Hello and welcome back to, The Ecommerce Shipping Podcast. I'm your host, Jason Archambault , owner of Fastpack Packaging. In Ecommerce, shipping is the name of the game. We are here to share with you the latest changes in the Shipping Industry, so that you can stay ahead of the changes, and make the appropriate adjustments , so that these changes do not negatively impact your business!

The USPS® has just released a new line of Flat Rate Boxes, Called Their "Precious Cargo Box". It is being offered for a trail period of approximately 6 months, and started on September 1, 2016. The boxes can be ordered through the USPS® Postal Store. It looks very similar to the current flat rate boxes on the exterior, but the magic is on the inside. These Flat Rate boxes are special, the USPS® Postal Store offers these new boxes that have strategically placed polyethylene inserts inside that protect high value items, such as smartphones, tablets, picture frames and laptop computers.

The boxes currently come in three different sizes;

Inside Box Dimensions are:

Small 7 -3/8" x 4 -1/2" x 1- 3/8"
Medium 11- 3/4" x 11- 1/8" x 2- 5/8"
Large 17" x 13- 5/8" x 3"

These boxes are different than the other flat rate boxes that the USPS® offers. These come at a cost. The actual boxes will cost:

$6.99 per Small Flat Rate Precious Cargo Box
$12.99 per Medium Flat Rate Precious Cargo Box
$15.99 per Large Flat Rate Precious Cargo Box

When shipped via Priority Mail®, these boxes include $50 of Insurance.

Flat Rate postage will still need to be purchased and applied to each box, it is not included in the purchase price of the box.

It sounds like after the initial 6 month trail period, it will then be decided on if this box will be continued or not. If I were a betting man, I just don't see this being a popular box. I think Flat Rate boxes are popular because there is no upfront cost to the shipper. Small Businesses are constantly trying to find more cost efficient ways to ship, keeping shipping and shipping related costs down to a minimum. This box is convenient, easy to order, to store and put together, but more expensive than a Shipping Box, (or even a free Flat Rate Box), Bubble Wrap® and Packing Peanuts. It will be interesting to see if this box survives the trail period.

Precious Cargo Flat Rate Boxes:

https://store.usps.com/store/browse/subcategory.jsp?categoryId=flat-rate-shipping

If you have a shipping or packaging related question, that you just can't find an answer to, please send me an email , or send me a message on twitter. You can send a message to me on twitter to the handle @FASTPACK . Visit Our Website for all of your Shipping Supply needs at http://www.fastpack.net