USPS needs to be 12"X12"X12" or smaller
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I believe if it is larger than it may cost more. If it costs more, you will be responsible for any cost over the reimbursement amount ($11).
It used to be that if ANY side was over 12 then it was shipped Dim Weight and charged differently. It was actually a separate type of shop
I've actually sent a package or two where one side was an inch or two over 12 inches and it didn't cost more to ship. I take the package into a location with the APC and use that scale and system to get the cost to mail the package before I tape it up and mail it from a different location. The prompts will ask how long each side is. Even if it won't fit in the box, I answer that question in the affirmative, because I'm not mailing it from there anyway. I like that system because I don't get a big surprise at the window when I arrive to do my shop.
@Bec2117 wrote:
I've actually sent a package or two where one side was an inch or two over 12 inches and it didn't cost more to ship. I take the package into a location with the APC and use that scale and system to get the cost to mail the package before I tape it up and mail it from a different location. The prompts will ask how long each side is. Even if it won't fit in the box, I answer that question in the affirmative, because I'm not mailing it from there anyway. I like that system because I don't get a big surprise at the window when I arrive to do my shop.
Bec2117, you can also use the USPS online calculator to figure out the price beforehand. It asks you the dimensions, zip codes, weight, and class of service before arriving at the price. It's pretty handy and also saves you a special trip to a different post office to figure this out. Just go to www.usps.com and it should be under the "Mail & Ship" tab, then select "Calculate a Price".
"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl -- year after year..."
msimon that only works if you have your own scale. I don't know about Bec, but I don't. When I do one of these shops, I put things in it that I know are the right weight into a small box so I don't have to worry about surprises at the post office.
What's done is done. An egg cracked cannot be cured.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
There are 3 kinds of lies. Lies, Damn lies, and statistics.
The dimensional weight kicks in when just one side is over 12". These regular box shops are for packages where no side is over 12". I have done several of the non post office shops where they seem to have trouble following the post office rules so you may have gotten away with sending a package over 12 " because of that. The rules state that if your package is incorrect you will not be paid so be careful. I recently did a shop with a box that was about 8x5x5. The non post office place charged me for dimensional weight.plus a service fee..which is much more expensive. I asked and the clerk told me that any box is sent dimensional weight. I explained all this in the report and was reimbursed the entire $21 I was charged for my 1.5 lb small box. I find this msc to be very nice.
My scale got lost in the move three years ago, so the APC works best for me.
I'm pretty sure I shipped a box on a regular job with one dimension over the 12 and the others under without a problem. I think I remember reading somewhere that the total must be less than 12x12 x12 am not sure where I read it, maybe on the USPS website itself.
Here is something I just found. [www.usps.com]
USPS applies DIM domestically, but the volumetric divisor is 194 and only applies to Priority Mail® parcels larger than a cubic foot and going to zones 5-9
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/18/2017 01:36PM by wwin.
Here is something I just found. [www.usps.com]
USPS applies DIM domestically, but the volumetric divisor is 194 and only applies to Priority Mail® parcels larger than a cubic foot and going to zones 5-9
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/18/2017 01:36PM by wwin.
It is supposed to be where no side is over X length, although most post masters aren't hanging out with a tape rule... but then again... I shipped out a Duck Brand box with the dimensions on the top and the post master still measured the box. -_- I didn't laser print those on there pal, 
I know they were just doing their job.
Walmart has boxes on the cheap if you actually need to buy one. Also, restaurants like Hardees get things such as Sausage patties and sauce cups in smaller boxes you can flip wrong side out. This does require more tape, but no biggie.
I know they were just doing their job.
Walmart has boxes on the cheap if you actually need to buy one. Also, restaurants like Hardees get things such as Sausage patties and sauce cups in smaller boxes you can flip wrong side out. This does require more tape, but no biggie.
MegglesKat
Mod note: Post removed as it breached the Forum guideline which states, "Do not reveal the clients of mystery shopping companies". Additionally, it is usually an ICA violation to name both the MSC and client.
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
Based on all of you shipping boxes over 12 inches for these shops it looks as though they need to start doing the dim weight shops again. In my area they pretty much always got those right and charged the correct amt for boxes with one dimension over 12". Maybe the postal workers are slipping into bad habits now that they no longer have those shops. If you had not been shopping post offices before 2017 you would not know this.
I used a bathroom scale when I first started shipping lots of packages. It wasn't perfect, but it got me in the ballpark at least. After a while, I invested in a postal scale that was really good for the heavier packages, but not so good for light ones. Then I found a 1 lb and under postal scale at a thrift store for a few bucks and now have all my bases covered.
It wouldn't take too many trips to the post office, just to weigh packages, to recoup the cost of a scale. I would recommend to anyone who plans on doing a lot of post office shops to invest in a scale. They really aren't that expensive, plus you can find them at thrift stores or garage sales on the cheap, and they are also tax deductible as a business expense. When you are finished with it, you can always resell it to recover your cost.
It wouldn't take too many trips to the post office, just to weigh packages, to recoup the cost of a scale. I would recommend to anyone who plans on doing a lot of post office shops to invest in a scale. They really aren't that expensive, plus you can find them at thrift stores or garage sales on the cheap, and they are also tax deductible as a business expense. When you are finished with it, you can always resell it to recover your cost.
"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl -- year after year..."
If you don't have a scale, put a 1lb. pack of spaghetti in one hand and your package in the other. You can usually tell which is heavier.
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
OK, I spent some time on the USPS website and a few others. In zones 5-8 If the dimensional weight calculation is greater than the actual weight, you are billed at the dimensional weight unless it is a light item then it's called ballon rate and is considered 20lbs.
Here is another link titled "Save Time by Doing it Right"
[www.usps.com]
DIM weight is determined by multiplying a package's length, width, and height and applying a volumetric divisor.1 DIM weight = (L X W X H)/194.
The bottom section of "Don't Get Boxed In" has info on zones 1-4 as well as 5-8 info.
[www.usps.com]
I found a few different numbers from various sites about zones 1-4 but they all were a calculation, not 12x12 max. one saying USPS does not charge for DIM weight when shipping to zones 1-4 unless the length
+ girth of the package exceeds 84”. Girth is measured by (2x width) + (2x height).
[www.efulfillmentservice.com]
I'm not sure this info helps answers the question but thought I'd share.
Here is another link titled "Save Time by Doing it Right"
[www.usps.com]
DIM weight is determined by multiplying a package's length, width, and height and applying a volumetric divisor.1 DIM weight = (L X W X H)/194.
The bottom section of "Don't Get Boxed In" has info on zones 1-4 as well as 5-8 info.
[www.usps.com]
I found a few different numbers from various sites about zones 1-4 but they all were a calculation, not 12x12 max. one saying USPS does not charge for DIM weight when shipping to zones 1-4 unless the length
+ girth of the package exceeds 84”. Girth is measured by (2x width) + (2x height).
[www.efulfillmentservice.com]
I'm not sure this info helps answers the question but thought I'd share.
A-scho or someone else, did you ever check with the msc? By now you would have had your answer so if anyone did please let us know whether all dimensions need to be 12" or less. I am correcting what I said earlier as the dim weight shops were only zones 5-8 which have different rules.
The final answer really needs to be from the msc. Making assumptions ,as much sense as they make to you ,can lead to not getting reimbursed for a shop in the future.
The final answer really needs to be from the msc. Making assumptions ,as much sense as they make to you ,can lead to not getting reimbursed for a shop in the future.
Just wanted to chime back in here. I got a box today to ship with and the dang thing is 12.5 inches. I measured after the fact. Now I gotta go hunting for a smaller shipping box. Poooo
MegglesKat
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