posted on February 23, 2004 05:13:43 AM new
I ordered some USPS boxes a while back, but now some of my repeat buyers request I ship UPS. So what's the deal? Is it against some rule to use USPS boxes to ship UPS? I will gladly mark out the USPS logos.
posted on February 23, 2004 05:30:45 AM new
You could ask the folks at your local USPS Office. They'll give you an interesting answer - I'm sure. Don't know that they'll pursue you directly, but think about it:
Using Postal Property (which it is) for non-Postal use. Sounds like theft to me. Now, I have, on occasion, turned a USPS Priority Box inside out to use with USPS Air Mail -- that, I think, is an acceptable use of the box, even though not "as intended."
Wayne
Never explain -- Your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway.
~ Elbert Hubbard
posted on February 23, 2004 05:56:06 AM newIs it against some rule to use USPS boxes to ship UPS?
Yes. If you look at the boxes, it is probably stated in tiny print that they are the property of the Postal Service and only to be used for shipping USPS. It says something like that on most if not all of their packaging.
posted on February 23, 2004 06:40:20 AM new
As long as you WERE planning on doing that, WHY would you Mark out the logos? Brown wrapping paper looks SO much nicer.
1.Buyers, NEED to !. BEFORE Bidding. Thank you.
2.NPB's (buyers?) have No rights,, Posting. Need be BLOCKED by e bay. Upon final filing of NPB.
3.Naru's . Good riddance after 3,,,, DIFFERENT Sellers file NPB's. Negs do 0 to NARU. filing for PARTIAL fees DOES.
4.Current buyers Geographical location i.e. STATE or ZIP or CITY need be known. California cool Shades.
5.E bay need to ENHANCE F/B System. A ing period. Like 20 days of HOOPS on NPB's. Many give up. Works! 4 e bay. They keep K's of $'s. [] trade makes even MORE $.
Bet You NEVER knew [] trades fees are as high as $250.00. and they hook them with,,, it's FREEEEEEEEEE. Misleading to say the least!
posted on February 23, 2004 08:31:47 AM new
Basic plain boxes are easy to come by. Go to the grocery store or car parts store and get some used plane boxes. Then simply remove the old labeling and you are good to go. No sense in taking the chance shipping UPS with USPS boxes. That technically is a federal crime.
posted on February 23, 2004 09:48:18 AM new
Jack, you can't ship FedEx in brown paper, I don't know about UPS. FedEx will make you tape over the whole package.
posted on February 23, 2004 09:59:06 AM new
In the past I've received several UPS packages in Priority Mail boxes. I imagine there is a " don't make this a habbit " speech at UPS when the package is dropped off.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
posted on February 23, 2004 10:28:38 AM new
if there is a vitamin store in your area,they have cleaner boxes than supermarket.
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on February 23, 2004 11:02:19 AM new
Using USPS priority boxes for any form of shipment except USPS priority mail is against their terms-of-use. My suggestion... is to buy some boxes. If you know the right sources... they're very cheap. I keep some on hand for my increasing amount of international bidders. Just make sure you cover the cost of the boxes in your s/h fee and you're all set. If you want a good source for the boxes... try:
www.quill.com.
I ordered the 6x6x8 size from them for about $0.60 apiece and a slightly smaller sized 6x6x6 for just $0.35 each. At that price... it doesn't pay to go hunting around stores for the "right-sized" box. Plus, if you buy the right-sized box for your merchandise... you're likely to save more money in postage in the long run! Hope that helps!
posted on February 23, 2004 11:38:59 AM new
I believe UPS will give you free supplies, also. UPS could not care less if you use USPS material for their shipping, but USPS does! I don't know about enforcement. Inside out boxes are tacky.
posted on February 23, 2004 06:59:24 PM new
I have used USP for my shipping and they do not give you any boxes or materials for free.
USPS, does give you the priority boxes and supplies but you are NOT ...allowed to use them for any other form of shipping. You are not even allowed to turn them inside out and use them for first class with the USPS, if they see that you have done that they will charge you the priority rate.
Its cheaper in the long run to get free brown boxes everytime your out in a CVS, or a similar store, like was mentioned, TJMax, many of the stores are glad you came along, because it saves them the time of folding and tieing up there boxes to dump.
posted on February 23, 2004 07:27:24 PM new
Don't you folks ever wrap in commercial BROWN wrapping paper? I wrap every shipment that way and I have NEVER had a problem. pizza boxes,,,,USPS boxes,,,,, FED Ex boxes....I see these people come into the Post Office with Company names and the last address it was sent to and wonder where do these people come from? Brown wrapping paper covers ALL. AND It even LOOKS nice. So simple and EASY... Who cares whats on the box as long as you wrap it like a normal package would be wrapped in brown paper...Or White or Green or purple or orange or whatever color in the rainbow as long as it's one solid color of paper wrapped around the box and taped.
1.Buyers, NEED to !. BEFORE Bidding. Thank you.
2.NPB's (buyers?) have No rights,, Posting. NEED to be BLOCKED by e bay.(But they are NOT!!!!) Upon final filing of NPB.
3.Naru's . Good riddance after 3,,,, DIFFERENT Sellers file NPB's. Negs do 0 to NARU. filing for PARTIAL fees DOES.
4.Current buyers Geographical location i.e. STATE or ZIP or CITY need be known. California cool Shades.
5.E bay need to ENHANCE F/B System. A ing period. Like 20 days of HOOPS on NPB's. Many give up. Works! 4 e bay. They keep K's of $'s. [] trade makes even MORE $..
posted on February 23, 2004 07:33:23 PM new
i dont dispute your getting boxes free from ups; but i specifically asked for them today; and was told "we will be glad to charge to your account." so you guys may have some different avenue than me...
-----------
usps provides free boxes, priority tape only for priority mail shipments...in fact, i just rec'd a supply of boxes, and the INSIDE of the prioritymail boxes are now embossed with priority mail insignia..so if one tries to use them, for example for media mail, the post office is supposed to refuse them...
---------------
inside out IS tacky...i use beer flats for media mail...have to be reversed because usps got a long list of "no no's" for packing..the package cant "say Bud."
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Ms. ggrl: free supplies at tjmaxx,,would you elaborate...thanks.
----------------------------
myoldtoy
[ edited by myoldtoy on Feb 23, 2004 07:34 PM ]
posted on February 23, 2004 07:45:33 PM new
Ms. ggrl
My....how formal!
TJ Maxx throws away tons of bubble wrap, peanuts and boxes. I'm sure if you asked them if you could have them, they'd give them to you.
Down here in the South, we call it dumpster diving.
I go by, they have plenty right on top, there's no diving involved. Actually, they have a wire bin for boxes so they're alway nice and clean. The last time I went they had really nice boxes with Fragile written all over them.
But for Media Mail..I go to the furniture stores. They have this really small thick bubble wrap stuff that furniture comes in. It's the BEST stuff for books and padding. My local furniture stores load it up for me.
I had a friend of the family give me a bag of bubble wrap last week. He used to own a body shop before he retired. He says they get a lot of things in wrapped in bubble wrap. He saves it for his grandson to ride his bike over it. I'd never thought about a body shop before.
However, most of the peanuts I have used are from when one of my neighbors had his Ford Explorer filled up with peanuts by his Son. Do you have any idea how many peanuts it takes to fill one of those up?
posted on February 24, 2004 10:09:43 AM new
Our post office has not allowed WRAPPED packages in brown paper or any other color for over 3 years. There is a sign hanging from the ceiling regarding this rule - bar codes etc. printed on the outside of the box must be marked out in black marker.
My father in-law was made to unwrap his christmas presents last year before the post office would accept them for shipment.
I'm totally surprised that your post office hasn't had items returned and/or complaints regarding items shipped in this manner. I know that when any of local clerk's accept a package that isn't perfect our local headquarters repremands the postmaster regarding the infraction.
The "workings" of the post office never cease to amaze me.
posted on February 24, 2004 10:18:57 AM new
Half the the packages at my busy post office are in brown paper wrapping. Many people must think it's required. Never have I heard a word about it being any kind of a problem at all. Each and every post office branch is apparently its very own kingdom, free to interpret all the myriad of murky postal regs as it it sees fit.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
posted on February 24, 2004 10:20:23 AM new
New counter employee face, 3 years going there. (1000's of pakages)I have a standard THANK YOU I tape on the brown paper wrapped package. The postal worker says $1.50 more than normaL for this package. What! Why? You have a message on the outside. AAAAAAAAAAA!!!! Insanity! I paid and hoped I would NEVER get that face again. Yeah right. Now,,,,,I tape that SAME message on the box BUT on the BACKSIDE. GOT her!
1.Buyers, NEED to !. BEFORE Bidding. Thank you.
2.NPB's (buyers?) have No rights,, Posting. NEED to be BLOCKED by e bay.(But they are NOT!!!!) Upon final filing of NPB.
3.Naru's . Good riddance after 3,,,, DIFFERENT Sellers file NPB's. Negs do 0 to NARU. filing for PARTIAL fees DOES.
4.Current buyers Geographical location i.e. STATE or ZIP or CITY need be known. California cool Shades.
5.E bay need to ENHANCE F/B System. A ing period. Like 20 days of HOOPS on NPB's. Many give up. Works! 4 e bay. They keep K's of $'s. [] trade makes even MORE $..
posted on February 24, 2004 11:30:33 AM new
LOL jack, just goes to show they are insane. No wonder they all wind up with ak47's before they retire or get the sack.
posted on February 24, 2004 02:15:12 PM new
OK, all this chatter made me go look. The USPS box says, " This package is property of the US Postal Service and is provided solely for use in sending Prioroty Mail. Misuse may be a violation of Federal law".
Now here we go again with "just how much of the law am I willing to break"??
It says "This package is PROPERTY of"! For those of you that don't honor bounderies, let me explain it this way...
Say you have a riding lawn mower stored in your back yard shed and you travel alot so dont use it much. Your neighbor decides that since you are not using it, he will. He may even be nice enough to occationaly mow your yard too. Since he has used it to mow your yard once or twice, it should be ok if he mows his yard wiht it ever other day.
How do you feel about that?
How do you feel about that when the next time you take in for a $50 tune up , it costed you $200 because the belts and blades are worn out?
We all want to carp about the high cost of postage, but some of that cost goes towards these "free supplies". If people use Priority Mail supplies for shipments other than PM, then PM prices are going to keep creeping up and up.
Get of your lazy , cheap butts and go buy or scrounge your "free boxes" and quit stealing from the system!
And as for the brown paper wrapping, I asked and my PO says they prefer to seeing boxes with writing all over it. Could be that the PO's that ban wrapped packes are doing so because of too much abuse of the "free" supplies.
posted on February 24, 2004 02:28:56 PM new
Brown wrapping paper is okay.
What is not okay is brown wrapping paper secured with string, which catches in the machinery. Used to be that was the standard method for sending parcels and some older people still prepare their boxes that way.
posted on February 24, 2004 02:55:39 PM new
I didn't say anything about the PO not liking brown wrapping paper. My husband has dropped some off at FedEx for me and they made him tape over the entire package so that the paper wouldn't get caught in their machinery.
posted on February 24, 2004 03:16:41 PM new
I use brown paper over my boxes all the time, Looks real nice, I'm a bit of a tape freak so I tape it all nice and neat and there is no way that paper is getting loose to get caught in any machine.
posted on February 25, 2004 09:57:44 AM new
Once again I must reiterate...I was only curious. My intent was not to "steal", commit a "federal offense", or defraud anyone. I would like to thank you all for helping me avert committing some heinous criminial act.
!. BEFORE Bidding. Thank you.
. Need be BLOCKED by e bay. Upon final filing of NPB.
. Good riddance after 3,,,, DIFFERENT Sellers file NPB's. Negs do 0 to NARU. filing for PARTIAL fees DOES.
California cool Shades.
A 
Never have I heard a word about it being any kind of a problem at all. Each and every post office branch is apparently its very own kingdom, free to interpret all the myriad of murky postal regs as it it sees fit.