so, i first did these when this co was new and this was their first jobs.

i have forgotten.

I have a B to do - I want to mail home made jam to my sister in So Cal.. is using JUST the flat rate priority envelope what it is? Can it go over 2 lbs? Can I use a priority box?

I read the instructions, I thought, but I am still confused.

TIA (thanx in advance)

a

amberngriffinco Wrote:
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> I have a B to do - is using JUST the flat rate
> priority envelope what it is?

No. You must use a Ready-Post envelope or box.

> Can it go over 2 lbs?

Yes. But you'll only reimbursed up to a certain price, based on weight and distance. If you go over reimbursement, it's on you.

> Can I use a priority box?

No. See above.

You definitely can NOT use a priority envelope or box because that would then defeat the purpose of seeing if they offer you priority shipping.

Yes, just like elcarev said, for scenario B it's ready post and it has to be in one of the envelopes or boxes on the Ready Post display. You can't put it in any of the Priority packages. Then they are going to offer you a mail class or several mail classes (Priority Express, Priority, Parcel Post) and you have to choose Priority. If you are sending the jam in a glass jar it's probably not a good idea, and they are going to ask you if you have anything liquid, fragile, perishable, potentionally hazardous, or lithium batteries or perfume. So sending something in glass is definitely fragile. And also if you send it further than a certain zone they are going to charge you extra for distance, and extra for anything over a certain weight (like elcarev said).

I agree with all of the above. However, I have frequently shipped bottled water and when asked the hazard questions I do answer yes. They quiz me as to what type of liquid and I tell them drinking water. It has never been a problem either mailing the package, receiving the package, or with the shop itself.

I have done probably 20 or more USPS shops and my humble suggestion is that if you do not completely understand the scenario or instructions contact the scheduler. One small mistake can be costly for you because, if your shop is declined, not only do you not get paid, you are not reimbursed for your shipping costs. And, if you do the shop where you send food items to a predetermined food bank, you are out the money you spent for the food. Play it safe, contact your scheduler. And, be sure to accurately report your times - to the second. The USPS records all shops and will decline your shop if your times are incorrect. I speak from experience.

when I ship jam, I usually use a priority shoe box, cut it in half, and make it fit the padded priority, so for this shop, the box would fit in one of the ready post padded envelopes.... price wise though.... 5.95 priority flat rate to being reimbursed the maximum and paying overage... you may want to check USPS site first. I shipped 2 jars of jam a little more than 2 lbs to 5 zones away, with this exact shop and paid 5 dollars out of pocket.

amberngriffinco Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------
> so, i first did these when this co was new and
> this was their first jobs.
>
> i have forgotten.
>
> I have a B to do - I want to mail home made jam to
> my sister in So Cal.. is using JUST the flat rate
> priority envelope what it is? Can it go over 2
> lbs? Can I use a priority box?
>
> I read the instructions, I thought, but I am still
> confused.
>
> TIA (thanx in advance)
>
> a

Do a pretend shop at a different post office. Take your jam in, wrapped in bubble wrap, and see what Ready Post box or envelope it fits in. do not buy the box. Just note the size and price and whether you will need tape. Most of the Ready post boxes do not have tape; they sell tape. So if you are using a box, not an envelope, you will need to bring your own shipping tape. After you find the box or envelope it fits in, do not seal it, take it to the scale and weigh it. Then put the box or envelope back and leave. You can make up a story if someone tries to help you, something like, "I'm planning to ship jars of jam for Christmas and I'm trying to see what options there are."

While you're there, look at the posters so you will know which are continuity boards and which are promotional, and look at the forms and the packaging displays. Look at the uniforms. It will help the shop feel more familiar to you when you do it for real.

Go home and look up the priority mail shipping cost for the package weight you ended up with for the zip code you are mailing to. See how much it is and compare it to the reimbursement. Remember that the box reimbursement has its own limit. some of the Ready Post packages cost more than the reimbursement limit. So factor the difference in when you decide if it's cheaper to just mail the jam on your own by regular first class mail (cheaper than priority) and just send someone some magazines (they fit easily into the padded envelope). Be aware that the padded mailer and the bubble mailer are not the same price.

I did one USPS shop and this it was declined because I used a Credit Card instead of CASH. I make it a point not to accept shops that require cash. Lost the Regal theatres, cuz those are costly, even at a senior price. My only movie option now is Galaxy, which has updated the theatre near me and raised prices to meet the costs. Good luck with the shop. You were given A LOT of good information....

I hate doing the ones that require buying a Ready Post box, because invariably the employee tells me I should just use a priorirty mail box, which is free. Those Ready Post boxes are a waste!

????? Declined??????

I've heard of people being dinged a point and told to use cash but never heard of a shop being declined for it. I got permission from my scheduler to use a CC on the Scenario C's and people have used plastic when they got there and realized they didn't have enough cash.

Do the instructions say "the client requires you to use cash" or did it say "The client prefers you use cash"? Did you try appealing that one? I'm very surprised by this. I can understand them preferring cash because of the credit card fees on the thousands of shops that are done every month but there are no cash-handling questions or observations. My instructions have always said "prefers" not "requires."

Ready post boxes can also be used for First class parcel and media mail. They don't have to be used for Priority (except on shops). We're supposed to be playing dumb when we go in there, which is why you need to tape up and address the package before going to the counter so the clerk can't divert you. The clerk can inform you for future reference that the flat rate box would be cheaper but by then you've already "used" the box. Priority flat rates also don't come in a bubble and padded envelope variety. The boxes are different sizes and shapes.

The instructions say that cash is preferred but I always use a credit card and haven't had an issue.

A couple of years ago, cash was required. I believe the standard openly changed early this year.
imsuzie2 - How long ago was your shop rejected for cash? jpgilham is right in pointing out the "preferred" nature of cash these days. Perhaps you could get back in the game.

I have never paid cash and have never had a shop rejected.

You can go to several post offices in a route up to 4 a day. That should make it less weight per box. as for the distance thing. One of you will have to move closer or you must pay for the zones.

imsuzie2 Wrote:
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> I did one USPS shop and this it was declined
> because I used a Credit Card instead of CASH.

I have often, if not always used a debit card on these (20+) shops, never had a problem. Perhaps they've changed their requirements?

That's odd. Back in the day when a different company did them, it was stated in the guidelines that we were to use cash, but I had it cleared with one of that company's employees that for the FB scenarios I could use a credit card as long as I marked through my cc account number on the receipt. With the current MSC, I use a credit card all the time (I probably do 30 of them a year). It does not state in the guidelines that you cannot use a cc with the new MSC and I have never had one declined.

imsuzie2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I did one USPS shop and this it was declined
> because I used a Credit Card instead of CASH. I
> make it a point not to accept shops that require
> cash. Lost the Regal theatres, cuz those are
> costly, even at a senior price. My only movie
> option now is Galaxy, which has updated the
> theatre near me and raised prices to meet the
> costs. Good luck with the shop. You were given A
> LOT of good information....

Different companies - different instructions regarding payment. One I have worked for required cash. The other prefers cash but accepts credit.

Different scenarios - one suggestion. When you do a shop they ask you to download the guidelines for your shop. You have all three scenarios to choose from. My suggestion is to download all three and save them for future reference. The differences related to the different scenarios are small, but important.

Wow, I'm surprised to hear about the cash thing too. I have done probably at least 30 of these and have always used my debit card with no problem. Maybe it is the other company if there are more than one who shop them.

No employee in any post office has ever pointed out to me that the Priority Mail boxes and envelopes are free and that I could have used a free one instead of paying for a Ready Post box or envelope. I have always assumed that they wanted the extra revenue. IF someone does point that out to me, I will simply say, "That is good to know for next time."

I always use cash since that creates an opportunity for them to not voluntarily give me a receipt. So far, I have always gotten a receipt. Maybe 25% of the time recently they have been circling the survey (sometimes with a yellow highlighter which does not photograph or scan) so I make a note of that in my report.

Always take cash. I drove out of my way to do a shop at a nice fee. When i got there, the internet was down. If I had not brought cash, I would not have been able to complete that shop. Always take cash!

@vlade5394 wrote:

Different scenarios - one suggestion. When you do a shop they ask you to download the guidelines for your shop. You have all three scenarios to choose from. My suggestion is to download all three and save them for future reference. The differences related to the different scenarios are small, but important.

The only problem with that is the guidelines change from time to time, and the form you are supposed to find in the lobby changes every few months or so.

@Chix wrote:

I agree with all of the above. However, I have frequently shipped bottled water and when asked the hazard questions I do answer yes. They quiz me as to what type of liquid and I tell them drinking water. It has never been a problem either mailing the package, receiving the package, or with the shop itself.

Don't they find it odd that you are mailing a few bottles of drinking water? If I was a postal clerk, this would send off red flags for me. Why in the world would someone mail 2 or 3 bottles of drinking water? I wonder if they are the mystery shopper?

One thing to know about USPS shops. If they ask if it is a book or paperwork, say NO. If you say yes they will offer the media rate which is much cheaper. It makes you sound like a moron to demand Priority, especially if they haven't told you it will get there a little bit faster with Priority. Just avoid the issue and don't say it is "media".