ihula
|
posted on September 12, 2003 02:51:51 PM new
There is a topic in another discussion board about the odd sizes of priority boxes that many of us could use, but are not available on the USPS website. Apparently you have to buy 8 pallets at a time to get these "golden" free boxes. Someone called the USPS phone number to complain and stated that there are many ebay sellers that would love to have this type of box available. "She suggested we got to our local PO officials in our communities and explain our need."
Here are the numbers and sizes of the boxes in question:
#16 box. It's approx. 13" x 11" x 5.75
#3 measures 9.25" x 12" x 4"
#14 box - about the size of a women's athletic shoe box
|
AuctionAce
|
posted on September 12, 2003 03:06:35 PM new
My understanding concerning the odd sized PM boxes we sometime receive in the mail filled with merchandise is that they are special order to big companies. It would be nice if the USPS expanded their meager selection of boxes, especially smaller boxes.
-------------- sig file ----------- President John F. Kennedy said, "There are three things which are real: God, human folly and laughter. The first two are beyond our comprehension, so we must do what we can with the third."
|
ihula
|
posted on September 12, 2003 03:12:33 PM new
Yes, for some reason they only go to the big companies (with an 8 pallet minimum their the only ones that can house them). 6 different people called USPS and they all were told about the 8 pallet minimum. We're hoping they'll start giving them to the "little guy" too.
|
Fenix03
|
posted on September 12, 2003 04:19:41 PM new
An 8 pallet minimum leads m to believe that these boxes are made to order and not a wherehoused item. Although my post office seems to have the 13 x 11 x 5.75 so who knows.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
Men Are Like Grapes. If You Stomp on Them and Keep Them in the Dark Long Enough, They Might Turn Into Something That You Would Take to Dinner
|
sanmar
|
posted on September 12, 2003 04:22:29 PM new
A year or so ago, I received a Priority Mail box that was a #12. I called USPS & asked about getting this size. I was told there was no such box. I had the box & told gal I had one in my hand. She still tried to deny it saying it must be an experiment. I found out later that they are made expressly for large volume shippers.
[ edited by sanmar on Sep 12, 2003 04:23 PM ]
|
ihula
|
posted on September 12, 2003 04:26:08 PM new
Now that I think of it I remember seeing an odd size at my post office once last year. I think it may have been the shoe box sized one. I asked them how I could get some and they gave me a few, but said they only got them in as a "fluke".
|
paloma91
|
posted on September 12, 2003 04:50:43 PM new
Oh you guys are going to love this. Picture this:
Single mom with 10 year old son selling on ebay etc. who lives on the sf peninsula. Only neighbors around are two old ladies. One 84 years old, the other 86.
Single mom ebay seller hear through the grapevine that USPS is going to start charging for priority boxes. She hits their website and orders a HUGE amount of everything they have.
A week passes and a phone call is received from Oakland USPS regional office verifying the order. USPS rep couldnt confirm that they were going to start charging for the boxes and couldn't deny it either. She did say that her office was folding. She offered to add to the order. So now the order is bigger.
Two weeks pass and a HUGE tractor trailer moving van size truck pulls up in the driveway and unloads 3 pallets of boxes all different sizes. No place to park the car, Thank god there was room in the garage. (Yes, that ebayer was me) I didnt know what to do. A guy walks by walking his dog and says "HUMMMMM . . someone order too much?" an kept walking. The 86 year old comes out of her house an walks next door to my house and said "Boy, did someone screw up or what??" As she surveys the scene. Here comes the 84 year old across the street. She asked "What did you do?"
Funniest scene in the world was me trying to move the crates to the garage and the little old ladies trying to help. Someone should have had a camera.
Moral of the story: Don't believe everything you hear!!! . . . . Anyone need any boxes? . . . . .
|
rarriffle
|
posted on September 13, 2003 01:52:08 AM new
ROFLMAO at paloma. I am just picturing the old man walking the dog....too funny.
this would be something my hubby would do...that is why he leaves the ordering to me.
have you thought about selling them on ebay? a lot of other people do and a lot of people tend to bid on them.
|
neglus
|
posted on September 13, 2003 05:36:15 AM new
I love it Paloma!! Thanks for bringing a smile to start my day! What a hoot!! Sounds like something I would do!
|
ihula
|
posted on September 13, 2003 05:39:38 AM new
I thought it said somewhere on the post office website (in that user agreement) that it's against the law to resell them. I could be wrong, though. Of course you aren't supposed to turn them inside out and people still do that.
|
AuctionAce
|
posted on September 13, 2003 06:24:00 AM new
Of course it's illegal to sell the boxes but that doesn't stop some people from trying.
If a big corporation agrees to use Priority Mail for a product the post office will make custom boxes to fit the product and save space. Sometimes these companies fold or no longer want to use Priority Mail and they turn the boxes back in to the post office and they distribute them to a few local branches ( thus the fluke of a rare box occasionally in the post office ).
There is almost no chance the post office will expand it's selection to include many more different sizes as the warehousing costs throughout the country would be huge.
-------------- sig file ----------- President John F. Kennedy said, "There are three things which are real: God, human folly and laughter. The first two are beyond our comprehension, so we must do what we can with the third."
|
paloma91
|
posted on September 13, 2003 06:37:30 AM new
You didnt get it ihula. I thought USPS was going to start selling them and no longer give them away for free or start charging for shipping them or something. That is the reason I ordered so many. I ended up giving alot of them to people at my garage sale, brought some back to the post office etc but I still have alot. Anyone live near by me want some? This was a year ago and the pile is still there, just alot smaller now. Can you imagine THREE Pallets GEEZ and a huge truck delivering them. Oh well, you live and learn They still aren't charging for 'em
|
ihula
|
posted on September 13, 2003 06:51:00 AM new
I understood, I was responding to the post that suggested you sell them on ebay to get rid of them. I feel for you. 3 pallets of cardboard is not only a lot but incredibly heavy!
|
rarriffle
|
posted on September 13, 2003 08:49:56 AM new
ihula, I was just joking about her selling them....if you check ebay there are many sellers selling them in bunches of 25 w/ free shipping! and getting bids. all they have to do then is go to the USPS site and order them shipped to the buyers address.
I always find it amazing that they get bids!
|
fluffythewondercat
|
posted on September 13, 2003 11:46:11 AM new
I ended up giving alot of them to people at my garage sale, brought some back to the post office etc but I still have alot. Anyone live near by me want some?
Sorry, paloma, my storage unit is half-full of the blasted things. If there's ever a box shortage you and I will be cardboard tycoons.
Our motto: Bright and shiny baubles for persons with low impulse control.
|
stonecold613
|
posted on September 13, 2003 11:32:44 PM new
Fenix has it right. Those were made to order boxes and not actually housed at any USPS facility.
|
