Let me start by saying I have generally been pleased with the USPS service. The people that are at the office I usually use to ship have all been great until TODAY.
Lady behind the counter refused to accept a SFRB because it "had tape all over it". Stated you were only allowed to use "one strip of tape on the flap". I told her I would be back when I had more time. Since then I have printed the USPS directions for Preparing Packages. Highlighting the part that says to "tape the opening of your box and all seams with 2 inch wide tape". And the one specifically for Priority Mail that that "Tape may be applied to the flaps and seams" Provided the container still folds at the same place and has not been enlarged.
I told her she was incorrect but that I would have to come back as I was on a tight schedule. She sought confirmation from one of the other counter people who has handled many of my packages, he simply said he would have to look it up to confirm that one strip on the flap was a rule.
I always use fibered strapping tape on all edges, and clear tape over the address label. Clear tape across the bottom too come to think of it. I think this particular lady is still annoyed over the 55# MFRB I slid across to her last week. Even though the male employee who has done lots of my boxes came and took the box for her.
I think she just is annoyed at the high weights allowed and trying to discourage continued use. Good luck with that, my wife tells me all the time not to be so stubborn and ornery, but she will also admit I am pretty darn good at just that when I get going. Might be from practice, might be by nature but....
I have bad news for the mail lady. I have been swapping with another member, he built a wood box that just slips inside a MFRB to hold what he sent me, I'm sending the material I owe him back in that same wood crate inside a MFRB. I owe him 50# I already used a few extra ingots as "packing material" guess I'll go home and add a couple more bars and make sure I get the same lady at the counter tomorrow. Pretty sure with crate liner I'm already in the 60 lb. range. That and a copy of the USPS directions on package preparation should settle this once and for all.
Don't like being fed BS and told it's greens and cornbread like I'm too stupid to figure out the difference. I love Google it allows me to print the difference for the people trying to do the feeding.