Shipping Shops - Scenario "A" Is a box required?

For the shipping shops where there are different scenarios, Scenario "A" requires one to ship something that is more than 18 ounces and in a "box." that is not a priority or flat mail box. The shopper is required to supply their own box.

My question is could I use an envelope, or is a box the only option?

Thanks.

Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut

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No, it must be a box.

I usually get a cake mix or brownie mix box and just wrap it up and send it to myself or my kids. The box weighs 18 oz.

That is pretty brilliant.

I have two kids in college, so love those shops. Get to send care packages to the kids.

I just went and looked at the guidelines again and am now not certain it has to be a box. In doing scenario B, you can use an envelope as long as it is over 18 ounces. In reading the guidelines for A they seem to use the words both box and package at different points. I have always used a box and will probably continue for the time being, but if you want to mail a large envelope you could check with a scheduler.

Scenario B can not be any envelope. It has to be a Ready Post envelope sold at the location.

Scenario A does have to be a box. The way it was worded months back did not firmly state this, but in an email I've seen from them since then, they state you must ship it in a box.

G8r1966 Wrote:
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> I usually get a cake mix or brownie mix box and
> just wrap it up and send it to myself or my kids.
> The box weighs 18 oz.

Great idea. Thanks for all the help!

Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut

I have used padded envelopes dozens of times and have never had any problem.

I just did two of the A shops and received feedback. Both were padded envelopes that I purchased at Walmart. Everything went fine as they went the required Priority and both weighed over l lb 2 oz.

I just did my first USPS A this afternoon. I dug up some stuff I had to send to my parents. The "stuff" was under weight but when I added the box it ended up at nearly two pounds, so I got charged a bit extra. After re-reading the guide and knowing what they're looking for I would say a padded envelope should be fine as long as you hit the weight, there's nothing in the shop to differentiate between that and a standard box.

Yes I do these. By box I think they mean any thing the PO will except/I always use a bubble envelope. No problem As long as the PO is good/ it. Works for me.

I always send 2 ball sleeves of golf ball and paper. When the clerk asks if there is anything potentally hazardous in the box. I say maybe if my son hits the golf ball and hits someone. Usuallly the clerk and anyone else in line gets a laugh. But serously you must use a box also weigh your package before you go to the Post office to make sure it meets the 1 lb. 2 oz (18 ozs) minimum weight.

I goofed bad! I did the USPS Scenario A. I must have had Brain Fog! I grabbed some items from the cupboard to send to myself. I bought the box on way to PO & when I put the items in the box I realized I only had 15oz! So I started digging through the console of my truck to put stuff in the box. No way to weigh it before hand. Well, it only weighed 1 lb 12.70 oz. Just shy of the 18oz required. I bet they reject the shop. I could just kick myself! LOL

Luckily the one I shopped had self-serve stations that I could use to make sure the package weighed enough. It did, but I had a can of expired pineapple juice ready to go :-)

I grab some free flat rate boxes, carefully undo one of the seams and turn it inside out. After re-taping and sealing it with my famous duct tape it's perfectly sturdy. I figure out who needs a cheering up of the people I know and send them a care package. The last recipient got homemade cookies, caramel popcorn and a 14 oz bag of his favorite espresso coffee.

Her Serene Majesty, Cettie - Goat Queen of Zoltar, Sublime Empress of Her Caprine Domain

I do not see anyway they can tell if you used a box or envelope. However if you do you use an envelope be prepared for the helpful clerk who will try and stick it in a flat rate envelope to save you money.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/09/2011 04:09PM by vptrav.

I have used an envelope before and it was okay. I mailed a bag of spaghetti to myself.

Dustygirl,

I'm not understanding why you think 1 lb 12.7 oz is not enough? That would be over 28 oz, right? You should be fine with that amount.

*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain

lbarlbar I accidentally shipped less than a pound and although they noted it on my review I still got the shop accepted and was paid for it.

All of you who are sending packages to yourself....I assume you are not in the same zone as where you are doing the shop (but, I know, I shouldn't assume!) The directions say NOT to do that. Has anyone had experience with this? I just started working for this company. I did my first Box A shop and send some running shoes to my son who lives across the country. I know I will not be reimbursed for the total. But it was still good being able to send him something.

jersey07032 Wrote:
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> . I know I will
> not be reimbursed for the total. But it was still
> good being able to send him something.

Why do you thimk you "will not be reimbursed" for the total? if it was more than $8.40, yeah but you knew that going in.

Next time do two "A" s. Send him one shoe at a time. One shoe has to weight at least one pound. or send him a shoe and a box of spateggi. Then send the other shoe with a can of sauce. He will call you. Tell him to work with you. here.

Department stores are good for extra shoe boxes.

I think that what the poster meant was they won't be reimbursed for the amount over $8.40. Still if you are mailing something you have to anyway it is a great discount. My son forgot his winter coat when he was here last week. We is away at college and won't be home again until Thanksgiving. In Wisconsin, that could be a problem. I can get it in a small enough box to do the regular box, but it will be over 2 pounds. With the reimbursement and pay, I will still come out ahead and don't have to worry about him not having a coat. Great deal for me.

Jersey - I ship to myself so I can use the packages over and over. This saves money and time. Strip off old labels and start over. A brown paper bag can be used to wrap a ratty looking box. Most grocery stores still offer the paper bag as an option.

I use a real return address from the zip. Google houses for sale in the zip for a good address. I take the time to do this because I don't want to out myself using a fictitious address that may alert the clerk. My packages arrive the next day, and I'm ready to go again.

Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.

Hi all. I meant I would not be reimbursed for the total...but I agree,it was a great discount. I always get nervous when I begin with a new company, but this was a painless shop. It was similar in a lot of ways to shops I had done for another MSC. So, yeah, I agree.... My question about sending to the same zone was can you do that? If I do a shop in my area and send the package to myself, am I violating the terms of the agreement. I don't want to risk doing that!

Jersey - The guidelines say you cannot ship from and to the same zip code. See instructions for Scenario A.

Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.

vlade5394 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> For the shipping shops where there are different
> scenarios, Scenario "A" requires one to ship
> something that is more than 18 ounces and in a
> "box." that is not a priority or flat mail box.
> The shopper is required to supply their own box.
>
>
> My question is could I use an envelope, or is a
> box the only option?
>
> Thanks.
c

I always use a padded envelope - no prob. I think box=container. Check w/ scheduler.

Anywhere in Louisville shipped to my home from any of the many zip codes would be zone 0. If I'm at a local post office, I ship out of town. If I'm out of town, even just across the bridge in southern Indiana, the zone is greater than 0 so I ship it home and reuse it.

I'll ship hand soap, food, and other consumables home. Friends out of town get food, my Goodwill clothes, stuff I get at yard sales for $.25.....

I buy bags of decorative rocks at the Dollar Tree. If something needs a little etra weight, I add a couple of rocks! My friends and family think it's a hoot and can't wait to see what I'll send next. They also keep a box of some of the useless things so I can pick them up next time I'm in town.

Bubble Wrap envelopes are my package of choice for Scenario A/D. Staples sells a package of 12 for $13.99. I reuse them by taking off all the stickers and taping new labels on over the old addresses. We do get reimbursed for the packaging so scan the receipt with the label that shows how many were in the package. You have to prove how much one box or envelope costs to get reimbursed for it. Getting it questioned got me 3 "9's" in a single dat for the editors having to write me emails to straighten it out after doing about 80 of them with no questions. lol

Today I Will Choose Joy!

"Finally, whatever things are good, true, noble, lovely, of good report...if there be any virtue, if there be any praise...think on these things." ....It's a command, not a suggestion!

It only has to be Out of your zipcode. I have several different zipcodes close by. So I can send to myself if out of my zone. I sent one to my friend in Indiana & that was out of the zone thay pay. So I was happy to just pay the little extra beyond the zone. Well, I was surprised that they paid the full amount. My niece lives in the next town & I use her address for To & From also.

The instructions read "The zip code of the recipient address must be a different zip code and in a different zone than the Post Office from which you are mailing. You must send your package outside of the city where the post office is located which will be a minimum of Zone 1. Otherwise the package types are handled by the same post office and they will not offer priority. Please check your zip codes. Zone 0 will not be accepted."

The other post offices in Louisville are in the same postal zone as where I live so if I ship it home, it shows a zone 0. This instruction means I have to be out of town to ship it home.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/2011 02:36AM by iblessyah.

Cettie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I grab some free flat rate boxes, carefully undo
> one of the seams and turn it inside out. After
> re-taping and sealing it with my famous duct tape
> it's perfectly sturdy. I figure out who needs a
> cheering up of the people I know and send them a
> care package. The last recipient got homemade
> cookies, caramel popcorn and a 14 oz bag of his
> favorite espresso coffee.

Hey can I be your new BFF. I am not in your zone. Just a thought.

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Shipping Shops - Scenario "A" Is a box required?

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