Shipping Rates - This Makes No Sense

I wonder when the USPS last pulled a media package for inspection of contents compliance.

Would folks accept the excuse from a seller that the USPS media mail had been returned to them as a valid reason for not getting your parcel as expected? It is a risk.

But I do know of a guy who sent a big, rattling motorcycle part under Media Mail and it went through.
Don

I sent a truck size socket set that weighed about 65 pounds once by media mail. It was a big time clanger and arrived in Texas hanging out of what was left of the carton. No problem!

I'd recommend two African swallows simply gripping the package by the husk.

(Folks will either get this, or won't.) :-)

To the original question ... Reduced-rate flat-rate boxes do make business sense. Consider the logistics of uniform size/cost for reduced mailer time, reduced p.o. clerk time, increased machinability, standard stacking and "cube" packing for transport. It does cost less to handle 1000 uniform items than a pile of 1000 odd shaped boxes. The more uniform the product, the more its handling can be automated. I won't debate how much price difference is proper.

And I always thought that weight was the primary factor in costing packages for transport.

Volume (and fitting together) gained increased priority once every package started going into a plane.
Don

For-profit carriers determine the volumetric weight and the actual weight and use the larger number. The USPS model does not do so with their flat rate Priority Mail boxes if I am not mistaken?

There is also the option of regional flat rate boxes as ell. They are usually a better price then regular flat rate by 10 or 15% if I remember correctly.

I have tried the UPS Flat Rate product, it's called "Simple Rate".
It has the advantage of letting you utilize your own packaging in any rectangular shape the cost is based on cubic volume.

I bought some 12"X12"X12" boxes that folded to 10" or 8" heights. The 12"X12"X12" box is the maximum volume allowed in the flat rate program. UPS advertised rates of $20 for the large package buy every time I used it the cost was $30 and my customers complained about shipping times.

In conclusion if I have to ship 3 Scott Internationals the UPS product is useful but for 1 or 2 albums USPS Priority is better. I can fit 2 albums into the Large "Game Console Box" and ship for $20.