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Post by fernwood on Dec 12, 2018 12:35:42 GMT -5
When did the accepted size for a USPS SFRB change? A few weeks ago I picked a bunch up from the PO. They were the standard 9 ¼” by 6 ¼” size, same as always. I had mailed one of this size boxes from my mailbox last week with no problem.
My printer took a great day to act up. I purchased the mailing labels from PayPal, but could not print them. Had to drive through a snow/ice storm to the PO, 12 miles away on curvy, hilly roads.
PO would not refund my postage, said I had to go through PayPal for that. Was surprised when the total postage for four boxes was over $40.00. I questioned the amount. Postmaster told me that I was not using the “new” SFRB. All new ones are marked SFRB. They pointed out the new size on the wall. They are about 6” by 4”.
So, I had to pay almost $12.00 each to ship two boxes to the East coast and almost $10.00 each to ship two boxes West.
Since I run on a very slim profit margin, ended up losing money on all transactions.
So, due to stupid printer, I am out a lot of money. Plus the stress from driving on slippery roads and almost getting into an accident due to the stupid person ahead of me on the road who slammed on their brakes for no reason. I was only about 10 car lengths behind them. Had to hit mine and skidded sideways in the opposite lane. Was able to recover, but then stayed 20 lengths behind them until they got off the road.
So, not a good start to my day. Hope yours is better.
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Post by fernwood on Dec 12, 2018 13:05:47 GMT -5
PayPal refund for postage was painless, but took waiting about 25 minutes for a chat rep. Now just waiting to see if I get the postage refund.
Postmaster also had told me they are to accept no boxes for flat rate unless they are labeled as SFRB, MFRB or LFRB. Apparently the new boxes are being printed as such. Only boxes with this printing can be accepted. Even if the box is the same size in the past, there will be an additional charge. AKA, it will be charged as priority mail, but not fat rate. It will include insurance up to $50.00. Postage will be determined on how far it is being shipped. So much for my stash of boxes and probably those of others. My PO did not have the new MFRB or LFRB. Said they will be getting them soon, whatever that means.
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Post by fernwood on Dec 12, 2018 13:13:00 GMT -5
I need to ship a couple MFRB within a week. Asked about that. Was told shipping to an adjoining state would be about $22.00 for a box weighing less than 20 lbs when using an old MFRB. Shipping an old MFRB (not marked as MFRB) from WI to GA or AK would be about $30.00 if under 20 lbs. Was glad to learn this info. So, those waiting for MFRB's from me will be notified. Their choice. Pay the extra postage or wait until I can get some pre-printed MFRB's. I called some PO's in larger towns near me. The people I spoke with had not heard of this new policy, but left messages for the postmasters to contact me.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2018 13:16:53 GMT -5
The larger 9.25" x 6.25" x 2" (Box 1096 - Large Video Box) has never been Flat Rate except for International shipments (ships for the same price as Small Flat Rate for Priority International). Your Post Office may have allowed it for US addresses (could have slipped through in the past before they upgraded their machinery), but it was never an official Small Flat Rater. The larger box 1096 you have also can be used for heavy items within the US using Cubic Rate. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2018 13:25:59 GMT -5
I need to ship a couple MFRB within a week. Asked about that. Was told shipping to an adjoining state would be about $22.00 for a box weighing less than 20 lbs when using an old MFRB. Shipping an old MFRB (not marked as MFRB) from WI to GA or AK would be about $30.00 if under 20 lbs. Was glad to learn this info. So, those waiting for MFRB's from me will be notified. Their choice. Pay the extra postage or wait until I can get some pre-printed MFRB's. I called some PO's in larger towns near me. The people I spoke with had not heard of this new policy, but left messages for the postmasters to contact me. You can ship to nearby locations MUCH cheaper using USPS Regional Rate. Their Regional Rate Box A only goes up to 15 pounds, but at 10" x 7" x 4.75" inside dimensions (there is also a shirt-box style A box that measures 11" x 13" x 2.5"), it can hold most things I've shipped in Medium Flat Rate boxes. The Regional Rate A box costs about $7.25 (nearly same as a Small Flat Rate box) to ship within your region, and maxes out at $10.80 for other addresses in the 50 states. Because it is so much cheaper than Medium Flat Rate domestically, I've probably used 20 Regional Rate A boxes for every Medium Flat Rate box I've sent over the past 5 years. Regional Rate boxes can only be ordered from the usps.com site (post offices don't typically carry them). You also have to print postage for Regional Rate online (usps.com, ebay, etc.), since the Post Office doesn't have Regional Rate (or any other rates aimed at commercial senders - at least didn't last I checked) on the computers at their counters. So glad you avoided the fender-bender. Sounds scary! |
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Post by fernwood on Dec 12, 2018 14:07:59 GMT -5
The larger 9.25" x 6.25" x 2" (Box 1096 - Large Video Box) has never been Flat Rate except for International shipments (ships for the same price as Small Flat Rate for Priority International). Your Post Office may have allowed it for US addresses (could have slipped through in the past before they upgraded their machinery), but it was never an official Small Flat Rater. The larger box 1096 you have also can be used for heavy items within the US using Cubic Rate. Interesting. It was the only box available for small flat rate here until recently. The local PO's displayed it as a SFRB. So, the 6" x 4" has been the standard? I have received shipments from others in the larger size that I paid the SFRB rate for. |
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Post by fernwood on Dec 12, 2018 14:17:36 GMT -5
Just received notice it will take 15-21 days for PayPal account to be credited with postage refund. Grrrrr.
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Post by aDave on Dec 12, 2018 14:31:27 GMT -5
The larger 9.25" x 6.25" x 2" (Box 1096 - Large Video Box) has never been Flat Rate except for International shipments (ships for the same price as Small Flat Rate for Priority International). Your Post Office may have allowed it for US addresses (could have slipped through in the past before they upgraded their machinery), but it was never an official Small Flat Rater. The larger box 1096 you have also can be used for heavy items within the US using Cubic Rate. Interesting. It was the only box available for small flat rate here until recently. The local PO's displayed it as a SFRB. So, the 6" x 4" has been the standard? I have received shipments from others in the larger size that I paid the SFRB rate for. Actual size is 5-3/8" x 8-5/8" x 1-5/8". In the short 18 months I've been sending stuff off, that's the only SFRB (marked Flat Rate) that I've been able to get. If you still want to try your larger boxes and then send at the SFRB price, order up some of these - they are free and USPS will deliver to a real address. I am able to "modify" actual SFRBs to make them thicker by putting two together and then insert them in the envelope which ships at an SFRB rate. As long as your item fits in the envelope, you should be good to go. I end up taping the flap which has great adhesive, just in case, but I've gotten no reports of any issues. |
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Post by fernwood on Dec 12, 2018 14:54:26 GMT -5
aDave. The "new one" at my PO is 6" x 4" tiny. The size you mentioned is the same as the previous SFRB's I obtained from the PO. They were marked SFRB. Then, all that were available were the unmarked 9 1/4 x 6 1/4 size. Was assured that these were SFRB's. Just unmarked. I did not notice the small size difference until I tried to mail things. the items I sent out would have easily fit in the 6 x 4 box. Thanks for the link. Sounds like a plan.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2018 15:31:09 GMT -5
Interesting. It was the only box available for small flat rate here until recently. The local PO's displayed it as a SFRB. So, the 6" x 4" has been the standard? I have received shipments from others in the larger size that I paid the SFRB rate for. Sounds as if some local post offices were confused either by the similarity in size and/or that the Large Video box 1096 can be used to ship as Priority International Flat Rate (but only for international destinations). When flat rater boxes came into being in 2004, the only flat rate boxes were what are now designated as the Medium Flat Rate boxes. The Large box was added in 2008, followed by the Small Flat Rate box in 2009. The sizes have not changed since. The latest boxes have only changed in print style. Those Priority Mail Large Video boxes (O-1096L) you have are great for sending outside the United States, however, at a Priority International Flat Rate price - same price as, but more roomier than the Priority International Small Flat Rate. |
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Post by vegasjames on Dec 12, 2018 20:26:02 GMT -5
If they are still marked flat rate then they should honor the price.
Or look in to the padded flat rate mailers. I can get around 10 pounds of rock in these and they ship for $7.30. You order them from the USPS site. You can box up your slabs or whatever then put them in the larger envelope.
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Post by aDave on Dec 12, 2018 20:37:50 GMT -5
If they are still marked flat rate then they should honor the price. Or look in to the padded flat rate mailers. I can get around 10 pounds of rock in these and they ship for $7.30. You order them from the USPS site. You can box up your slabs or whatever then put them in the larger envelope. James, I pointed her to those envelopes since you advised me about the same. It's a great product. I should have given you credit in the first place. |
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Post by vegasjames on Dec 12, 2018 21:10:37 GMT -5
If they are still marked flat rate then they should honor the price. Or look in to the padded flat rate mailers. I can get around 10 pounds of rock in these and they ship for $7.30. You order them from the USPS site. You can box up your slabs or whatever then put them in the larger envelope. James, I pointed her to those envelopes since you advised me about the same. It's a great product. I should have given you credit in the first place. To me it makes no sense to use the SFRB when you can send a lot more or even use more padding around the stones for $0.05 more with the padded flat rates. |
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Dec 13, 2018 11:07:58 GMT -5
I have mistakenly picked up priority mail boxes, assuming they are flat rate-but Oh contrare. ONLY the ones that say flat rate may be mailed flat rate. After a couple repacks in the correct boxes, I learned my lesson.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718 
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Post by Fossilman on Dec 13, 2018 11:23:27 GMT -5
My postmaster helps me out with shipping priority... If he see's that I can save a few bucks, he lets me know...
Sometimes I have to repack, but I don't care if its saves me a buck or two in the long run...
I do all my business at the local Post Office here.
Our mail carrier is very unreliable (No mail yesterday, at all), probably won't see him till late tonite, as usual..
So no printing my own labels and (or) stamps, not worth the effort or time, if I can't save time!!
PS: Yes we have complained, it gets us nowhere and a pissed off delivery guy!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2018 14:18:43 GMT -5
Just for a visual, here are the USPS boxes discussed... Top to bottom with current prices... - Small Flat Rate Box (0.04 cubic feet; max international weight 4 lb)
- USA destinations: $7.20 at PO counter / $7.20 online (increases to $7.90 in Jan; discount for commercial online vendors)
- international (Germany): $35.25 / $35.25 online (increases to $36.70 in Jan) - 1096L Large Video Box (0.08 cubic feet; max international weight 4 lb)
- USA destinations: no flat rate (ships by weight domestically)
- international (Germany): $35.25 / $35.25 online (increases to $36.70 in Jan) - Regional Rate A Box (0.21 cubic feet; max weight 15 lb)
- USA destinations: not available at PO counter / $7.10 - $10.80 online (increases to $7.65-$11.20 in Jan; zone 1 - zone 8)
- international (Germany): no flat rate (ships by weight internationally) - Medium Flat Rate Box (0.34 cubic feet; max international weight 20 lb)
- USA destinations: $13.65 at PO counter / $13.65 online (increases to $14.35 in Jan; discount for commercial online vendors)
- international (Germany): $69.00 at PO counter / $69.00 online (increases to $71.75 in Jan; discount for commercial online vendors)
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Post by aDave on Dec 13, 2018 14:50:20 GMT -5
@rocks2dust , Looking at the way you wrote the different box descriptions, I think you forgot the word, "international" in your listing of max weight for the MFRB. You included it your SFRB description, so I'm simply assuming that's an oversight.  Thanks for all of the information. Fine print at the bottom of this page: pe.usps.com/text/dmm100/flat-rate-reference.htmWeight restrictions for domestic Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Envelopes, and Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes and Boxes are 70 pounds.
Weight restrictions for Priority Mail Express International Flat Rate Envelopes are 4 pounds. Weight restrictions for Priority Mail International Large and Medium Flat Rate Boxes are 20 pounds, and 4 pounds for Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2018 15:17:43 GMT -5
aDave I've fixed it. Thanks. Will also be interesting to see how this affects the commercial discounts passed through by online sites like paypal, stamps.com, pirateship, etc.
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
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Post by Fossilman on Dec 13, 2018 15:45:03 GMT -5
Just mailed out three Large Priority boxes at $18.90 per box.... Getting high, but still cheaper than Fed-Ex and UPS...
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Post by parfive on Dec 14, 2018 3:46:50 GMT -5
The King of Boxes doesn’t care how much they cost.
メリークリスマス
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Thanks for all of the information.
