USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes for domestic mail

[JoeMid]

So, they provide their boxes for you to ship in and if you're shipping gold bricks you make out like a bandit.

I took a box in to be mailed to my nieces and nephews about the size of USPS Medium Box which costs $10.35. It wasn't real heavy but had a lot of stuff. USPS Parcel Post $7.05 and Priority $7.10. Why the nickle difference?

So with a 'normal' load you're paying $3.25 for the USPS Box and the convenience of their Flat Rate where I guess you can print and pay online and have them pick it up.

What do you think of USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes?

Guess they gotta make money somewhere with all the Blue Snail Boxes disappearing off the street corners if there's not ~25 pieces of mail per day inserted and now all the actual Post Offices to be closed.

 

[ricoba]

I have used USPS Flat Rate Boxes & Envelopes on numerous occasions.

I have boxes of various sizes and shapes at home - I fill the right box - buy postage at USPS.com and print it at home - schedule a pickup at my home mail box and that's all there is to it - quick, easy, reliable and good price...what's not to like.

 

[Liz Wolf-Spada]

One time we did check USPS prices in our box versus priority flat rate and flat rate was cheaper. Mostly for us it is just plain more convenient, as the box is available, easily closed with the provided tape strip and we use it when traveling and I have to ship home clothes and books to make room for souvenirs!
Liz

 

[gmarine]

Priority Mail is generally 2 day delivery where Parcel Post is generally 6 day delivery.

 

[bogey21]

I refuse to check bags on the airlines. If I accumulate anything while traveling I stuff it in a "Flat Rate" box and mail it to myself.

Note: I'm sure gold bars exceed 75 pounds!

George

 

[pjrose]

It is convenient. I suppose they aren't overpriced given the fact that the USPS is losing money, but they sure seem expensive to me. I think they're way overpriced unless you're mailing heavy stuff. If I want to buy something inexpensive on eBay and it's going to cost as much or more in Flat Rate Shipping I won't buy it.

 

[IngridN]

Have used the flat rate boxes numerous times. I love 'em, especially the quick delivery. Most economical is books/printed material sent long distances to my nieces & nephews. I usually take my stuff to the post office and they tell me which way to go.

Used it most recently to send a bunch (and I mean a bunch!) of magazine tear-outs to my landscape designer...she got it the next day. Much less time consuming than scanning all that stuff.

Ingrid

 

[pjrose]

Have used the flat rate boxes numerous times. I love 'em, especially the quick delivery. Most economical is books/printed material sent long distances to my nieces & nephews.

Isn't that a lot cheaper using Media Mail AKA Book Rate?

 

[stratusnj75]

I work in a warehouse and we ship flat rate boxes/envelopes all the time to our customers. The cost differential when shipping from NJ to West Coast & especially HI/AK is huge. Also very competitive on the international side, though you have to stick to a 20lb limit when shipping int'l.

Devin

 

[Egret1986]

Sure, if you've got 9-11 days for it to arrive. Most people want it there yesterday.

Isn't that a lot cheaper using Media Mail AKA Book Rate?

Personally, I think Priority Service, for the most part, is extremely fast. I like the flat rate boxes, as well as the flat rate envelopes. When I was selling on eBAY, I used these and found them fast and affordable.

As an insider, I'm concerned that the USPS might not be an option in the future. It's scary what the USPS is experiencing (as well as many or most businesses). Way less volume and way more addresses to deliver to.

USPS is closing locations, cutting hours at the locations still open, pulling up the blue collection boxes, etc. It's definitely a different Post Office than it was even a year ago. Being behind the scenes definitely makes you question whether First Class Mail and home delivery will even exist in the future.

 

[JoeMid]

Being behind the scenes definitely makes you question whether First Class Mail and home delivery will even exist in the future.

The railroads, the Post Office, and the Interstate system are what made this country what it is. Railroads are all but gone.

 

[ricoba]

The railroads, the Post Office, and the Interstate system are what made this country what it is. Railroads are all but gone.

I assume you mean passenger rail?

 

[isisdave]

I work in a warehouse and we ship flat rate boxes/envelopes all the time to our customers. The cost differential when shipping from NJ to West Coast & especially HI/AK is huge. Also very competitive on the international side, though you have to stick to a 20lb limit when shipping int'l.

Devin

Unlike years ago, Priority Mail (for items more than 1 pound) increases in price with distance ... and the distance bands are such that things get expensive fast. It costs $10 to send a 10-pound package across town ... and $30 to Zone 8, which means more than 1800 miles.

Long-distance flat-rate is cheaper if it's over 3 pounds and will fit in a medium box, or 4 pounds and will fit in a large box. For a 500-mile trip, it has to be 6 pounds or more. Except for lead, gold, canned goods and maybe books, it's hard to get that much in those boxes.

Priority mail supplies can be gotten free. You can get a few at your post office, or you can order them by mail. Then print a label with print-and-ship and pay with a credit card. If your home has a big enough mailbox, you can just leave it for the carrier, or you can actually call and have it picked up for free (can't believe this will last).