Prio Mail question

Barry

Does it make any sense that a small flat rate box costs 25 cents more to mail than a flat rate envelope, considering the box will fit inside the envelope?

ctf_error_coins

lol, well know you know how to save 25 cents.

CoinRaritiesOnline

The clerk at my branch actually pointed this out to me once when I brought a box to the counter, grabbed an envelope, put my box inside it, had me fill out a new address label, and then rang it up.

Does it make sense? Of course not - but the USPS and my postal clerk seems to have embraced the idea, and who am I to argue?

mrpotatoheadd

It's possible something can make no sense if you evaluate just one shipment that is not typical of the majority of shipped items, but stilll turn out to make good sense if you examine millions of shipments.

illini420

You can also get flat rate padded priority mail envelopes sent to you from the USPS.

The small flat rate box also fits in them well and you'd get free bubble wrap surrounding the entire box

Barry

Well, it looks like this "loophole" will be shortlived. Note the new rates coming down the pike. The envelope will be more than the small box:

New domestic retail pricing for Priority Mail Flat Rate products include:

Small box — $5.80
Medium box — $12.35
Large box — $16.85
Large APO/FPO box — $14.85
Regular envelope — $5.60
Legal envelope — $5.75
Padded envelope — $5.95

19Lyds

<< <i>Well, it looks like this "loophole" will be shortlived. Note the new rates coming down the pike. The envelope will be more than the small box:

New domestic retail pricing for Priority Mail Flat Rate products include:

Small box — $5.80
Medium box — $12.35
Large box — $16.85
Large APO/FPO box — $14.85
Regular envelope — $5.60
Legal envelope — $5.75
Padded envelope — $5.95 >>

When does this take affect?

Barry

<< <i>When does this take affect? >>


Jan 27

MVC

Dang, that is quite a jump

messydesk

Sure is. Of course, you'll just hear that mail went up by one 1c.

Edit: Actually, the online prices of stuff discounted when purchased online, while more expensive, are not egregiously so. Here are a couple spreadsheets with complete pricing info:

Mailing (Letters and such)
Shipping (Express, Priority, First Class packages) pricing

coinguy1989

My understanding is that the boxes don't go through the same machine; thus, there is less danger to the coin. I pay the 25c. It's not even enough for a cup of coffee.