Hi everyone and Happy weekend :) I may be doing a deal on a batch of paperback books. I was given a free box at Ralph's this afternoon to ship them in. The box originally contained something called Vita Coco, Coconut Water. The box has this brand's name and image all around it. Do I need the wrap the box in brown paper in order to be able to properly mail it? I am thinking for some reason yes because the contents are books and are going media mail. Otherwise I would tape it up and put a mailing label sticker on it. Thank you! God Bless You.

I'm no authority so I have no definitive answer but I have seen people mailing boxes at the p o and the clerks at my p o reject boxes because of advertising on the outside of the box. It may be different at each p o depending on the clerk and their interpretation. I think to be safe I would wrap the box or maybe mark out the stuff on the outside of the box. Try calling your p o and ask about it.

Thanks, Charles. :) I will be going to the PO this morning to mail something else and will just bring the empty box with me to ask. Lol, there is a green palm tree and mostly green with some white at the top coconut on the box and this is repeated. I think the color and images might need to be painted over instead of crossed out. I know Dollar Tree sells brown Kraft paper if need be. Thanks again and I will post on here what the PO says.

I don't think you would need to re-wrap. I would take a thick black sharpie and cover any USPS barcodes - but, asking at the post office is obviously the best idea.

I've mailed before in product boxes and i have never covered them up. I do block out the bar codes. Also, the PO has rules about mailing in product boxes of things that are not legal to mail (think liquor, batteries, etc) but coconut water ought to be fine. 

Hug and thank you all so much. I did bring the box to the PO explained I would be sending books media mail and the clerk said no need to wrap it. I had gotten some cute brown Kraft paper at Dollar Tree, too. it's "cute" because it has red balloons and stars on it, not just plain. They also had some with black paw prints, blue stars, and I think even a zebra-ish pattern.

we have a Dollar Tree. I will check that wrapping paper. I like to wrap my books in paper before I package them.

http://www.dollartree.com/catalog/alt_image_popup.jsp?entityId=151207&entityType=product&isAlt=false&index=0 I got the first one, Charles. I didn't see the 4 rolls in the middle, did see the paws at the end. Dollar Tree is a great place and that is so nice of you to wrap your books. :)

My local PO (and the DMM) agree with Sara.  Unless the box originally contained items banned from mailing USPS (liquor, lighter fluid, nail polish, paint remover, fireworks, etc.) you do not need to cover the box.  Deface any existing USPS barcodes (others are not readable to their system) and secure firmly with packing tape.  Include a packing slip/invoice/emergency address before sealing your package.

No other preparations should be necessary. Happy mailing.
 

I mail books media mail in product boxes all the time and have never had a problem.

Box of books was mailed today just fine. No need to even cross out anything. Just told the clerk media mail, all books. Now, I know and thanks again everyone for your help. :)

I unknowingly packed stuff in a liquor box the other day and had to go back home to cover it all up. Ooops! otherwise I wouldn't worry too much about it - bar codes and other addresses yes.

I use the brown tape over it.  Easy.

http://www.uline.com/BL_2/Maskout-Paint

You can get extra wide black markers to take care of advertising on the outside of the boxes.  Our postal person has one that is used when I forget.