EBay Canada post flat rate box
Summary: musicyouneed asked about the value and usability of old eBay Canada Post flat rate boxes they had purchased years ago. reallynicestamps and ypdc_dennis contributed by explaining these boxes were discontinued around 2011/2012 and could only be used as regular boxes now, requiring special mailing labels that were purchased via eBay. lotzofuniquegoodies added that these boxes likely served as discontinued souvenirs, similar in concept to current prepaid options, but they are no longer functional as intended. dinomitesales mentioned never having seen these boxes used in the post office, indicating their historical rather than practical value. The discussion highlighted the boxes' potential interest for collectors but noted their limited practical use today.
I have a couple of boxes I ordered many years ago from eBay. Are they still good? How does it work? What are they worth?
dinomitesales
·2 months agoI've worked at the post office for a decade and I can safely say I have never seen this box before in my life. If you brought it to a post office and tried to use it as a flat rate box the clerk would just stare at you blankly. Currently this is nothing more than a plain shipping box (and an interesting footnote in eBay and Canada Post's history).
Honestly might hold a bit of value to a collector of eBay or Canada Post history. But probably not a lot lol.
lotzofuniquegoodies
·2 months ago@musicyouneed
When you purchased them many moons ago do you recall if they were very expensive or just a couple of bucks? It notes on the box (hard to read) to purchase a prepaid label. For as long as I can remember if the label was included on the outside of the box or inside in a pouch. It should have been included at time of purchase. To @ypdc_dennis comment they look more like a souvenir of a product discontinued years ago. As for the newer ones they don't have an expiry. Similar to using "P" stamps. I still have a few hanging around from 2 price increases ago.
A google search brings up the following.
Yes, Canada Post has offered prepaid expedited labels that could be purchased at the counter. These labels are available for Priority, Xpresspost, and Expedited Parcel services, but they are typically available only to customers with a Standing Offer Agreement. Prepaid labels must be ordered in advance and cannot be used on oversized or unpackaged items.
Returns:
Return policy
Prepaid products should be used within 3 years of purchase. Canada Post cannot guarantee delivery for prepaid products older than 3 years.
I've never had an older one rejected...knock on wood.
Sadly old toasted discussions still have their merits for reference purposes.
ypdc_dennis
·2 months ago · EditedThose old eBay flat rate boxes were not sold with prepaid shipping. You had to buy the label at time of shipping through eBay.
I had 3 of the boxes (I believe ebay had special introductory offer, something like 3 for $2 shipped). I felt someone had intentionally designed the box so it would be bad fit for most things that someone might be selling. My score: one was actually used as intended, one was put to use as an ordinary shipping box and one was cut up for packaging use.
In the final year before they were discontinued, I remember that you could buy them at Staples.
ypdc_dennis
·2 months ago · EditedThey got discontinued around 2011/2012.
They can only be used as boxes these days. They required special shipping labels that needed to be purchased via eBay.
Google search still has links to posts talking about this in the old eBay forums (the actual posts don't exist anymore because the old stuff got deleted with the recent revamp).
john_koenig99
·2 months agoAnd they are still being sold, but pretty much useless except to be used as boxes, as you indicated🤔 :
LOT of 30 Canada Post Flat Rate Shipping Boxes Small, Medium, and Large | eBay
dinomitesales
·2 months agoThe ones you link to are actual (current) Canada Post flat rate boxes, not the ones shown in OPs post.
john_koenig99
·2 months agoThanks for the clarification.
reallynicestamps
·2 months agoDid you buy them or were they freebies?
Do the sizes match those of Canada Post current boxes?
flipistics
·2 months agoYou used to be able to buy them. I think the ones I have don't specify a 5kg limit either. I have doubts the tracking numbers would work anymore, but I don't actually know.
flipistics
·2 months agoThat's a good question. I have a few of them too, so I'm curious what you find out.