Great to hear all the different opinions. My Post office stated very clearly that if the box had any writing, stampings, or stickers/labels on it from prior use, they would not allow it in their system. Box must be clean of all the above items. Only tape allowed on the box is the brown paper type tape, which will allow the ink from their stamps to soak in. If there is any clear tape on the exterior of the box, it can't be used.
Solution to a previoulsy used,taped up, written on, box is to wrap the entire box up like a Christmas present in brown construction paper and use the brown paper tape to seal up the edges. This would then be acceptable to them.
Due to the cost savings, and it seems the better care given due to the accountability of each person handling a piece of registered mail, I believe this will be the method I choose until I can find a better way.
I am just somewhat uneasy as I have seen many times while waiting in line at the local Post office where the clerk will take a package or envelope just given to them to mail and actually toss it 5 or so feet into a bin. I have seen them throw small boxes this same distance, WITHIN sight of the person whom just paid to have that item mailed! I guess one just has to have some faith and more importantly, make sure the item is packaged very well to prevent damage from such "throws".
