Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes feature one low flat rate, so price is determined by the box or envelope you choose and not by the weight or distance the package is traveling.  Flat Rate Envelopes can help save you a lot of money.

Not sure if your package will pass as a Priority Mail Flat Rate® Envelope?  Here are a few guidelines to help you decide:

1. If it fits, it ships.If you are able to easily close the prefabricated folds of your Flat Rate Envelope, you should be good.  However, if using tape or an insert is the only way to get your Flat Rate Envelope to close, then you will be required to use a different mail class.

2. Use tape to reinforce, not close.You can use tape to reinforce the seams of the Flat Rate Envelope, but the amount of tape being used should not encase the envelope!    

3. Flat refers to price, not shape.With Flat Rate Envelopes, bulges and thickness may not matter. Flat Rate Envelopes are best suited for documents, but if you choose to send another type of item (up to 70 pounds), it should not reconstruct or expand the envelope in any way. As long as the envelope closes within the normal folds, bulges will not matter. There is no maximum thickness for Flat Rate Envelopes.

Still not sure what a reconstructed Flat Rate Envelope looks like?  Take a look at the image below:

What happens if you use a reconstructed Flat Rate Envelope?

If you use a reconstructed envelope, know that the USPS may charge you according to weight and zone –in other words, Flat Rate pricing won’t apply. You may also have to repackage the item if it runs the risk of damage during transit.

Note: You can order Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes from the Stamps.com Store.

What happens if the USPS rep denies your Flat Rate Envelope?

If your package meets all the guidelines above, but a USPS rep still denies it, you may point them to the DMM regulation around Flat Rate Envelopes which can be found here:  http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm100/flat-rate-reference.htm.

The "Scotty Stuffer" box by BubbleFast fits inside a Flat Rate Padded Envelope providing extra protection for your product

Priority Mail Flat Rate® Padded Envelopes can hold up to 70 pounds, but they don’t always offer enough protection for fragile products. In response, BubbleFast — a family run business based in Gurnee, IL that sells shipping supplies targeted to the e-commerce community – has introduced a new product that lets you ship with Flat Rate Padded Envelopes as well as protect your products.

Scotty Stuffer — A protective shipping box that fits in Flat Rate Padded Envelopes
Company owners Mark and Robin Le Vine created the Scotty Stuffer™, a unique box designed to fit directly inside a Priority Mail Flat Rate Padded Envelope. The creation of the Scotty Stuffer resulted from a collaboration of many different sellers in the eBay community.

Grannie Annie Timbreza, eBay seller of Stuff-From-Hawaii, was looking for a method to lower shipping costs for the dashboard Hula dolls she sells across the U.S. She had been using regular boxes to ship her items, but wanted to look at other options to lower costs.  She tested using Priority Mail Flat Rate Padded Envelopes, but the envelopes led to product damages. Her friend and fellow eBay seller, Scott Henshaw of Nanette’s Store, came up with the idea of a “box inside an envelope” — and the rest is history.

Save with Priority Mail Flat Rate Padded Envelopes
By shipping small products inside a Priority Mail Flat Rate Padded Envelope, you can save a significant amount of money. Here’s an example:

Traveler Coffee Cup – 1.0 lb. to Los Angeles to Florida – Zone 8
— $5.10 for Priority Mail Flat Rate Padded Envelope
— $6.20 for regular Priority Mail
$1.10 savings per shipment!

The Scotty Stuffer box complies with all USPS rules and regulations because the box design allows the padded envelope to seal with the regular adhesive. Remember, “If it fits, it ships!” The benefit of the Scotty Stuffer box is it adds extra protection inside the padded envelope. If your Flat Rate shipments need more protection, buy your Scotty Stuffer boxes today!

Scotty Stuffer Video
Watch the video below and learn how the Scotty Stuffer box fits into a Priority Mail Flat Rate Padded Envelope.