hand, i've smushed fabric into plastic bags, layer on layer on layer. my favorite is black garbage bags. taped it all over, and sent stuff that way. i can't win no matter what i do. the only thing that goes at less money is media: books, videos, discs, etc. MUCH LESS MONEY!!! in the plain metal-clasp envelopes. i think the key is not to use those mailers. i think.

A big THANK YOU to amma for alerting us to the USPS newest plan to soak the American public. I just sent my 24 Fall Block Swap to Colletta and was astounded by the mailing cost. I did send them in an envelope(along with a return stamped envelope) priority mail even though they were sent early, because the clerk told me I could check on the delivery. Next time, if the swap organizer lives closer to Chicagoland, I might drive it over...wait....maybe I should wait until gasoline prices are more reasonable.

wow, glad you brought this up. i have a pkg to send and was gonna recycle a box. thanks kiddo for the heads up :D

While our sons were deployed to the "Big Sandbox", we sent many packages using the "one Rate" boxes provided by the post office. We found this the best "buy" for our money especially if it was heavy. When our oldest son requested a horseshoe set, you can imagine the weight of shipping those!!
APO is a term referring to an "Army Post Office" or a military post office overseas (i.e. Korea, Germany,etc.). Postal rates are similar to those here stateside. When sending to/from one you have to fill out a form stating contents of packages. if its something you want to surprise the recipiant, you can state "bonafide gift" and value.
As for the problem Joan and fktsewing had with customs and cost, its may have been because it was not a military APO. Not everyone has access to use an APO.

Sorry if this is too long but maybe it can clear up a couple questions. Thanks for indulging my "two cents worth". :-)

Well, it is and it isn't. It's an independent agency of the federal government, but since its reorganization in the 1980s it does not receive taxpayer dollars. Here's a Wikipedia article about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_...Postal_Service

I tried to reuse one of those boxes last year. If memory serves, I covered everything that said "Priority Mail" with an opaque white label. Then when I got to the post office, they said it couldn't go that way because the blue stripe around the box still showed, and that's how the handlers sort things out. What a bunch of hogwash! I wonder what they do when a box comes through that has any old blue stripe on it. Anyway, somebody there helped me completely cover the blue stripe with more labels, and off it went. It made it to its destination alright.