ASK THE EXPERT: Elizabeth Lombard on Postal Regulations

[Firecracker]

Does priority mail have to be sent in a priority mail envelope?

[PB-Elizabeth]

Firecracker,

Excellent question!

No, Priority Mail does not have to be mailed in USPS Priority Mail packaging.  However, you need to clearly mark your packages as Priority Mail.  The USPS can even provide you Priority Mail labels to do so!

Keep in mind, sometimes when mailers use their own packaging, especially bigger boxes, they forget that if their pieces are bigger than a cubic foot and going to zones 5 - 8, they may be subject to Dimensional Weight pricing.  So double check the size of your packages before you simply weigh and meter your Priority Mail!

Elizabeth

[swedes1]

is priority mail 1st class?

[PB-Elizabeth]

Hi there!

In a sense, Priority Mail is First-Class Mail that exceeds 13 ounces but (weighs no more than 70#).  Although mailers could send something weighing just an ounce or 2 as Priority Mail if they marked it as such or put the contents in a Priority Mail envelope!

Elizabeth

[swedes1]

thank you much...sometimes here we mail out several items usually flats to the same address so ive been combining them and sending out in priority flat env or box.. huge savings. i just wondered if it got there in the same amount of time...you answered my question thanks again..

[PB-Elizabeth]

You're welcome Mary!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on how you save your company money!

Elizabeth