tonysoprano
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posted on February 26, 2001 11:41:27 PM new
I realize that the Priority Mail boxes are quite the contraversial topic around here, so here is a perfect solution:
The post office should charge a nominal fee just for the box---a sort of deposit toward your priority mail postage charge.
That way, even if someone decides to turn the thing inside out, they've already paid for it!
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mro
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posted on February 26, 2001 11:47:09 PM new
Great idea. Would we get the deposit back if and when the package got to the buyer?
Caution Born Anon
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tonysoprano
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posted on February 26, 2001 11:49:18 PM new
Why would you get it back? The charge would go toward the postage charge at the point you finally pay for shipping.
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morgantown
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posted on February 26, 2001 11:54:58 PM new
How about this solution: Purchase your own boxes and Ship FedEx home delivery. It's 40-60% cheaper than PM and includes insurance and tracking.
Imagine, no postage on the box for buyers to quibble over! 
MTown
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mro
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posted on February 26, 2001 11:55:44 PM new
Well it's not exactly "a sort of deposit" is it? Besides, I've always thought it was pretty dumb to use the colored Prioriy boxes when you could buy the plain boxes right at the counter.
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tonysoprano
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posted on February 27, 2001 12:05:01 AM new
mro:
A deposit is typically a sum you put down in good faith, to be applied to the final charge.
Problem with semantics this evening?
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mro
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posted on February 27, 2001 12:20:16 AM new
Sorry, I thought you meant the deposit like you get on bottles or the security deposit on my trailer. I have no problems with Arabs or Israelis.
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yeager
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posted on February 27, 2001 01:15:23 AM new
What about the majority of us that follow the rules and use the box without turning it inside out? Should we also have to pay a deposit or fee?
If when obtaining a box, would the person receiving it say "Yes, I'm going to turn the box inside out, so please charge me the extra fee?" Or "No, I'm not going to turn the box inside out, so I won't be paying the fee today"
Why would anyone even think wanting to pay more for enything on any item?
There is no real need for a deposit or fee on Priority boxes, since the cost of the box is built into the charge of Priorty Mailing.
Also, I think a fair definiation of fee is a "non refundable one time charge." and deposit is "an amount of money held in escrow until all requirements are met."
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tonysoprano
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posted on February 27, 2001 01:33:08 AM new
Yeager:
Comprehension problem?
The fee you would pay for the box would be subtracted from the shipping total whenever you go and finally have the package weighed.
Get it?
You don't lose ANYTHING, that is unless you had intended on taking the box for free and not sending it priority---in which case, tough luck!
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litlnemo
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posted on February 27, 2001 05:13:09 AM new
I don't think it would work. Many of us don't go to the post office and have things weighed and processed at the counter. Most of my mailings in Priority Boxes (which aren't for eBay sales, but for my mail order business) are shipped directly from home with stamps.com. I only go to the P.O. when I need to buy insurance (which I do on my pitiful few eBay sales ).
So how exactly would I get the deposit back if I'm mailing from home? It sounds like a huge hassle and one that would probably make me less likely to use Priority Mail or their boxes at all.
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yisgood
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posted on February 27, 2001 06:55:32 AM new
I dont understand why some of you are having a problem with what I think is an excellent suggestion. The Post Office should sell priority boxes for let's say 50 cents. When you mail something in a priority box, instead of paying $3.50, you would pay $3 because you already paid 50 cents for the box. They wouldnt have to worry about folks getting the boxes free and then turning them inside out to mail non priority items. By the way, there are film companies that sell the mailer envelopes. The price includes the developing. So when you mail your film in these envelopes, you dont pay for developing since you already paid when you bought the envelope. Similar concept.
http://www.ygoodman.com
[email protected]
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gboy
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posted on February 27, 2001 08:27:53 AM new
If they charged a deposit, people would reuse the boxes and the PO would lose money in the long run.
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sulyn1950
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posted on February 27, 2001 08:32:30 AM new
Maybe it's because I live in a tiny tiny town, but my PO encourages recycling of the Priority boxes! I was told to just be sure and wrap them in heavy paper (like a paper grocery bag-yep we still have those around here).
They also asked me if when I ordered supplies off the USPS web, could I share????? They can't get all the stuff I can get!!!!
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