Interesting Items Formerly on eBay • Page 101 • Collecting General • The Acaeum

The Acaeum Forums • Collecting General

Interesting Items Formerly on eBay
	Page 101 of 111 • 1 2 3 ... 98, 99, 100, 101, 102 ... 109 110 111

Author

Gnat the Beggar
Grandstanding Collector
JG Valuation Board
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 5029
Joined: Oct 11, 2004
Last Visit: Jan 16, 2017
Location: Texas

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:00 pm

JohnGaunt wrote:Am I the only person who does not use USPS Flat-Rate Boxes in this manner? Using them in a manner other than shipping Flat-Rate packages is illegal.

Using a previously shipped box for packing protection inside another box is not illegal.
It has already served its intended purpose.
And I do not have a problem using them for packing, or backing even if not previously used either.

Using them as a box for shipping in any manner other than the one intended IS illegal.

IE. Wrapping paper around one and posting it for media mail rates.

BTW I recently recieved a lot of miniatures packed inside a re-used priority flat rate box, which is illegal, yet it was shipped through the USPS. :roll:

The dozen large minis (Giants and Dragons) were simply laying inside the box with almost nothing to protect them from bouncing around.
Just some thin paper and very little of that.

"Guys, I am starting to think Tegel Manor might be haunted..."
Stated by me as a PC during a run of Tegel Manor DMed by killjoy at NTRPGCon 2010

Charter Member of the ATM

Avurax
Prolific Collector

Posts: 153
Joined: May 28, 2006
Last Visit: Jul 15, 2021

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:25 pm

JohnGaunt wrote:Am I the only person who does not use USPS Flat-Rate Boxes in this manner? Using them in a manner other than shipping Flat-Rate packages is illegal.

I can't speak to the legal issue but if a non-priority shipment is opened and contains a priority envelope (and I would guess parts of a priority box as well) the recipient will be paying the balance between the original postage and the Priority postage. I have had to pick up a package with postage due in this manner. Seller reimbursed me but was mad at the Post Office for inspecting the mail. :roll:

Badmike
Grandstanding Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 8079
Joined: Jun 23, 2003
Last Visit: Jun 24, 2026
Location: DFW TX

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:40 pm

Enforcement is haphazard to say the least. One time one of my packages was flagged...a postal inspector with too much damn time on his hands....because I had placed a magazine in a priority envelope...inside a priority box. They couldn't charge me more....I had already paid the priority price for the package. I don't think they quite knew what to do...all they did was put a note in it to the recipient saying that using postal supplies for anything but their intended purpose is wrong, blah blah blah. Nothing came of it, and it's the only time I've been flagged for something like that.

BTW they are cracking down on priority boxes being wrapped with brown paper or turned inside out to use for media mail shipments. I have never done this and I'm always amazed when the guy in front of me in line at the post office has a priority box obviously turned inside out and the postal employee just takes it like nothing is wrong.

"THE MORE YOU THINK ABOUT WHY i DONE WHAT i DONE THE MORE i LAUGH" Cougar
"The Acaeum hates fun" Sir Allen
"I had a collecting emergency" Nogrod
Co-founder of the North Texas RPG Con
NTRPGCON

copycat
Sage Collector

Posts: 2736
Joined: May 31, 2007
Last Visit: Jul 09, 2026

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:53 pm

Well, I was not aware such things were illegal -- I considered it "recycling" which was supposed to be a good thing. I like to make use of boxes that people have sent to me, and if they arrive in good shape, I send them back out. Otherwise, I chop them up and use the pieces for various things, like backers or supports in magazine racks. Oh well. Guess I have to re-examine my shipping methods.

Those who can, don't. Those who should not, do.

TheMilford
Prolific Collector

Posts: 721
Joined: Aug 28, 2007
Last Visit: Dec 31, 2021
Location: Brooklyn

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:29 pm

JohnGaunt wrote:Am I the only person who does not use USPS Flat-Rate Boxes in this manner? Using them in a manner other than shipping Flat-Rate packages is illegal.

How so? I use them correctly... but I also use leftover or damaged ones to add to the packing.

Mars
Grandstanding Collector

Posts: 6172
Joined: May 03, 2003
Last Visit: Feb 10, 2026
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:33 pm

deimos3428 wrote:If they are, I have a few choice things to say to my post office.

No, in Canada, I think the only flat rate box option that we have are those Ebay things that you have to buy from Ebay first.

As for US priority boxes, I get them all the time in various forms - sometimes cut up and used as stiffening cardboard in Priority Envelopes, sometimes folded inside out to be used as a box for First Class Mail and sometimes even for their intended purpose.

John, I think you are probably in the minority.

Eryops
Active Collector

Posts: 93
Joined: Apr 26, 2008
Last Visit: Jul 19, 2009
Location: Seattle

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:45 pm

JohnGaunt wrote:Am I the only person who does not use USPS Flat-Rate Boxes in this manner? Using them in a manner other than shipping Flat-Rate packages is illegal.

No. I don't abuse the USPS system. I'm waiting for the day when they start charging for the boxes and envelopes - like they should have been from the start (while compensating with cheaper rates). I've had lots of eBay vendors who clearly abuse this system over and over. No wonder the USPS is so broke...

Eryops
Active Collector

Posts: 93
Joined: Apr 26, 2008
Last Visit: Jul 19, 2009
Location: Seattle

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:48 pm

serleran wrote:Well, I was not aware such things were illegal -- I considered it "recycling" which was supposed to be a good thing. I like to make use of boxes that people have sent to me, and if they arrive in good shape, I send them back out..

If you send them back out as a flat-rate box, that's fine, but if you try and re-use the box for a different shipping method (as Media Mail has been quoted several times already) that's where they will try and catch you on it and force you to pay the flat rate price.

SoulCatcher78
Prolific Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 580
Joined: Mar 17, 2009
Last Visit: Dec 11, 2022
Location: Indiana, USA

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:03 pm

I just use the boxes from work (nice and heavy for electronics store shipments) since we either reuse them for transfers or pitch them. Packing material from either my work or from the spousal units work makes up all the other concerns.

The only flat rate thingie I used from the post office was for a book I had to ship to Spain (which got there in about 8 days which impressed the heck out of me). The PO guy was all serious about making sure I used the right mailer for the rate (which I had already printed and just needed to put on something).

TheMilford
Prolific Collector

Posts: 721
Joined: Aug 28, 2007
Last Visit: Dec 31, 2021
Location: Brooklyn

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:40 pm

deimos3428 wrote:If they are, I have a few choice things to say to my post office.

In fact MOST of there packaging is free. Go to USPS.com and do a little shopping... they should deliver what you need in a few days.

Mars
Grandstanding Collector

Posts: 6172
Joined: May 03, 2003
Last Visit: Feb 10, 2026
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:16 pm

TheMilford wrote:In fact MOST of there packaging is free. Go to USPS.com and do a little shopping... they should deliver what you need in a few days.

If they are shipping to Canada, I'm in too!

TheMilford
Prolific Collector

Posts: 721
Joined: Aug 28, 2007
Last Visit: Dec 31, 2021
Location: Brooklyn

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:26 pm

Mars wrote:
If they are shipping to Canada, I'm in too!

You'll need to check... Prolly US only.

benjoshua
Long-Winded Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 3718
Joined: May 30, 2007
Last Visit: Aug 04, 2026
Location: USA Georgia

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:28 pm

These aren't on eBay, but they are on Dragonsfoot at some competitive prices:

http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewt ... 21&t=35920

Truth is worth finding and life is too short to work for money.

modheaven
Active Collector

Posts: 41
Joined: Apr 03, 2009
Last Visit: Mar 30, 2011
Location: Toronto, Ontario

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 4:49 am

Mars wrote:
No, in Canada, I think the only flat rate box option that we have are those Ebay things that you have to buy from Ebay first.

Just a quick note to those who live in Canada: the Ebay flat rate boxes (unless the size has currently been revised, or more options added) are a waste of money if you're shipping out mods or hardbacks. They're 8.5", and that's no way to treat a mod.

John

modheaven7@gmail.com

modheaven
Active Collector

Posts: 41
Joined: Apr 03, 2009
Last Visit: Mar 30, 2011
Location: Toronto, Ontario

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 5:11 am

Eryops wrote:No wonder the USPS is so broke...

Didn't know that / that sucks.

I live in Canada, and the USPS have been solid *every time*. It would be nice to see the Postal Services on both sides of the border subsidized more, and the prices dropped, or kept at a minimum inflation, to stimulate trade. (I don't know what office of .gov one would write to about this, on both sides of the open border). The less people have to spend on ship,, the more they can spend,, the more that people can spend,, the more trade is stimulated. I'm not an economics expert, so someone let me know if I am off on this.

Never knew that re-using (recycling) Flat Rate USPS boxes was illegal (always a bit too much extra volume for me to turn to those so far : I guess I get to clear some space!).

I re-use a lot of boxes (usually wrapping and re-sealing in brown paper), but haven't used a USPS one yet
(again, a lot of extra volume for something in the 8x11 / 9x12 range, but they seem to make sense in terms of ship costs, although I am pretty sure that they might not always be the most economical way to go).

When I'm re-using, I'm even worried about the amount of packing tape (which doesn't recycle with the paper, as far as I know), but when you send something out, it's gotta be solid, on both the inner and outer layers. Basically, there is a weight : packing tape ratio that you have to keep up with when you're reusing.

Hopefully, the USPS change their legislation so people don't have to worry about re-using, and they get subsidized for any losses that this might incur (as well as for all the good work they do!).

With the cardboard boxes, in a societal sense, if 1000 people trash 1000 cardboard boxes, and they go to the dump, well ... that's just burning money.

John

modheaven7@gmail.com

bbarsh
Long-Winded Collector
Acaeum Donor

Posts: 3865
Joined: Feb 21, 2004
Last Visit: Jul 20, 2023
Location: Milford, Michigan

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 7:25 am

modheaven wrote: It would be nice to see the Postal Services on both sides of the border subsidized more, and the prices dropped, or kept at a minimum inflation, to stimulate trade.

First off, the government does not need any more of my money. Subsidies never work. They produce absolutely nothing. Paying more in taxes to supposedly reduce the postal fees is a pipe dream. Simply adding our tax dollars via the government will never reduce prices - it never has and never will.
Taking the "self" out of self-sustaining is not effective in the least.
I actually think our postal system works well. If have to pay for the service and it works, then it is money well-spent.

And I could've bought these damn modules off the 1$ rack!!!

New modules for your Old School game http://pacesettergames.com/

Everything Pacesetter at http://pacesettergames.blog.com/

Kingofpain89
Long-Winded Collector

Posts: 4756
Joined: Oct 31, 2004
Last Visit: May 02, 2025
Location: Caddo Mills, TX

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:03 am

So....anyone have any interesting items?

You don't like your job, you don't strike. You go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way. - Homer Simpson

Gus Landt
Prolific Collector

Posts: 289
Joined: Feb 20, 2005
Last Visit: May 04, 2026
Location: Green Bay, WI

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:14 am

Kingofpain89 wrote:So....anyone have any interesting items?

Sure, how about 126 Dragon Magazines for $1 each?

** expired/removed eBay auction **

The Acaeum Forums • Collecting General

Page 101 of 111 • 1 2 3 ... 98, 99, 100, 101, 102 ... 109 110 111