# Can USPS supplies be used differently than the intended use ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 15, 2018, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888 "2018-02-15T19:31:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/1 "2018-02-15T19:31:38Z")
Now and then, I buy a few items from eBay. Many times I find large USPS envelopes or mailers used as packing material inside the shipped box that I receive. I am guessing the USPS (and the taxpayer by extension) loses money due to this practice. Is this so ? Is there any eBay or USPS program that deals with stopping this practice ? ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/2 "2018-02-15T21:09:41Z")
Do you have reason to believe that the USPS materials were stolen? If not, I’m having trouble seeing how this would cause any loss for the USPS. I mean, if someone bought a prepaid envelope and then used it for something other than mailing a letter, surely this causes USPS to _save_ money, since they no longer need to do any labour connected with delivery. ---
**Author:** ![StrTrkr777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@StrTrkr777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrTrkr777)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/3 "2018-02-15T21:27:16Z")
Or it is just an old letter that the seller received something in and they are in effect recycling the item by using it as packing material. Don’t know about your post office, but about the only thing I have ever gotten there for free was tape to tape the box closed. If I want a box or other item, I have to pay for it. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/4 "2018-02-15T21:28:47Z")
The OP didn’t say prepaid. The USPS “sells” [free envelopes.](https://store.usps.com/store/results/shipping-supplies-envelopes/_/N-1r6djno) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/5 "2018-02-15T21:30:37Z")
The OP is talking about the flat rate Priority boxes and Priority envelopes. You can go to the Post Office and grab as many as you want, for free. Personally I have about 10 such containers sitting in a closet in my house, not being used for shipping at the moment. I don’t see how this is different than someone using them for non-USPS-Priority shipping purposes, or even just for storing ones’ flipflops in the closet for the winter. I’m guessing the availability of the packaging material for free is built in to the cost of shipping for those boxes and envelopes. And the waste of them as well. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/6 "2018-02-15T21:35:48Z")
You don’t even have to go into the post office–you can [request them on-line](https://store.usps.com/store/results/free-shipping-supplies/shipping-supplies/_/N-alnx4jZ7d0v8v?_requestid=147837) and they will be delivered to you. You aren’t supposed to use them for anything else, but I think that staffing an army of box-abuse police to track their usage would cost much, much more than misused boxes. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/7 "2018-02-15T21:44:09Z")
kids steal the free labels to practice their graffiti on, then apply the labels to signs or wherever. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/8 "2018-02-15T21:45:46Z")
It is a common misconception that the USPS is supported by taxpayer dollars. This is incorrect. They operate entirely off of earned revenue. There is a trade-off that they don’t have to pay taxes, but in return they have to support delivery to every address in the USA, and do Congressional mailing for free. In the end, they’d be far better off as a normal commercial delivery company, but that would leave many Americans high and dry. Commercial establishments profit off of this agreement to send advertisements to all corners of the country. As for the OP, I know [FedEx had a real problem with this for a while.](https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ghetto-style-fedex-furniture-makes-fedex-furious-3592) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2018, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/9 "2018-02-15T22:35:53Z")
Fedex used to give away clear plastic self-adhesive packing list envelopes. They were just the right size that you could print out a Fedex airbill, fold it in half, stuff it in one of those envelopes and stick the envelope on the side of the package. But they were also useful if I was sending something via the USPS or UPS. You could even uncover the sticky back and press one of them on your clothes to remove lint. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/10 "2018-02-16T00:27:01Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > It is a common misconception that the USPS is supported by taxpayer dollars. This is incorrect. They operate entirely off of earned revenue. > > There is a trade-off that they don’t have to pay taxes, but in return they have to support delivery to every address in the USA, and do Congressional mailing for free. In the end, they’d be far better off as a normal commercial delivery company, but that would leave many Americans high and dry. Commercial establishments profit off of this agreement to send advertisements to all corners of the country. Both FedEx and UPS employ the USPS for so-called “last mile” delivery, basically admitting that the much-maligned Postal Service is _better_ at the job than they are. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/11 "2018-02-16T00:33:21Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > It is a common misconception that the USPS is supported by taxpayer dollars. This is incorrect. Cite please ? This report suggests otherwise [U.S. Post Office gets an $18 billion gift from taxpayers every year | Fortune](http://fortune.com/2015/03/27/us-postal-service/) ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/12 "2018-02-16T01:23:43Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > It is a common misconception that the USPS is supported by taxpayer dollars. This is incorrect. They operate entirely off of earned revenue. They’re also subsidized by Congress with a legal monopoly on the delivery of all letters in the USA, though I’m sure that’s not the cash cow it used to be. > [@TruCelt](#): > > There is a trade-off that they don’t have to pay taxes, but in return they have to support delivery to every address in the USA, and do Congressional mailing for free. They don’t support delivery to every address in the USA. There’s a minimum population level for a post office to offer delivery. If your area is too sparsely populated, you don’t get mail at home. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/13 "2018-02-16T01:28:21Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Both FedEx and UPS employ the USPS for so-called “last mile” delivery, basically admitting that the much-maligned Postal Service is _better_ at the job than they are. Or perhaps that there is not enough profit in last-mile delivery to support competition. I think the mandate is very important for a country as vast as ours. > [@am77494](#): > > Cite please ? > > This report suggests otherwise [U.S. Post Office gets an $18 billion gift from taxpayers every year | Fortune](http://fortune.com/2015/03/27/us-postal-service/) Your cite says exactly what I said, if you read past the headline. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/14 "2018-02-16T01:29:44Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > . . . > They don’t support delivery to every address in the USA. There’s a minimum population level for a post office to offer delivery. If your area is too sparsely populated, you don’t get mail at home. You may get an assigned mailbox a mile down the road, but you will have some method of mail delivery. Fun fact: [They still deliver by mule in some places.](http://insider.si.edu/2016/08/grand-canyon-u-s-postal-service-still-delivers-mail-mule/) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/15 "2018-02-16T01:30:47Z")
They also have to operate under other constraints Congress has slapped on them, that no private company would ever have to deal with, such as pre-paying all pensions (including military pensions, for any of their personnel with military service). ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/16 "2018-02-16T01:32:03Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > You may get an assigned mailbox a mile down the road, but you will have some method of mail delivery. No, there are areas that simply do not have delivery. If you live there, you get a voucher for a free PO box in the nearest town. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/17 "2018-02-16T01:47:25Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Both FedEx and UPS employ the USPS for so-called “last mile” delivery, basically admitting that the much-maligned Postal Service is _better_ at the job than they are. It doesn’t need to be better, just cheaper, for it to be worth their while. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/18 "2018-02-16T02:16:28Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Your cite says exactly what I said, if you read past the headline. I don’t see that. Which paragraph should I read ? Have any better cites ? ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/19 "2018-02-16T13:34:03Z")
> [@am77494](#): > > I don’t see that. Which paragraph should I read ? Have any better cites ? Everything from “He estimates that, all told, the subsidies and legal monopolies that Congress bestows upon the post office is worth $18 billion annually. These include:” on. Note how they don’t include any direct transfer of money? ---
**Author:** ![Lips\_Obsession](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bbce88/32.png) [@Lips\_Obsession](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lips_Obsession)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888/20 "2018-02-16T16:30:10Z")
Back in the day when Priority mail was begun, the priority mail boxes you get for free didn’t have any printing on the insides. A lot of shippers would turn them inside-out and use them to ship via UPS, Fedex, or other methods. This is one reason why the free priority boxes you get now have printing on both sides - to prevent this. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-usps-supplies-be-used-differently-than-the-intended-use/808888.md?page=2)