seasaw2mch

Maybe you didn't know, our government no longer owns the post office. It is privately owned and yes their prices are going up all the time. Flat Rate is the only way to go if you can use those small boxes.

BizyStitches

The same thing happened to me, but it was the large box, and I pack as much in them as I can to send things to my grand kids, and when I went to get the postage it was a box that was NOT marked "flat rate", yes it is irritating.

ghostrider

This is just plain not true. They don't randomly charge whatever they want just because they don't like what you're wearing or something! The postage rates for Priority Mail are based on weight and distance. You can get an estimate of any rates, compare them, whatever you want at the USPS website. It doesn't have to be a surprise when you are at the PO. Be an informed consumer. http://www.usps.com/tools/calculatepostage/welcome.htm

charmpacksplus

There are two small priority boxes that are close in size but not exactly the same. The smaller one is flat rate. The other one you pay by weight and distance.

It is illegal to use Priority mailing supplies for anything other than Priority even if you wrap it, turn it inside out, or reuse it. DON'T DO IT.

You can order all Priority mailers free at USPS.com. You can use your own box for Priority as well. They can put a Priority sticker on it at the PO.

neonparrot

Gale...you are correct. Be careful about turning the post office boxes inside out. The post office has the option of opening a box if they think you are using one of their boxes for other purposes...you are only supposed to use what it is provided for.

I use Priority Mail all the time. Spend the money and get yourself a scale for weiging your packages. All of my shipping is done on-line through the post office website. It is not that difficult. I weigh all my packages, calculate the postage, print the label and give it to my mailman! It is called "Click and Ship" and the fee is put on my charge account, or use a debit card. The extra benefit of this is that it is CHEAPER to go online and weight & pay, as much as $.25 to $.45 a package. You can use this method for Priority Mail or Flat Rate. You cannot use this for regular first class mail or book rate.

I have been doing this for about 3 years and I love it. I have a large mailbox in front of my house on the road, and I just put the package in my mailbox and it is picked up.

noveltyjunkie

This is an eye opener. A great frustration of buying online from the US is how many vendors will insist on using a courier when I would like them to use the post, which would (I assume) be cheaper.

Is your Post Office really hard to deal with? I am shocked that they have the right to open you package and see if the box you used might once have been sourced from them, even by someone else. What if I succeeded in getting someone to send this priority box to me in Australia and then relabelled it (covered the priority markings) and send something back in it? I have to pay Australian postage AND the recipient needs to pay US priority postage in receipt as well?

Sorry, this is mad. I can see that they cant be giving out free boxs but IMO if this is a problem they should keep the boxes behind the counter and only give them out to people who are purchasing a priorty sticker to put on them. That way, they get paid for the box. ONCE. I cannot see how they can claim rights over the box in perpetuity. I am not a litigious person but I would love to see this tested in court. There are certainly some jurisdictions where individuals would have property rights over the box once they received it.

Why dont they pre-print the boxes with the correct postage and just sell the box for the cost of priority postage? (This is what they do in several countries I have lived in- I didnt think it up all by myself, although I probably could have.)

I seriously dont get it. If you have two ways to stop people from stealing boxes from you would you chose (a) dont give out free boxes or (b) open every package that looks like it might be using a box that was once free, without having any idea whether priority postage was ever paid on it. And then chase them all up individually and in person and ask them to pay extra?

wvdek

If you re-read the first and third paragraph, you will see it is still a part of the US government, just was re-oraganized and became self-sufficient, but still part of the government.

PO's are still government property even if run out of someones home, garage, or corner store. Yes, we have all three here where I live. Our carriers here are called Hand Carriers simply because they bid on their routes, deliver to HC addresses (HC - Hand Carrier), and use their own vehicles to deliver in all kinds of weather.
In town we still have mailmen in uniform delivering out of mail trucks. The folks at our PO's are the best and especiallly the one in town. We know them by name, they are extremely helpful, know what is allowed and what is not, and alway's give service with a smile. If I am in doubt about any way to send a package, I can alway's rely on them to help.
Hope this helps those who weren't clear. Reading what I posted earlier should clear it up.

gale

Also, delivery confirmation (very important for paypal/ebay transactions) is free for priority and I believe 19 cents for everything else if you print postage online (I use stamps.com or paypal so I can print 1st class or book rate with those). I think it's 80 cents (??) at the post office.

Holice

First there was priority mail boxes then later they eleased the flate rate boxes. Two different rates. So better check to make sure. Ask which will be less $$

mimita

OMG, This very same thing happened to me a while back and not only was I asked to pay "more" but when the clerk explained the "reason why..." she made sound as if it was my fault because I did not read the label on the box... : (