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by bombcar 1525 days ago
The flat rate envelope used to be a bit cheaper than that small box - and the small box fits inside the envelope with a bit of work - no tape!
1 comments

The USPS 1096L box (<https://store.usps.com/store/product/shipping-supplies/prior...>) fits perfectly inside the USPS padded flat rate envelope (<https://store.usps.com/store/product/shipping-supplies/prior...>). Great for giving an item slightly more protection.
Are those actually free? They recoup the cost when you post it?
Yes, USPS offers a range of free Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express boxes and envelopes. You only pay postage when using them; sometimes flat rate (as in the box being discussed here), and other times by some combination of distance and dimensions/weight.

Flat rate is particularly interesting because the single rate applies, as implied, regardless of weight or distance. I sell a product that is 3 lb and fits into the aforementioned padded flat rate envelope. This means that I can ship it to the farthest reaches of Alaska or Guam for the same $8.45 (USPS commercial rate) as to any other US address.

Cool, thankyou for the insight.