Actually I disagree. The PO gives those boxes away at no charge because the cost of priority mail pays for them. I bet postage would be incredibly high if they were to give out boxes for parcel post or media mail or whatever. Even though postage seems high sometimes, I think it's actually pretty cheap compared with some other countries.

I have to agree with you. Their boxes, their rules. Can't follow their rules, don't use their boxes. Simple as that. You can send things priority in any box, just not flat rate.

I have a friend who works for the PO and she says she also thinks it is illegal, but she is the one who told me to do it. I used to take all the tyvek envelopes and turn them inside out, but I have noticed the writing on the inside no.

That is fine as long as they are marked well enough for everyone to understand what they are using! My post office is very good and lets you know what is what, and will make every attempt to help you save money. I know in larger areas you do not always get this kind of service! They have even stuffed things in the small box for me when I didn't think it would fit, and taped it well, so that it wouldn't pop open.

My PO is the same.. its such a smal,l one woman shop. Shes as wonderful as can be.. she's always trying to save me a buck..I cant complain at all.. she even suggests that i take it out of the box I had and gives me something else to put it in so that its even cheaper.. Then shes tapes it up for me too !!!

Kathy, check the insides of those boxes. A lot of them now say Priority all over the inside so that you have to use Priority postage AARGGGHH

When we sold on Ebay. I was told at the PO that the Priority boxes belong to the USPS & are for us to use only for Priority mailings. ( Priority & Flat Rate Priority) They also have different ones for Priority but you know what I mean. You do have to watch the boxes though as far as for Flat Rate & make sure it says Flat Rate on it if that is what you want.

I learned something from you today. I didn't realize that. I'll have to look closer before mailing.

Last year I mailed 3 collectors hockey cards, in a bubble envelope to a friend. Paid the fee.
The next day I mailed EXACTLY the same package at a different post outlet and the fee was 28cents more.
I asked why.
The postie said it didn't fit through the "slot device."
Huh?
They actually have a plastic board with a slot cut out of it. If your envelope doesn't slide through without help, it's "oversized" and you pay more.
Glad the first post office doesn't use the envelope police.

I think nowadays the boxes might have logos on the inside, but they did not used to.
I have re-used envelopes and boxes over and over, even turned them wrong side out to use the clean inner surfaces.

When mailed, the postage is still paid, whether for the first time on the envelope/box, or the third or fourth time on the same envelop/box.
In fact, it saves paper to reuse the envelopes/boxes.

I see no problem in this.
.