The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Oct 4, 2012 17:00:22 GMT -5
So I was at the good old USPS today mailing rocks for my mystery guess game and I reused the boxes I had received from others. 1 of the boxes was marked region A, it was a Priority Mail MFRB and the postal worker asked me if I knew the difference between the A, B, & C boxes, I said no I don't, he replied 'neither do I, they don't allow us to carry them here!!' When he put it on the scale and looked up the info, I was informed that I had made a good guess as the A box was $8.00 to ship as the B Box was the $11.00 I was expecting, and the C Box was $32.00.... All going to the same address, but different prices. I get all my Priority mail boxes and supplies thru the USPS.com site and they have the A region boxes there so I ordered a couple packs of these A region boxes.... I don't know if the A region is cheaper for everyone, but I suggest you look into it with your local USPS person and see which box is cheaper for you then go to USPS.com and order a couple packages.. they are free to get and you will be happier to save a few $$ on shipping.... also ... Buy your postage online from USPS too... Priority Mail shipping is cheaper online and you can get tracking for free saving you another 75 cents or more!!
Thank You .. This has been a public service announcement....20324
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Oct 4, 2012 17:04:09 GMT -5
yep! I always cross check between the regional and flat rate boxes to ship with the cheapest.
one problem using the regional boxes is weight - the heavier the more it costs!
So I mostly use the flat rate on weighty stuff
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riverbendlapidary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,058
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Post by riverbendlapidary on Oct 4, 2012 17:25:26 GMT -5
the "c" boxes are worthless. they cost way too much and have a 25 lb limit. the a&b boxes are great, use them all the time. if they would come out with a 10" square box with a larger weight limit for say $20 flat rate, i would use a ton of them.... until then it's 5 gal buckets...
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Oct 4, 2012 17:28:24 GMT -5
the biggest problem with the boxes is that they are WHIMPY!
I double box, since they are free to overcome the issue of corners and sides blowing out with heavy stuff
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Oct 4, 2012 19:17:14 GMT -5
Yeah, the flat rate boxes when they first came out, were much stronger. Pretty weak now probably to attempt to discourage heavier packs. I try to line them with a plastic feedbag to hold in the rocks or add cardboard re enforcement and use strapping tape. Seem to hold together OK now.....Mel
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Oct 4, 2012 19:30:40 GMT -5
yep! I always cross check between the regional and flat rate boxes to ship with the cheapest. one problem using the regional boxes is weight - the heavier the more it costs! So I mostly use the flat rate on weighty stuff The box I sent was a flat rate region A box... it was cheaper and weighed in a 11 pounds 6.1 ounces, for one box. sent it out for $8.01 where standard flat rate was $11.13, so I will definitely check on this in the future too!!!
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slabcabber
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2010
Posts: 590
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Post by slabcabber on Oct 4, 2012 20:05:08 GMT -5
Yeah, they say that you can ship up to 70 Lb's in flat rate boxes... Go ahead and put 70 Lb's in one and mail it. LOL
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Post by gingerkid on Oct 5, 2012 0:08:22 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing!
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Oct 5, 2012 7:40:02 GMT -5
Yeah, they say that you can ship up to 70 Lb's in flat rate boxes... Go ahead and put 70 Lb's in one and mail it. LOL I've come pretty close to that a couple times.... used gorilla tape on the entire box to reinforce it leaving only the Priority Mail label showing. Brought in into the post office on a hand truck and the guy looked at me and said "that's not a legal package to send.. it looks too heavy to carry!!" I told him "it is too heavy to carry that's what the hand truck is for!!" He replied that because its too heavy it will be expensive to ship and I countered with "it weighs exactly 68 pounds with box and padding so you have to take it!!" He asked me why would he have to take it and I told him "as long as it fits it ships, anytime, anywhere as long as it weighs less than 75 pounds!!" (which is what the max a carrier was allowed to lift for any one package, now its 70 pounds, because they are getting older, softer, wimpier!!) and I got applause from half the line and the guy told me if I couldn't put it on the counter then he wouldn't accept it because he wasn't going to lift it up to the counter himself...... now I know none of you have met me but I am 6'1" and at the time I was 350 +/- pounds and a mechanic by day, bouncer by night, so not a small person... anyways I said 'no problem' grabbed the box gave a grunt and lifted the box up and put it on the counter in a not too gentle way and told him "it's all yours now, unless you want me to come back there and put it in the bin or you!!" at which point he told me I wasn't allowed behind the counter and I said no problem, paid the postage and left... I could here the people giggling as he tried to move the package to the bins because his pride wouldn't let him ask for help at that point..... the last thing I said as I walked out the door was, "don't drop it...It's fragile!!!" Last I heard he was being transferred to another Post Office in California so he could retire closer to his kids... I wish him well!! :cheesy:
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Post by deb193redux on Oct 5, 2012 9:49:02 GMT -5
Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes Zones L, 1 & 2 Zone 3 Zone 4 Zone 5 Zone 6 Zone 7 Zone 8 Box A* 5.04 5.16 5.66 7.26 7.95 8.65 9.62 Box B* 5.90 6.98 8.18 10.80 12.74 13.73 15.46 Box C* 14.44 18.73 22.66 31.52 35.66 38.99 45.02 * Additional 0.75 if deposited at Retail Maximum weight 15 lbs for Box A, 20 lbs for Box B, or 25 lbs for Box C.
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It is an interesting thing that sometimes Priority Flat Rate is better and sometimes the Regional Flat Rate is better.
I guess it can be a pain to have to look up zones. Also, if yo go over the weight, they charge regular Priority rates not regular Priority flat-rates. So you have to be careful about the weights. But if you take the time to fuss with zones and weight limits, there are dollars to be saved.
My take is that the A box is bigger than the SFRB, the B box is bigger then the MFRB, and the C box is bigger than the LFRB.
If shipping locally or to zones 1-4, the cost of Regional A and SFRB is about the same, and you can fit a lot more in Regional A.
Also the size of Regional A is just a little smaller than MFRB, and if you are under 15lbs, you can ship even to the furthest zone for $9.62 instead of $10.85. Good for sending a single rock. But, when I pack a MFRB full, it is often over 25lbs.
Regional B is a good deal upto Zone 5. Again, you need to stay under 20lbs - but it is bigger then the MFRB ($10.85) and cheaper. The only reason to use a Regional B box for zones 5-8 is if you need more size than a MFRB, because it is not cheaper.
The Regional C box is huge. Twice the size of a LFRB. 15x12x12 versus 15x12x6 - but this aint for rocks because you can't use that extra space and stay under 25lbs unless you are shipping pumice.
Living in Kansas, I think I am halfway to everywhere and will always be zone 5 or under. I think you need to ship from coast to cost to get into zone 8.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 5, 2012 9:57:24 GMT -5
Thanks for the info, Daniel. That's great to know.
It makes for happy customers when you take the time to find the lowest shipping cost, and then charge them based on the actual cost. Jean
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hand2mouthmining
spending too much on rocks
Purveyors of California Gem Rock
Member since September 2011
Posts: 495
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Post by hand2mouthmining on Oct 5, 2012 21:11:10 GMT -5
Mario, thanks for the great topic! And everyone else, oh, what we're learning from you all! We're just beginning to get into the Region by Region shipping, direct delivery of shipping supplies and such, and this will help a lot overcoming the confusion caused by short staffing at our local PO. It's a tribute to Postal (mis)management that they've been able to keep Post Office branches so thoroughly devoid of shipping supply inventory. Our local branch has been out of bubble pack mailers for over 2 months! When asked why the display bins were empty, the good folks would just shrug. I finally became enough of a familiar face to get an answer last week, when one of the CS reps said, "Oh, you have to order those online!" He gave a wry smile at my puzzled expression and said "Yeah, we feel that way, too." The workers at our branch are great people, but fatalism and apathy have become institutional. What a waste of a great bunch of people. Thanks again, friends! Kris
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,634
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Post by QuailRiver on Oct 5, 2012 21:17:55 GMT -5
A couple of months ago a clerk at our local Post Office told me that the USPS was considering limiting the maximum weight for all sizes of domestic flat rate boxes to twenty pounds. But I haven't heard any more about it since.
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Post by Pat on Oct 5, 2012 21:26:38 GMT -5
I didn't know that! Thanks for sharing!
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dshalldms
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 113
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Post by dshalldms on Oct 25, 2012 10:56:32 GMT -5
Hi,
Am I glad that I opened this post, not only has it been informative, it's also been a great luagh too!
Regards,
Derek
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,686
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Post by Fossilman on Oct 25, 2012 11:19:26 GMT -5
I always do the Priority Flat Rate boxes,they get to the person within three days.......I use lots of clear tape on my boxes too....LOL
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mia
starting to spend too much on rocks
As you travel on thru life, whatever be your goal. Keep your eye upon the donut, not upon the hole.
Member since January 2011
Posts: 150
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Post by mia on Oct 25, 2012 13:28:55 GMT -5
I have been sending and recieving flat rate boxes for several years now. Only way to ship.... HOWEVER
The USPS website is overwhelmed during the day. I try to print all my postage online, it's cheaper, easier and more convienent for me. Tuesday I spent over an hour on 'click n'ship' trying to print a label for a regional box A. The website kept telling me the service wasn't available. I shot them off a nasty email complaining and telling them to buy more bandwidth! This was between the hours of 1pm and 3pm. Don't even try to print postage during those hours. I finally was able to print it at 3am!
Oh but they can give Lance Armstrong $12million, go figure!
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sheltie
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2012
Posts: 982
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Post by sheltie on Oct 25, 2012 14:42:07 GMT -5
the biggest problem with the boxes is that they are WHIMPY! I double box, since they are free to overcome the issue of corners and sides blowing out with heavy stuff You might consider a trick Tony taught me. I now shrink wrap all my packages and have never had one that even threatened to become malformed. I also use a lot of shipping tape.
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Post by Bejewelme on Oct 26, 2012 5:39:18 GMT -5
One thing I learned shipping to Australia the small FRB is $16.95 for international and must be under 4 pounds, and that will go anywhere out of the country! That price jumped considerably I remember when it was $12.95!!!!!
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