USPS DMM Notice - Proper Use of Flat Rate Containers

[unknown]

It's about flippin' time!

about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2016/pb22435/html/updt_002.htm

"Flat" refers to the price, not to the shape.
 
wooooooooohooooooooo!

[Deleted]

Yes, the new party line - "Flat” refers to the price, not to the shape. 

While I'm glad to read the 'rules', it seems not very cost effective for USPS.  I always thought one of the reasons the USPS could offer flat rate pricing was that flat rate envelopes and boxes could be easily stacked, this making the shipping container or vehicle more efficient. If the shapes of all the flat rate packages are willy nilly, seems like a lot of wasted time and space.  Oh well, I don't make the rules - I just follow them.

[unknown]

That's what they told me waybackwhen we got the first flat rate things. I would think the regular/legal flat rate envelope 'should' be flat and if you need more use the padded one. I would think that would save them lots compared to football shaped FREs. But I dunno.

I cheered because if I ship dani a LFRB, I have never yet been able to fill one without poofing out the sides; the ends close fine; the middle just poofs out. The main post office I'm supposed to use always complained about that so that's why I drive to another city to do my mailing.

[Deleted]

Feb 19, 2016 16:51:48 GMT unknown said:

The main post office I'm supposed to use always complained about that so that's why I drive to another city to do my mailing.

Can you print out that bulletin and now go back to your main post office? 

[val2525]

Q. What if the FRE is stuffed so full that it’s shaped like a cylinder?

A. As long as the FRE can close within its normal folds, and as long as the sides of the FRE haven’t been reconstructed, for example by being slit and having a gusset inserted, it is fine. “Flat” refers to the price, not to the shape.

[Emerald_Door]

I'm glad they spelled it out so clearly. I had to stop using the old flat rate envelopes years ago because they wouldn't allow any bulge at all or any tape at all. The regional marketing manager had written a memo to that effect, and that's what they were following.

[denise15601]

Glad that they finally spelled this out. With the new rates, it is sometimes cheaper to use the paper envelopes rather than the padded.
So I expect to see a lot more packages in the FRE.

[val2525]

Bad move for some sellers. The paper FRE often split and tear when used for clothing. Every single item I've received shipped in a paper FRE has arrived with the envelope damaged. They don't work very well for larger plus size items.

[kritter]

I would never use that paper envelope thing to ship any clothing item.

Too much chance of damage for my comfort level.

[allikat]

Val/Kritter, same here everything that has ever arrived here in a paper flat rate has arrived popped open with clothing or whatever clothing was wrapped in hanging out. Either they get caught in something that results in a big rip or the seam splits from too much inside. Luckily nothing has been damaged yet but one did arrive soaking wet from popping open, jeans were soaked but fine.

[Shirley U Geste]

My sorting center is hell on packages and rips those paper FRs up. I would be really pissed to get a clothing item sent in one of those.

[val2525]

I have used a paper FRE for lightweight thin plus size stuff, like silk summer tops. But I tape the whole package before I put anything in it, so the tape sort of acts as an outer plastic coating. But even then, that doesn't always cut it if you're stuffing the FRE with something bulky.

[allikat]

The last one I received look like like this and most every one has been some version of this: