Save on Shipping With USPS Flat Rate Boxes

The United States Postal Service now has "flat rate" boxes and envelopes. The flat rate shipping boxes and envelopes are Priority Mail (they also have Flate Rate Express Mail Envelopes too). This means you HAVE to ship Priority Mail, however the shipment is at a flat rate cost, so you may actually be saving on shipping costs. They also ship globally, but beware of the larger fees that go with them (read BEWARE!). You have 3 sizes of boxes and one size of envelopes to choose from. The two smaller boxes are $9.80 to ship around the US, and the larger flat rate box is $12.95 to ship around the US. No matter the weight of the object, it is always the standard flat rate of their listed prices (to ship anywhere in the US).In addition, the USPS flat rate boxes are FREE. Whether you pick them up at the post office or order the boxes online through their website. They are FREE (including all shipping costs if ordering online). Lastly, USPS offers free pickup of your package(s) from your office or home at your convenience.
BEWARE!
These flat rate boxes and envelopes are a great way to ship items in the US, or globally, however the flat rate costs for the boxes listed above are not the same cost to ship them globally. Shipping globally also has a weight restriction of 20 pounds for boxes and 4 poundsfor envelopes.Some people may have foundthis out the hard way;after they have listed their item on okay at the US flat rate cost, and not the global flat rate cost.
Also, watch out when ordering or picking up flat rate boxes from USPS. Make sure if you want to ship flat rate, that you choose the boxes that say "Flat Rate Box" on the side. USPS have other boxes that may say "Mailing Box" on them, and by looking at them, they may look like the right dimensions, butthese are not flat rate boxes. Don't be tricked, the only boxes that are Flat Rate Priority Mailboxescontain these following dimensions.
Priority Mail (PM): Large Flat Rate Box:12'' x 12'' x 5-1/2'':
Domestic: $12.95 ($10.95 when shipping to APO/FPO addresses)
International: $29.95 to Canada and Mexico; $49.95 to all other countries (shipments to any location outside of US have a 20 pound weight limit)
PM: Smaller Flat Rate Box: 11'' x 8-1/2'' x 5-1/2'':
Domestic: $9.80 (no FPO/APO shipping)
International: $23.95 to Canada and Mexico; $38.95 to all other countries (shipments to any location outside the US have a 20 pound weight limit)
PM: Smaller Flat Rate Box: 11-7/8'' x 3-3/8'' x 13-5/8'':
Domestic: $9.80 (no FPO/APO shipping)
International: $23.95 to Canada and Mexico; $38.95 to all other countries (shipments to any location outside the US have a 20 pound weight limit)
PM: Flat Rate Envelope: 12.5'' x 9.5'':
Domestic: $4.80 (no FPO/APO shipping)
International:$9.95 to Canada and Mexico; $11.95 to all other countries (shipments to any location outside the US have a 4 pound weight limit)
Express Mail: Flate Rate Envelope: 12.5'' x 9.5'':
Domestic: $16.50 (no APO/FPO shipping)
International: $23.95 to Canada and Mexico; $25.95 to all other countries (no weight limit on US or international shipping)


**Please note that the flat rate costs may fluctuate due to gasoline prices, inflation, etc. These are their current flat rate costs as of August 13th 2008. If you would like to read more on flat rate services from USPS, visit the USPS website for more information.

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