Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes

I'm the owner of a Pack & Ship & Mailbox store. This article examines whether the USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes are a good value for your shipment.

To date, I estimate that 50% of my customers that used a Flat Rate Box overpaid on their shipment.

The USPS has done a great job advertising their Flat Rate boxes. But they haven't advertised that you may pay more by using a Flat Rate box.

Why is this so? If you use a Flat Rate box, you have to pay the flat rate. Flat Rate boxes were designed to generate extra profit for the post office. When you pay "Flat Rate" prices, you are paying for a higher-than-average weight traveling a farther-than-average distance.

The post office wants you to use the Flat Rate boxes, because it usually will cost you more than if you used your own box. If your package is going a short distance or does not weigh very much, you will overpay when you use a Flat Rate box.

The nice features about Flat Rate boxes are that the boxes are provided free of charge, and they ship for a flat rate. For example, if you use a large Flat Rate box, you will pay $14.95 for shipping an item to a city 20 miles away or 2000 miles away.

If you ship a heavy item, or if you shipment is traveling cross-country, Flat Rate boxes will save you money.

However, if you ship a 5 lb. box (using your own box, not a Flat Rate box) to a nearby city, Priority Mail will cost about $10, Parcel Post will cost about $8. That's 30% to 45% less than using a large Flat Rate box. An 8 lb. non-Flat Rate box going Priority Mail to a nearby city will cost about $13, still lower than a large Flat Rate box. Also, Parcel Post or First Class Parcel will arrive to a nearby town in the same length of time as Priority Mail for a much lower price.

If you pack a large Flat Rate box with household items or gifts, you'll probably fit about 8 lbs. of stuff into the box. About 90% of all “large” Flat Rate boxes shipped contain only 5 to 8 lbs. of stuff.

If your item is too large for a Priority Mail Flat Rate box, shipping UPS Ground or FedEx Ground is usually cheaper than Priority Mail. And, UPS & FedEx give you free tracking and $100 coverage for your package. USPS charges extra for tracking and/or insurance.

Conclusion:

Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are a good deal if your box weighs 10+ lbs., or your box is traveling to a city 250+ miles away.

Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are NOT a good deal if your item is pretty light and traveling to a nearby city. Using your own box and shipping it Priority or Parcel Post or First Class Parcel will cost less for essentially the same service.

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