Do you ship packages through the USPS (United States Postal Service)? Do you have all of the supplies you need to do this? Did you know you could get free packing supplies, which includes various size boxes, labels, and numerous forms from the post office delivered right to your door? If you do ship packages with the USPS and do not have all of the shipping supplies on hand, you can easily get free packing supplies from the post office online. The following steps will show you how easy it really is to accomplish this.
Instructions
1. Go to the United States Postal Service webpage (see Resources for direct link).
2. Open the supplies page. Click on the “Supplies” link that you will find under “Shipping Tools”. This will open a website listing all of the various supplies available from the United States Postal Service. There are various types of shipping supplies to choose from. You will be able to find any thing that you would need to ship most packages (first-class) through the USPS, but every item is not free. You may decide to purchase some of the items, but there are plenty of shipping supplies available from the post office for free.
3. Pick the right box for your items. It will depend on whether you want to ship you packages Priority or Express and also if it is going to be domestic or international, as to which link you choose. (This example will be using Priority, as this is the most frequently used service for shipping.) You have the option to select either “Flat Rate” boxes or weight based ones. Select either the “Flat Rate” or “Priority Mail” link. The Flat Rate link offers four different size boxes and one envelope to choose from. The other has an abundant supply of various shaped and all sizes of boxes and envelopes to choose from. There are several included that are not free, but there is an ample choice of free ones for all of your packing needs. Once you have decided on which box (or boxes) you need, choose the “format” from the drop down box and/or click on the yellow “Order” button. The box (or item) selected will be put in your “Shopping cart”. You can use your “Back” button to select more than one box (or envelope). Continue to do this until you have selected all packing supplies needed.
4. Find any labels, various forms and stickers for your packages. These items are found under the “Priority Mail” link and the process is the same to add them to your cart.
5. Finish up your order. After you have filled your cart with all of the free packing supplies you want, click on the “Checkout” button. If you have an online account with the USPS, you can sign in to complete the order or you will have to sign up for one. Select the “I Agree” button on the Terms of Agreement page, verify your address (or make changes, if needed) and then click on the “Continue” button. Double check the information again and then click on the “Submit My Order” button, which will give you an invoice and order number.
