Question about recycling/re-using USPS Flat Rate Boxes?

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skateraXVIII

skateraXVIII

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I ordered some flat-rate boxes on USPS website, and just received them in the mail. After putting one of the boxes together, I found out that the flat-rate box I had ordered was too small for a standard video game (Xbox 360, PS2, Gamecube, etc.). I was initially going to throw the box away, but I was wondering if it would be okay to cut the box down into pieces so I could reinforce other packages (such as bubble mailers with games inside). I read on USPS website that flat-rate boxes aren't supposed to be turned inside out, etc. I don't really feel like just wasting perfectly good pieces of cardboard. I'll be shipping the games by USPS priority mail anyways so I wouldn't think it would matter.
 
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The main reason they won't want boxes turned inside out is because people used to take all the priority boxes, cut them, tape them, and then use them for lower rates (basically getting free boxes from the post office).
 
[quote name='skinkrawl']The main reason they won't want boxes turned inside out is because people used to take all the priority boxes, cut them, tape them, and then use them for lower rates (basically getting free boxes from the post office).[/QUOTE]

Exactly, and they put a stop to that by printing "Priority" all over the inside of the flat rate boxes.
 
Flat-rate Priority Mail boxes can only be used for flat-rate Priority Mal shipments. Nothing else.

You can't turn them inside out and use them as a complete shipping box, you can't use them for non-flat rate Priority Mail, nor can you use them for Parcel Post.

You can use parts of the box for internal stability/protection as you intended. You just can't use the box in whole form to ship anything except flat-rate Priority Mail.

[quote name='sp00ge']Exactly, and they put a stop to that by printing "Priority" all over the inside of the flat rate boxes.[/QUOTE]Forgot they had done that a couple of years ago. I still have some older boxes before they did that, as it's rare I ship anything flat-rate PM.
 
Just put the game in a flat rate Priority envelope with a piece of cardboard on either side of it for reinforcing and make sure the flap up top closes on its own and you should be good to go.

Most standard sized game cases will fit with ease into a flat rate envelope and I've sent up to 4-5 in the same envelope before.;)
 
[quote name='soonersfan60']You can just return the un-used boxes to any post office and they will put them back out for others to pick up and use.[/QUOTE]

This. Last time I moved I had a bunch of boxes I had kept around for when I needed them. I just returned them to the local post office before I left so I wouldn't have to take them with me.

First Class is the best way to send individual games and sometimes 2 of them if they are light. But you will need your own bubble mailer or small box.

My local post office has none of the new priority mail shipping supplies yet (or haven't put them out at least), but there is a new Priority Mail Flat Rate Padded Mailer:
https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/st...viewAll=N&rn=CategoriesDisplay&WT.ac=10007166

A single standard size games will actually fit in the Small Flat Rate Box. You just have to put them in the box diagonally And one diagonal works better than the other so try both possibilities. Just make sure you add tape over the seal to make sure it doesn't someone pop open.
 
[quote name='aem']This. Last time I moved I had a bunch of boxes I had kept around for when I needed them. I just returned them to the local post office before I left so I wouldn't have to take them with me.

First Class is the best way to send individual games and sometimes 2 of them if they are light. But you will need your own bubble mailer or small box.

My local post office has none of the new priority mail shipping supplies yet (or haven't put them out at least), but there is a new Priority Mail Flat Rate Padded Mailer:
https://shop.usps.com/webapp/wcs/st...viewAll=N&rn=CategoriesDisplay&WT.ac=10007166

A single standard size games will actually fit in the Small Flat Rate Box. You just have to put them in the box diagonally And one diagonal works better than the other so try both possibilities. Just make sure you add tape over the seal to make sure it doesn't someone pop open.[/QUOTE]

Yeah I ordered a couple of those too. I'm now just waiting for them to arrive in the mail.
 
[quote name='blindinglights']You can use the priority flat rate boxes for lower rates, you just have to buy yourself a roll of brown shipping paper ;).[/QUOTE]

Yeah, and hope the paper doesn't tear during shipping. :roll:
 
The small flat-rate Priority Mail box is usable for shipping a regularly sized game. The flaps will bulge a little bit but can still be closed and secured by duck tape. I shipped a steelbook game that way without a problem.

However, if you are shipping a hard-to-replace OOP game, I would suggest using a bigger box with a lot more cushioning, just to be safe.
 
i have piles of older non-inside printed flat rate boxes i use for shipping. when people send me those newer boxes i usually just reuse them and cover them with paper bags from the supermarket. double the recycling and cheapness bonus.
 
[quote name='blindinglights']You can use the priority flat rate boxes for lower rates, you just have to buy yourself a roll of brown shipping paper ;).[/QUOTE]Don't be surprised if you get packages refused for acceptance if they're covered in brown paper. My local PO's do it all the time when people give them packages in brown paper, wrapping paper and the like.
 
I once got a package from an eBay PowerSeller that came in a USPS Priority Mail box covered in brown tape and the item inside was wrapped with a FedEx bubble mailer. I was seriously considering trying to report the seller to USPS or something. Never got around to it though.
 
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[quote name='aem']I once got a package for an eBay PowerSeller that came in a USPS Priority Mail box covered in brown tape and the item inside was wrapped with a FedEx bubble mailer. I was seriously considering trying to report the seller to USPS or something. Never got around to it though.[/QUOTE]

And that extra weight from all that extra crap probably negated any savings this person had vs the flat rate. :applause:
 
[quote name='sp00ge']And that extra weight from all that extra crap probably negated any savings this person had vs the flat rate. :applause:[/QUOTE]

I'm pretty sure whatever it was was very light. I think it was a few replacement UMD disc holders/cases (for the UMD itself, not the full game box).

If they shipped it first class it would have probably saved them maybe 40-50 cents on packaging which would add up since I'm guessing they shipped a ton of stuff this way. For some reason I think they actually shipped it UPS though which seems like it would be expensive. I can't remember for sure though. I know the brown tape wasn't dark enough to prevent you from being able to tell it was a Priority Mail box if you looked very closely. I think USPS would have noticed.
 
[quote name='shrike4242']Don't be surprised if you get packages refused for acceptance if they're covered in brown paper. My local PO's do it all the time when people give them packages in brown paper, wrapping paper and the like.[/QUOTE]


That's strange since I wrap every package in brown paper (well, inside out paper grocery bags, same thing). Usually it's because I often just use whatever cardboard I can find to brace something and then wrap that in paper and tape. I've only reused priority mail boxes a few times (whenever someone uses one to ship something to me) and never once had an issue.

I probably ship 10 to 20 items a month, maybe they don't have a problem with it because I'm not sending out a high volume of packages. Still, I've never had anyone even say anything was wrong with it at my primary post office or the other 3 that I sometimes use.
 
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