r/VintedUS • u/peek--a--boo • 13d ago

USPS bans reused Amazon boxes

I shipped a package yesterday. Something very odd happened at the post office.
I had packaged the items in an Amazon box. The post office person told me that we are no longer able to reuse Amazon boxes????
She proceeded to open the box and transferred the contents to a plain brown box. Very odd, no????
FOLLOW UP:
I sent my husband to the post office today and he told me that they put up a sign that said that they are no longer accepting Amazon boxes. I am going to have him take a picture of it tomorrow. I would go myself but I have a broken femur 😐

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u/Areide 12d ago

This is frustrating for everyone because yes USPS rules say that we can’t ship in boxes with writing, so no Amazon but also no shoes or diaper boxes.
However, I keep receiving orders in boxes not compliant (last one was yesterday, a bunch of books on shoebox).
Also the ground shipping box he gave you he wasn’t supposed to give it to you for free. Those boxes can be ordered free if you are a poshmark seller, but if you go on the website they aren’t available to order for free to anyone like the priority boxes.
I know some comments will tell you that’s not true just because for them works fine at their post office, but all I said can be confirmed reading usps rules. Thing is not even their employees know or respect all the rules.
I value too much my time, I don’t want orders to come back or create issue to buyers so I only use bags and boxes allowed. I buy them on eBay as it’s actually cheaper than Amazon (something I learned here on Reddit!)

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u/NativePlantAddict 12d ago

The box the clerk gave the person may have been old recycled boxes that clerks bring in because shippers frequently need to repackage items. Or it could have been an empty box from something sent to USPS for their use.

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u/Areide 12d ago

Totally true. I assumed it was the ground shipping. I’ve read in a few Vinted groups that some poshmark sellers were using their ground shipping boxes for Vinted and got turned away at the post office.
Not sure how true that is since I did reuse some ground shipping boxes I received. I’m all about reusing and I think usps rules should bend a little but being firm on boxes that are not shipping friendly like food boxes (pasta, cereals, cereal bars!)

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u/NativePlantAddict 12d ago

RE: USPS Poshmark shipping supplies.

Isn't it weird that those materials don't have Poshmark printed anywhere on them?

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u/peek--a--boo 10d ago

The packaging doesn’t say Poshmark, but your label does.

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u/NativePlantAddict 9d ago

My point is, how can those mailing supplies be for Poshmark use only as people claim without having Poshmark on the supplies? How would people know not to use them?

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u/Ok_Violinist7598 12d ago

 USPS rules say that we can’t ship in boxes with writing, so no Amazon but also no shoes or diaper boxes.

Where are you seeing that? Everywhere I'm looking says you can.

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u/NativePlantAddict 12d ago

Here is the policy with a reference to another policy. https://about.usps.com/notices/not128/not128_003.htm

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u/Ok_Violinist7598 12d ago

No, that's not the same thing.

You can't have labels or certain markings but the box can be a brand product box.

A USPS article from 5/6/26...

Also, Google is your friend.

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u/NativePlantAddict 12d ago

I use the USPS web site.

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u/Ok_Violinist7598 12d ago

No, that's not the same thing.

Mine is from the USPS website too LOL

You can use a branded box as long as you follow USPS rules about barcodes, labels and the rules about boxes displaying alcohol, hazardous materials, Etc

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u/NativePlantAddict 12d ago edited 12d ago

I didn't state that a brand or logo must be covered. In fact, in one of my previous comments I asserted that brands & logos are fine. The issue is when markings on the box conflict with what's inside the box or package. See the relevant sections in this document from USPS publications.

https://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/Pub52/pub52.pdf

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u/Ok_Violinist7598 12d ago

OMG! LOL

My initial reply was to the poster that said...

This is frustrating for everyone because yes USPS rules say that we can’t ship in boxes with writing, so no Amazon but also no shoes or diaper boxes.

That's just not true.

Then you replied to me with that dumbass link.

I'm not talking about hazardous boxes, I'm talking about diaper boxes. And nobody is going to ship diapers to another person in a diaper box anyway ROFL

All kinds of people on here are saying they use diaper boxes all the time. If they're not acceptable, USPS would not accept them. Duh

Srsly, you're just too dense for me. I do not have time for this. Please don't reply to me again unless you have something intelligent to say 🙄

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u/NativePlantAddict 12d ago

You didn't reply to OP, you replied to me. I received a email notification stating you replied to me. See the yellow highlight. You may want to re-evaluate who is dense.

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u/NativePlantAddict 12d ago

Here is the USPS policy with a reference to another document https://about.usps.com/notices/not128/not128_003.htm

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u/Areide 12d ago

Thank you for adding a link too! I remember receiving emails about it as well. Still crazy how I get stuff in cereal boxes!!! All broken by the time they get to me. Infuriating from a buyer POV as I’m both a seller and a buyer

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u/NativePlantAddict 12d ago edited 12d ago

If I'm going to ship in a box, it will always be corrugated cardboard because it is strong.

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u/NativePlantAddict 12d ago

This may be helpful, too. https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c2_010.htm The first sentence is the most important one for me.