Comments on: Utilizing USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes For Your eBay Business

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 15:19:43 +0000

I could show you a photo of the original small flat rate box, and the current small flat rate box, if you have an email to which I could send. It would demonstrate that yes, the USPS is – as usual – pinching pennies by “sneaking” changes in (there is absolutely no press release announcing any change in sizes, after doing a Google search, so yes, this is sneaky). I’m sorry to bash your friends at the USPS, but unfortunately, “ugh” is also correct. The USPS has shuffled around their definitions as “ugh” described, in ADDITION to shrinking the smallest flat rate box to 2 inches smaller on each edge (once again, I have photos). Further still, if you try to mail a flat-rate box and have underestimated the weight, you will be charged for the extra weight – on a FLAT RATE box. Explain that one away, please. Yes, I have emailed the USPS asking for some explanations that would make all of this make sense. I was ignored. It’s a difficult endeavor to call into question the anecdotal experience of another. Well, it’s impossible, because the experience EXISTS. You can’t attempt to invalidate something that actually happened, even if you don’t want it to be true. I don’t want my experiences with USPS to be true either – unfortunately, they are. To argue over something that is prove-able and experienced first-hand by me (and not you, apparently) is just silly.
Alas, as UPS interprets the “fragile” sticker to read, “kick me here,” I am forced to use USPS. So, everyone can stop the alarms: Yes, I will bend over and take it. You don’t have to defend yourself so hard.

By: auctioncope

auctioncope — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:52:16 +0000

That isn’t really true. The original flat rate box was $7.10 at its time of release and is now referred to as the medium flat rate box. The original flat rate box was the only size available for about four years. The price has increased each year and currently costs $10.70. The small flat rate box is only about a year old.

By: ugh

ugh — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:43:53 +0000

The USPS medium flat rate box is the old small flat rate box, but is now twice the price! The medium box used to be called “small” & was $4.95, and now it’s over $10. This new small flat rate box is now the $4.90 box, but it’s waaaaaay smaller in size. USPS has totally jacked up the prices, but they’re playing it off like they just introduced a new box – yeah, for the same price as the former “small” box, only it’s half the size! Prices have DOUBLED, basically.