I received a BOB today, and had to pay the postman 8.95, apparently the shipper shipped a priority box, wrapped in brown paper. Well it was checked and I had to pay the other rate. How should I handle this!

PM the sender and ask her to reimburse you.  That is only fair...why should you end up being stuck with something the sender initiated.  In the future, you'll probably want to decline to accept the package, assuming you knew the situation at the time.  Good luck...

I've had books sent that way - one guy even opened the box up - turned it inside out - retaped it and sent it.  Lucky for ME the PO didn't catch it.   It's very simple,  you can't use a Priority box for anything except priority mail.  The sender owes you $8.95!

Thanks you guys, but we got it all worked out! :)

If this happens to anyone reading this again just refuse it as Susan suggested, it will go back to the sender postage due for the Priority rate.

I've never heard of this rule before this week, when I joined PBS.  I've shipped tons of stuff before with inside out priority mail packaging.  Sure enough though, yesterday I received a book postage due that I ordered from Half.com that was a shipped with "hidden" priority mail packaging.

My new sneak plan...using FEDEX packaging inside out!  It's just as free to obtain, and they have padded envelopes!  Plus, I ship enough each year through FEDEX that I don't feel guilty at all.  What I do feel guilty about is when I have to buy a standard box, whether from them, Wal-Mart, etc.  It's almost most expensive to buy a box than to ship one!

The post office doesn't care if you use FEDEX boxes!   You don't have to even turn them inside out.  You can use any other carriers boxes at the PO. 

What if the Priority box has been used already?  Can I use it then or is it still only for Priority use?  Seems to me if its being recycled, you should be able to use it however.... anyone know the answer to this one?

Just wondering...

I think that would be a poor business decision for USPS.  A far better one would be to manufacture each priority box with a little RFID chip in it so that misused boxes can be automatically detected, returned, and the sender dinged for priority postage... plus they get to pay another round of postage to reship...

I wish the messages were saved longer on this site, it could sure stop a lot of rehashing old topics :-)  This seems to come up at least once a month.

Priority supplies are given away free but only to be used for Priority mail, no matter how many times the boxes are used.  Don't turn them inside out and don't cover them and use them for any other service.  The same applies to Express Mail supplies.

the post office will accpect fedex boxes as them are (you dont need to turn them inside out

(I had asked this question because I work for Fedex/kinkos and lots of time people try to ship fedex only thats when we

found out they are shipping to a PO box (its very nice to tell just go to the post office they will let you send your package

in the fedex box

Insted of trying to reuse the PM envelopes to send books, you could recylce the mailers (not the PBS wrapping -- an acutual manilia evenlope or a bubble wrapped envelope) you get from PBS members.  Just make sure that when you open the mailer carefully.  

When I don't have mailers on hand, I switch to bags I've ordered at http://www.uline.com/ or look on eBay for similar.  When I ordered the mailers for Uline, I was able to pick the color and I ordered them with 2 mailings per bag by cutting the mailer in half and using the same mailing tape I already use.

I don't care how the book gets to me, as long as it does. 

Steve,

If "Stickies" ... messages that are posted at the top of the forum and do not move.. have a longer retention, maybe you can ask for several for this forum

1.  Postal Rates

2. Use of Priority boxes

etc.

3 - APC postage "date purchased, not cancelled postage"

4 - Best Combinatin of stamps to affix for

      a -- First Class (less than Xoz)

       b -- Media Mail (no CD)

      c -- Media Mail (with CD)

And whatever else we can dream of

What about cutting up Priority mail boxes that are no longer usable as it. I cut up the remaining part of a Priority Mail box and taped it around the book. The rest of the box went into my recycling. I've

Not that I am trying to cheet the system, but how does the post office know if a box is a turned inside out PM box?

Ange, I've given it a lot of thought although I wasn't aware that stickies were an option with this software.  It's also a matter of time, my time.  Besides working all day, sometimes 6 days/ week at the PO, then coming home and playing "post office" on here I also maintain a WEB site, am active in a couple of photography forums, and need the time to also take those photos and process them.

I guess what I'm saying is that I need to sit down and take the time to give thought to just what I would put in them and then write them.  For me the best time would be a vacation when I'm not going anywhere and not out shooting.  I may have some time at the end of August.  Obviously if I took the time to do it then I would save time dealing with repeat questions!! :-)

Maureen,

I would advise against it for no other reason then how some employees will react to it and charge the Priority rate if caught.  I would have no idea on how to find out if this is "legal" or not but I'm fairly certain the official answer would be "no".  Otherwise people would be ordering Priority supplies and then cutting them up to use for something else at our expense.

They USPS is beginning to print Priority Mail on the inside of all boxes so that they cannot be turned inside out.  I on a daily basis have to refuse to send packages that I can clearly see are priority mail boxes resued and defaced.  The whole point of providing the free boxes is so that the service is used - not abued.

PS - I am a Postmaster - so feel free to email me with your questions.

Annie