Suppliers using inside-out USPS boxes...

[parkerspetchins]

To me, it just makes me wonder about the person. Obviously they've justified this... so what else do they justify? Where DO they draw the line? Do they not tell the cashier when they forgot to ring something up? Do they use the parking space for the disabled when they're in a hurry?
For the record, I ALWAYS point out mistakes that cashiers make even when it's not in my favor, I have NEVER parked in a handicapped space and never would, and I NEVER rip the pillow and mattress tags off that say "Do not remove" until I have purchased the mattress or pillow, and am one of the most honest people I know. Just so you aren't wondering about my character. If you think hard about it, I'm sure you can come up with something "not so honest" that you have done in your lifetime - if not, then kudos to you. I turned a box inside out, but I also recycle, re-use, etc., and almost always ship priority because it's only a few cents cheaper sometimes to ship Parcel post.

[Karin]

well i am definately on the opposite side of this debate.. whether it's stealing, costing others money, whatever.. i could care less.. long as my package arrives unharmed, in one piece, and in decent time.. i dont care if the box is outright legal or nonlegal..
i don't see where it costs US more money by someone turning a box inside out.. it saves us on shipping, (we are charged a smaller rate to ship a brown box, verus a priority or flat rate box) it don't cost the post office a dang thing regardless... they earn profit, profit, and more profit on these priority/flat rate box's..
was it just the other year or so? dont remember.. but they had just once again raised stamp and shipping prices.. yet, claimed over a million dollars in profit the same year.. so what the heck? imo, the postal system rips us off daily..
and to try and *judge or speculate* someones character about other things, just because of an inside out box? not a good thing imo.. trying to save customer's a few dollars here and there, does not make a person bad imo..
the box is being used, its all good.. as a filler? no, people lets don't do that.. you can use bubblewrap, newspaper, crumpled up paper, etc.. for that..

[Kiki's Mom]

I agree with Dustys Mom. Who cares?! I want to puke every time I have to buy stamps. There's WAY more important things in the world to worry about then boxes being stolen. It's an easy fix for the post office too. Like someone mentioned, they just need to put some mark of identification on the other side which it sounds like they're starting to do anyways. With gas prices the way they are my anger and frustration isn't directed at people who want to save a couple of bucks by flipping a box inside out. A couple of months ago I got away with some free cat litter because I forgot I had put it under my cart at the grocery store. Should I have driven all the way back and confessed? Sure. Did I? Heck no. So I stole, oh well. I volunteer my time on the weekends to an animal shelter, I give blood, I'm respectful and kind to others. I won't lose any sleep over it.

[Kiki's Mom]

Oh and by the way, the USPS is only required to "break even". They have reported BILLIONS of dollars in profit since 1995 yet continue to raise their prices. Check it out for yourself - do a google search. I'm not saying that this justifies stealing from them. Stealing is stealing. But that act is certainly not costing us money. The USPS has chosen to do that all on their own.

[The Animal Farm]

Actually those boxes DO cost the post office. The USPS is mandated to be a self-funding organization. The board of governors' determine at what it costs to run the post office and the rates are set accordingly. If you want to blame someone for the rates, blame your Congressperson.

It is illegal to ship anything but priority in these boxes, now how it's to be enforced is another can of worms. But if your package should somehow wander from UPS to the USPS [don't ask me how, it's a hypothetical] then the USPS will charge you priority rates. Doesn't matter if you already gave UPS money. Anything in a priority box is charged priority even if you've xxxxed out the USPS part, cut it out etc.

I've just always used the proper box for the proper thing, corrected cashiers when they give me too much money. Sure I've made plenty of mistakes and forgotten things but I've made it right at the first opportunity possible. My best friend always says "There's a right way and there is a wrong way. You can choose to do whatever you want but every decision you make or action you take contributes to a tiny part of who you are."

[Kiki's Mom]

"According to the laws under which it now operates, the U.S. Postal Service is a semi-independent federal agency, mandated to be revenue-neutral. That is, it is supposed to break even, not make a profit." I don't care whose fault it is that they're raising prices but an agency that is supposed to be revenue neutral is making billions of dollars in profit. If they're getting their cardboard boxes stolen it isn't exactly going to break them. Someone said that the people stealing the boxes are responsible for costing us money. No, they're not. That was my only point to stating this.

All in all, nobody is perfect. Stealing boxes doesn't make them terrible people and I'm willing to bet that almost everyone who has received their supplies in a stolen box and is complaining about it is still going to order their supplies from this person. Nobody is perfect. Everyone on this board has done something unethical, immoral or downright wrong in their lifetime. If anyone says they haven't then they are either lying or are in denial that their action is indeed unethical. My opinion is that hypocrisy is way worse than stealing a box.

[HedgeMom]

That's very lame justification. Reminds me of when my kids were teenagers "Well, everyone ELSE is doing it!"

People are not perfect and they do make mistakes. But deliberately using a USPS box turned inside out is intentional. And illegal. And no, I wouldn't buy from anyone who cheats like that.

[Kiki's Mom]

That's very lame justification. Reminds me of when my kids were teenagers "Well, everyone ELSE is doing it!"

I'm sorry, where did I ever state it justified it? In fact, in one of my posts I clearly stated "I'm not saying that this justifies stealing from them. Stealing is stealing." Read all my posts before you put words in my mouth please.

[ChicagoKim]

"There's a right way and there is a wrong way. You can choose to do whatever you want but every decision you make or action you take contributes to a tiny part of who you are."
So true.

Oh, and I just got ANOTHER one in the mail today. To me, there's an arrogance about sending your customers boxes that you pilfered. It's like they're saying, "Look what I'm getting away with!!!" If someone justifies this, will they justify quickly and quietly walking away when they door ding a car in the parking lot? Sorry, but that's what I will continue to think.

If this thread accomplishes nothing else, maybe one or two people will realize the message they are sending to some of us out here when they send merchandise in pilfered boxes. I'm obviously not the only one thinking this.

[Kiki's Mom]

Oh, and I just got ANOTHER one in the mail today

So why don't you send your order back and tell them you are reporting them to their post office. If you don't approve of their means of shipping the product - send it back and demand a refund for your shipping costs. That's more effective than a debate they may never read.