Shipping Question

lahmejoon

Hi All,

I don't sell or ship very much, so I'm not well versed in shipping protocol. I wanted to get some advice from the experts.

I have items that will fit in a large flat-rate USPS priority box. On Pirateship, you can ship for $24.30. However, a package of the same dimensions and weight can ship for under $14 across the country or as little as $8 within the state if I use UPS Ground Saver (regular UPS Ground is like $1 more). Is it permissible to use a USPS flat rate box, cover/wrap the outside of the box tightly with paper (I was thinking paper grocery bags), and ship that via UPS?

I also notice there's a USPS Ground Advantage option for about the same price as UPS Ground Saver. I'm curious what you folks use - flat rate, albeit very easy, is way more now than I remember.

Thanks!

Mookie1986

A condition of using the free USPS priority boxes, is that you or will use them only for priority service. I'm not sure what the penalty would be or how they actually enforce it. That being said, people do what you suggested.

I usually just recycle boxes, and use them for UPS or USPS ground. Also, the large USPS priority box that isn't flat rate is sometimes cheaper depending on the weight and destination.

lahmejoon

@Mookie1986 said:
A condition of using the free USPS priority boxes, is that you or will use them only for priority service. I'm not sure what the penalty would be or how they actually enforce it. That being said, people do what you suggested.

I usually just recycle boxes, and use them for UPS or USPS ground. Also, the large USPS priority box that isn't flat rate is sometimes cheaper depending on the weight and destination.

Thank you very much for your response. I didn't consider that there could be a penalty for unintended use of USPS flat rate.

Do you have a preferred method to ship? It sounds like UPS. I'm not shipping anything of significant value to be worried that my CIS policy won't cover any theft or damage. When I send to BBCE, I have used FedEx for this reason, since I'll usually send more than $2,500 worth of items, for which you need to use registered or express mail, or FedEx (No UPS). What I'm looking to ship now is under $200 of value.

Mookie1986

@lahmejoon said:

@Mookie1986 said:
A condition of using the free USPS priority boxes, is that you or will use them only for priority service. I'm not sure what the penalty would be or how they actually enforce it. That being said, people do what you suggested.

I usually just recycle boxes, and use them for UPS or USPS ground. Also, the large USPS priority box that isn't flat rate is sometimes cheaper depending on the weight and destination.

Thank you very much for your response. I didn't consider that there could be a penalty for unintended use of USPS flat rate.

Do you have a preferred method to ship? It sounds like UPS. I'm not shipping anything of significant value to be worried that my CIS policy won't cover any theft or damage. When I send to BBCE, I have used FedEx for this reason, since I'll usually send more than $2,500 worth of items, for which you need to use registered or express mail, or FedEx (No UPS). What I'm looking to ship now is under $200 of value.

I use USPS because of convenience, and all but a few times they have been reliable. A few years ago they started including $100 insurance with ground shipping, so I usually use that service.

lahmejoon

@Mookie1986 said:

@lahmejoon said:

@Mookie1986 said:
A condition of using the free USPS priority boxes, is that you or will use them only for priority service. I'm not sure what the penalty would be or how they actually enforce it. That being said, people do what you suggested.

I usually just recycle boxes, and use them for UPS or USPS ground. Also, the large USPS priority box that isn't flat rate is sometimes cheaper depending on the weight and destination.

Thank you very much for your response. I didn't consider that there could be a penalty for unintended use of USPS flat rate.

Do you have a preferred method to ship? It sounds like UPS. I'm not shipping anything of significant value to be worried that my CIS policy won't cover any theft or damage. When I send to BBCE, I have used FedEx for this reason, since I'll usually send more than $2,500 worth of items, for which you need to use registered or express mail, or FedEx (No UPS). What I'm looking to ship now is under $200 of value.

I use USPS because of convenience, and all but a few times they have been reliable. A few years ago they started including $100 insurance with ground shipping, so I usually use that service.

Is that the priority mail option or ground advantage?

RonSportscards

@lahmejoon said:
Is it permissible to use a USPS flat rate box, cover/wrap the outside of the box tightly with paper (I was thinking paper grocery bags), and ship that via UPS?

Is this even a serious question?

flat rate, albeit very easy, is way more now than I remember.

Maybe to make up for people stealing the free USPS supplies then using a different shipping service.

lahmejoon

@RonSportscards said:

@lahmejoon said:
Is it permissible to use a USPS flat rate box, cover/wrap the outside of the box tightly with paper (I was thinking paper grocery bags), and ship that via UPS?

Is this even a serious question?

flat rate, albeit very easy, is way more now than I remember.

Maybe to make up for people stealing the free USPS supplies then using a different shipping service.

Yes, this is a serious question. Again, I don't ship stuff often at all. Since it was pointed out that there could/would be penalty for using flat rate boxes for unintended use, it makes complete sense because that's exactly what I though of doing - taking the free box from USPS and repurposing it for a different carrier. I like to sleep at night, so I don't want any reprocussions; hence my desire to understand what people do as alternatives to USPS flat rate.

Mookie1986

@lahmejoon said:

@Mookie1986 said:

@lahmejoon said:

@Mookie1986 said:
A condition of using the free USPS priority boxes, is that you or will use them only for priority service. I'm not sure what the penalty would be or how they actually enforce it. That being said, people do what you suggested.

I usually just recycle boxes, and use them for UPS or USPS ground. Also, the large USPS priority box that isn't flat rate is sometimes cheaper depending on the weight and destination.

Thank you very much for your response. I didn't consider that there could be a penalty for unintended use of USPS flat rate.

Do you have a preferred method to ship? It sounds like UPS. I'm not shipping anything of significant value to be worried that my CIS policy won't cover any theft or damage. When I send to BBCE, I have used FedEx for this reason, since I'll usually send more than $2,500 worth of items, for which you need to use registered or express mail, or FedEx (No UPS). What I'm looking to ship now is under $200 of value.

I use USPS because of convenience, and all but a few times they have been reliable. A few years ago they started including $100 insurance with ground shipping, so I usually use that service.

Is that the priority mail option or ground advantage?

USPS Ground, because it's much cheaper than Priority and it comes with the same $100 insurance. You can add more insurance if needed, just like priority. In most cases it only takes a day or two longer to be delivered, and sometimes just as fast as Priority.

lahmejoon

@Mookie1986 said:

@lahmejoon said:

@Mookie1986 said:

@lahmejoon said:

@Mookie1986 said:
A condition of using the free USPS priority boxes, is that you or will use them only for priority service. I'm not sure what the penalty would be or how they actually enforce it. That being said, people do what you suggested.

I usually just recycle boxes, and use them for UPS or USPS ground. Also, the large USPS priority box that isn't flat rate is sometimes cheaper depending on the weight and destination.

Thank you very much for your response. I didn't consider that there could be a penalty for unintended use of USPS flat rate.

Do you have a preferred method to ship? It sounds like UPS. I'm not shipping anything of significant value to be worried that my CIS policy won't cover any theft or damage. When I send to BBCE, I have used FedEx for this reason, since I'll usually send more than $2,500 worth of items, for which you need to use registered or express mail, or FedEx (No UPS). What I'm looking to ship now is under $200 of value.

I use USPS because of convenience, and all but a few times they have been reliable. A few years ago they started including $100 insurance with ground shipping, so I usually use that service.

Is that the priority mail option or ground advantage?

USPS Ground, because it's much cheaper than Priority and it comes with the same $100 insurance. You can add more insurance if needed, just like priority. In most cases it only takes a day or two longer to be delivered, and sometimes just as fast as Priority.

Thank you very much for the advice and help!

Sorry - one last question - is there anything special you need to put on the USPS ground shipment, or can it just be in a regular box with no special markings?

Mookie1986

Regular box with a USPS ground label attached. Just make sure all old labels, barcodes or address are covered/removed. Also, don't use a box that displays any alcohol, or hazardous materials markings. Even if it's obviously a recycled box, they won't deliver it with those markings.

lahmejoon

@Mookie1986 said:
Regular box with a USPS ground label attached. Just make sure all old labels, barcodes or address are covered/removed. Also, don't use a box that displays any alcohol, or hazardous materials markings. Even if it's obviously a recycled box, they won't deliver it with those markings.

Thank you very much, Mookie. I appreciate it!

grote15

If you are shipping with signature confirmation and want to be covered under your CIS plan, it must go Priority to be covered up to $2500. Ground works well otherwise.

swish54

If it's under $200, I would ship in a recycled Amazon box via usps ground advantage through pirateship. That should be your cheapest route. If you end up shipping a decent amount, I'd also invest in a shipping scale to help measure the weight. You can get a decent one for about $25.

Flat rate boxes are good for heavy shipments. I've found if it's under 5 pounds, it's still cheaper to ship ground advantage.

sayheywyo

Well-spoken Mookie, like an employee who know the rules.

lahmejoon

@grote15 said:
If you are shipping with signature confirmation and want to be covered under your CIS plan, it must go Priority to be covered up to $2500. Ground works well otherwise.

@grote15 said:
If you are shipping with signature confirmation and want to be covered under your CIS plan, it must go Priority to be covered up to $2500. Ground works well otherwise.

Thanks, Tim, for that clarification. What I’m shipping is like $100, so I’m not worried about insurance coverage on this one.

lahmejoon

@swish54 said:
If it's under $200, I would ship in a recycled Amazon box via usps ground advantage through pirateship. That should be your cheapest route. If you end up shipping a decent amount, I'd also invest in a shipping scale to help measure the weight. You can get a decent one for about $25.

Flat rate boxes are good for heavy shipments. I've found if it's under 5 pounds, it's still cheaper to ship ground advantage.

Thanks, Swish.