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January 31, 2005 1:12 PM Subscribe
All this talk about free boxes is bringing back some memories (warning: self link, stupid story)
posted by aubilenon at 1:20 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by aubilenon at 1:20 PM on January 31, 2005
When you checkout it gives you a scary warning about defrauding the post office and using these boxes for non post office things..
Which sucks because I could really use 25 boxes.
posted by Lord_Pall at 1:22 PM on January 31, 2005
Which sucks because I could really use 25 boxes.
posted by Lord_Pall at 1:22 PM on January 31, 2005
I wonder if they deliver them in another box?
That would be the metabox.
posted by carter at 1:26 PM on January 31, 2005
That would be the metabox.
posted by carter at 1:26 PM on January 31, 2005
I couldn't resist, I just ordered 25 boxes for $0. I wonder if this will actually work, or if they are going to send an "oops, we messed up" type message.
posted by sotonohito at 1:26 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by sotonohito at 1:26 PM on January 31, 2005
Damnit. "Orders for shipping supplies to addresses outside the United States cannot be placed online."
I guess Kim Jong Il will have to do without the 100000 boxes I wanted to send him.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 1:27 PM on January 31, 2005
I guess Kim Jong Il will have to do without the 100000 boxes I wanted to send him.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 1:27 PM on January 31, 2005
I'm going to mail a box to every mefi member
posted by Hands of Manos at 1:27 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by Hands of Manos at 1:27 PM on January 31, 2005
Astounding. I can't take a moral argument seriously from any of you who jumped at the opportunity to take advantage of an honest mistake. I don't want to hear ever again about greedy corporations or crooked politicians. You people just showed that you're willing to turn a blind eye when it is to your benefit. How does that make you any different from those you rail against?
posted by horsewithnoname at 1:28 PM on January 31, 2005 [1 favorite]
posted by horsewithnoname at 1:28 PM on January 31, 2005 [1 favorite]
This would be a good method of political protest in the US though. "Karl Rove Crushed By Boxes"
posted by Pretty_Generic at 1:29 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by Pretty_Generic at 1:29 PM on January 31, 2005
How does that make you any different from those you rail against?
We have boxes.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 1:29 PM on January 31, 2005 [4 favorites]
We have boxes.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 1:29 PM on January 31, 2005 [4 favorites]
Put "shipping" as a term in the store search and you'll find more interesting sizes.
posted by u.n. owen at 1:32 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by u.n. owen at 1:32 PM on January 31, 2005
Um... priority envelopes are free too.
posted by thomcatspike at 1:32 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by thomcatspike at 1:32 PM on January 31, 2005
horsewithnoname, I wouldn't mind an exclusion from your categorical disgust.
This is A. not new. B. not the best of the web by any stretch. C. Stupid, do you really think the boxes are free or is the USPS subsidized by yours and my tax dollars?
Yeah. Good thinking.
What do we need trees for anyway?
posted by fenriq at 1:33 PM on January 31, 2005
This is A. not new. B. not the best of the web by any stretch. C. Stupid, do you really think the boxes are free or is the USPS subsidized by yours and my tax dollars?
Yeah. Good thinking.
What do we need trees for anyway?
posted by fenriq at 1:33 PM on January 31, 2005
This is not a mistake, they have been giving away priority shipping materials for-freaking-ever.
posted by u.n. owen at 1:33 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by u.n. owen at 1:33 PM on January 31, 2005
Back in 1998 or so, there was a scam you could pull against an online music retailer where, with coupons and cookie deletion, you could get anything under $10 for free.
For the most part, I sent many, many, many free singles to random people from the phone book.
I'm a better human being now, though.
posted by Sticherbeast at 1:33 PM on January 31, 2005
For the most part, I sent many, many, many free singles to random people from the phone book.
I'm a better human being now, though.
posted by Sticherbeast at 1:33 PM on January 31, 2005
You can go down to the local post office and take their whole stack of boxes too. But you don't.
posted by smackfu at 1:34 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by smackfu at 1:34 PM on January 31, 2005
I hear you can get free napkins and straws at the mall food court. Pass it on.
posted by uncleozzy at 1:39 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by uncleozzy at 1:39 PM on January 31, 2005
"FREE QUONSAR!"
Wait, on the red flag on that site there's a capital Q. Now I'm all confused.
posted by davy at 1:40 PM on January 31, 2005
Wait, on the red flag on that site there's a capital Q. Now I'm all confused.
posted by davy at 1:40 PM on January 31, 2005
horsewithnoname, I wouldn't mind an exclusion from your categorical disgust.
You people. Classic Metafilter moments, #1 on most people's lists (but not mine - still in the top five tho).
posted by furiousthought at 1:42 PM on January 31, 2005
You people. Classic Metafilter moments, #1 on most people's lists (but not mine - still in the top five tho).
posted by furiousthought at 1:42 PM on January 31, 2005
You laugh, uncle, but I know a person with two drawers full of ketchup packets. "They're free!"
posted by dougunderscorenelso at 1:46 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by dougunderscorenelso at 1:46 PM on January 31, 2005
?
Pepsi Box
Blue Box
Pepox
Blux
Disappointing either way...
posted by fluffycreature at 1:46 PM on January 31, 2005
Pepsi Box
Blue Box
Pepox
Blux
Disappointing either way...
posted by fluffycreature at 1:46 PM on January 31, 2005
furiousthought: what's your #1?
posted by Pretty_Generic at 1:48 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by Pretty_Generic at 1:48 PM on January 31, 2005
This is not a mistake, they have been giving away priority shipping materials for-freaking-ever.
Exactly. Hasn't anyone here sold stuff on eBay or similar sites?
And yes, the boxes come in a box.
posted by MiHail at 1:58 PM on January 31, 2005
Exactly. Hasn't anyone here sold stuff on eBay or similar sites?
And yes, the boxes come in a box.
posted by MiHail at 1:58 PM on January 31, 2005
Seriously, if you open a free account online/by phone at any of these types of places (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc...) you can get this stuff delivered to your house for free, too. In bulk...OMG I know, isn't this world we live in amazingly coal??! Also, did you know you can go to barnes & noble and read the books for FREE?!...but keep it a secret, okay guys we don't want to tell everyone, right??
posted by naxosaxur at 1:59 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by naxosaxur at 1:59 PM on January 31, 2005
I got free WiFi via the Helping Hands Agency in Page, AZ once.
Actually, it was twice...
posted by i_cola at 2:02 PM on January 31, 2005
Actually, it was twice...
posted by i_cola at 2:02 PM on January 31, 2005
Hey! I thought I was the only one who knew you could read for free at B&N...but did you know that you can do it at Border's, too???!!???
posted by MiHail at 2:04 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by MiHail at 2:04 PM on January 31, 2005
OMG I know, isn't this world we live in amazingly coal??!
Down with fossil fuels.
posted by me3dia at 2:05 PM on January 31, 2005
Down with fossil fuels.
posted by me3dia at 2:05 PM on January 31, 2005
This has definately been going on for a long, long time. They do it so they can make a profit. Priority mail is expensive.
Der.
posted by craven_morhead at 2:08 PM on January 31, 2005
Der.
posted by craven_morhead at 2:08 PM on January 31, 2005
Boxes. Free boxes, lots of them. Need diabolical plot.
posted by Shane at 2:13 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by Shane at 2:13 PM on January 31, 2005
Now I have to clean my screen of soda. Well done, horsewithnoname and Pretty_Generic. An excellent reminder to me of my lurking days.
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 2:14 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 2:14 PM on January 31, 2005
*drops the needle on the cat and the cobra*
... "WE'VE GOT BOXES!"
posted by koeselitz at 2:16 PM on January 31, 2005
... "WE'VE GOT BOXES!"
posted by koeselitz at 2:16 PM on January 31, 2005
. . . at least it's made for a semi-entertaining thread. Now, if you'll pardon me, I'm going to go mail a box. I got the box free. From the post office.
posted by ThePrawn at 2:16 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by ThePrawn at 2:16 PM on January 31, 2005
I plan on turning my 25000 boxes into makeshift homes for the homeless.... I'm such a thoughtful young man
posted by herting at 2:23 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by herting at 2:23 PM on January 31, 2005
You laugh, uncle, but I know a person with two drawers full of ketchup packets. "They're free!"
When I worked at a sandwich shop years ago, we would occasionally get cleaned out of napkins by people (or perhaps just the same cheap person over and over). Full dispensers on tables - 10 customers or so eat in at the tables - several dispensers empty.
posted by Bort at 2:25 PM on January 31, 2005
When I worked at a sandwich shop years ago, we would occasionally get cleaned out of napkins by people (or perhaps just the same cheap person over and over). Full dispensers on tables - 10 customers or so eat in at the tables - several dispensers empty.
posted by Bort at 2:25 PM on January 31, 2005
I think we've already paid for these boxes with our tax dollars.
posted by MotherTucker at 2:29 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by MotherTucker at 2:29 PM on January 31, 2005
All your box, are belong to us
posted by Hands of Manos at 2:31 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by Hands of Manos at 2:31 PM on January 31, 2005
i eat boxes
posted by greasy_skillet at 2:35 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by greasy_skillet at 2:35 PM on January 31, 2005
Hey! I thought I was the only one who knew you could read for free at B&N...but did you know that you can do it at Border's, too???!!???
That's nothing. Not only can you read for free at your local library, but if you go to the desk and sign up for a special card (just like signing up for a preferred shopper card!) you can also take books home with you! For free! Lots of them! And when you're done you can bring them back and get more!
posted by SisterHavana at 2:38 PM on January 31, 2005
That's nothing. Not only can you read for free at your local library, but if you go to the desk and sign up for a special card (just like signing up for a preferred shopper card!) you can also take books home with you! For free! Lots of them! And when you're done you can bring them back and get more!
posted by SisterHavana at 2:38 PM on January 31, 2005
USPS isn't exactly subsidized anymore. It's the only self-sustaining quasi-gov't agency actually.
posted by muddylemon at 2:39 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by muddylemon at 2:39 PM on January 31, 2005
What's the most they allow? (seemed find with 800)
posted by null terminated at 2:41 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by null terminated at 2:41 PM on January 31, 2005
C. Stupid, do you really think the boxes are free or is the USPS subsidized by yours and my tax dollars?
The Treasury Department use to handle their payroll, fyi.
posted by thomcatspike at 2:41 PM on January 31, 2005
The Treasury Department use to handle their payroll, fyi.
posted by thomcatspike at 2:41 PM on January 31, 2005
you can also take books home with you!
We don't have no stinkin' liberries here in Texsux.
Identical strip malls on every corner, check. Libraries, not so much. Though San Antonio does boast one of the uglier libraries going. It's like a giant cement vault and completely user-unfriendly.
posted by MiHail at 2:51 PM on January 31, 2005
We don't have no stinkin' liberries here in Texsux.
Identical strip malls on every corner, check. Libraries, not so much. Though San Antonio does boast one of the uglier libraries going. It's like a giant cement vault and completely user-unfriendly.
posted by MiHail at 2:51 PM on January 31, 2005
Thinking outside the box... you need not even leave your Aeron chair. Free reading is available at Bartleby.com, Litrix Reading Room, Celebration of Women Writers etc.
posted by Cranberry at 2:55 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by Cranberry at 2:55 PM on January 31, 2005
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky-tacky,
Little boxes, little boxes,
Little boxes, all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same.
(Written by Malvina Reynolds, popularized by Pete Seeger, enjoyed since 1963 by contemptuous coastal lib'rul elitists who ironically grew up in post-war suburbs similar to the one depicted in the song.)
posted by orthogonality at 3:15 PM on January 31, 2005
Little boxes made of ticky-tacky,
Little boxes, little boxes,
Little boxes, all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same.
(Written by Malvina Reynolds, popularized by Pete Seeger, enjoyed since 1963 by contemptuous coastal lib'rul elitists who ironically grew up in post-war suburbs similar to the one depicted in the song.)
posted by orthogonality at 3:15 PM on January 31, 2005
i_cola, 12512? You want me to read back to 12512 to catch that?
Yikes! I spend too much time on MeFi already as it is. My boss is wondering why they pay me.
By the way, I hear there's free writing on something called the internets. But remember that you get what you pay for.
posted by fenriq at 3:27 PM on January 31, 2005
Yikes! I spend too much time on MeFi already as it is. My boss is wondering why they pay me.
By the way, I hear there's free writing on something called the internets. But remember that you get what you pay for.
posted by fenriq at 3:27 PM on January 31, 2005
Dumb looks are still free.
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:29 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:29 PM on January 31, 2005
Back in 1998 or so, there was a scam you could pull against an online music retailer where, with coupons and cookie deletion, you could get anything under $10 for free.
For the most part, I sent many, many, many free singles to random people from the phone book.
I'm a better human being now, though.
That same music retailer would allow you to use that $10 off anything coupon to buy... $10 gift certificates. Those $10 gift certificates could be 'stacked' into an individual account.
Some people (so I hear) actually had perl scripts that would allow you to send an accountID and a dollar amount as a parameter, and then apply that amount to the given account. Those people liked ebay. A lot.
So I heard.
posted by fet at 3:34 PM on January 31, 2005
For the most part, I sent many, many, many free singles to random people from the phone book.
I'm a better human being now, though.
That same music retailer would allow you to use that $10 off anything coupon to buy... $10 gift certificates. Those $10 gift certificates could be 'stacked' into an individual account.
Some people (so I hear) actually had perl scripts that would allow you to send an accountID and a dollar amount as a parameter, and then apply that amount to the given account. Those people liked ebay. A lot.
So I heard.
posted by fet at 3:34 PM on January 31, 2005
Since it was asked. Best Metafilter moments.
#1. I would eat the meat of any one of you.
#2. Oh. Oh dear.
#3. We have cameras.
That's about as far as I have it worked out.
posted by furiousthought at 3:38 PM on January 31, 2005
#1. I would eat the meat of any one of you.
#2. Oh. Oh dear.
#3. We have cameras.
That's about as far as I have it worked out.
posted by furiousthought at 3:38 PM on January 31, 2005
fyi if you need free bubble mailers, ask a music journalist.
If you use the USPS Priority boxes for non Priority mail shipping, cross off all the places where it says Priority Mail or the package may arrive postage due.
In two years in a mail room, I turned a lot of these boxes inside out (where they're stamped USPS to catch you doing this) and never had to explain to the USPS that the Priority boxes were REUSED (which they were, but they didn't care).
posted by GlitterBum at 3:47 PM on January 31, 2005
If you use the USPS Priority boxes for non Priority mail shipping, cross off all the places where it says Priority Mail or the package may arrive postage due.
In two years in a mail room, I turned a lot of these boxes inside out (where they're stamped USPS to catch you doing this) and never had to explain to the USPS that the Priority boxes were REUSED (which they were, but they didn't care).
posted by GlitterBum at 3:47 PM on January 31, 2005
Apropos of nothing, did anyone else notice that Free Boxes backwards is Sex-O-Beer-F?
posted by fenriq at 4:50 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by fenriq at 4:50 PM on January 31, 2005
before sex
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 6:18 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 6:18 PM on January 31, 2005
So are we still excited about free boxes, or what?
posted by Kleptophoria! at 7:06 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by Kleptophoria! at 7:06 PM on January 31, 2005
Hey! I thought I was the only one who knew you could read for free at B&N..
Grumble... Grumble...
posted by drezdn at 7:54 PM on January 31, 2005
All right, that was really pushing it, but how often do I get to post links to Dr. Seuss flash games?
posted by Darkman at 8:33 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by Darkman at 8:33 PM on January 31, 2005
Free Barbara Boxer (to speak truth to power)!
posted by orthogonality at 9:04 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by orthogonality at 9:04 PM on January 31, 2005
the usps will aslo give you free tape, address alpbels, the works, I have done this for a long time. If you sell on ebay it's a well known thing. There are free envelopes and more than a few kins of boxes, you git diff choices in personal or business...
posted by Dome-O-Rama at 9:16 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by Dome-O-Rama at 9:16 PM on January 31, 2005
Who woulda though boxes could bring so much happiness.. I don't even need them, and I've got 50 on the way.
posted by AloneOssifer at 9:20 PM on January 31, 2005
posted by AloneOssifer at 9:20 PM on January 31, 2005
I nominate this as one of the funniest threads I've read in awhile.
and it wins!
posted by wolftrouble at 10:38 PM on January 31, 2005
and it wins!
posted by wolftrouble at 10:38 PM on January 31, 2005
THREE COCCYX!
Oh, wait...is the party over? Durnit.
posted by davejay at 11:13 PM on January 31, 2005
Oh, wait...is the party over? Durnit.
posted by davejay at 11:13 PM on January 31, 2005
FYI - This is going to stop soon. The post office is the only service giving supplies away, and it's hurting them. FedEx and UPS don't. My local PO says get them while you can, because they're not going to be offering them free much longer.
Your priority mail rates will stay the same however.
posted by quibx at 5:13 AM on February 1, 2005
Your priority mail rates will stay the same however.
posted by quibx at 5:13 AM on February 1, 2005
Looks like I caught this one a little late but um...1600 Pennsylvania Avenue??
Anyone?
posted by x_3mta3 at 6:09 AM on February 1, 2005
Anyone?
posted by x_3mta3 at 6:09 AM on February 1, 2005
FedEx used to give away free supplies - I know because I have TONS of their stuff in my closet that I STILL haven't used from 5 years ago.
Of course, you have to have a billing account. Which stinks.
GO USPS! (Well, for the free supplies anyway. Not so much for the actual mailing services.)
posted by OhPuhLeez at 6:36 AM on February 1, 2005
Of course, you have to have a billing account. Which stinks.
GO USPS! (Well, for the free supplies anyway. Not so much for the actual mailing services.)
posted by OhPuhLeez at 6:36 AM on February 1, 2005
Actually Fed Ex does give away all of its packaging for free.
posted by Julnyes at 6:40 AM on February 1, 2005
posted by Julnyes at 6:40 AM on February 1, 2005
UPS gives away free boxes too.
You need an account, but those are also free.
posted by Sheppagus at 8:59 AM on February 1, 2005
You need an account, but those are also free.
posted by Sheppagus at 8:59 AM on February 1, 2005
You know I ordered these boxes like 6 months ago and they never arrived. I don't need them anymore and I really hope they don't show up now...
posted by pwb503 at 4:02 PM on February 3, 2005
posted by pwb503 at 4:02 PM on February 3, 2005
pwb503: Perhaps they ran out of things to ship them in because they've already shipped everything out for free...
posted by codger at 7:33 PM on February 5, 2005
posted by codger at 7:33 PM on February 5, 2005
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This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
Please, please tell me you're joking.
posted by fenriq at 1:17 PM on January 31, 2005