Cheapest shipping?

[bugandbibs]

I have about a dozen packages to ship to a friend over the next few months, and need to keep the costs down. I need insurance and would like tracking. It's mostly clothes (school uniforms).

I looked at the flat rate USPS boxes, and I think the medium size would work for a lot of it. I'm confused about insurance and tracking with flat rate though.

Is it better to use my own boxes? I feel like a shipping dummy.

[rikki]

Oct 25, 2014 16:51:53 GMT -5 @songforyou said:

Unless the contents are very heavy, USPS with your own boxes is usually the cheapest way to ship. If the contents are very heavy, go flat rate boxes. Insurance and tracking is separate either way, as far as I know.

I think tracking is free with the flat rate priority box. It might come with $50 insurance. I know they've told me that on occasion, but I don't remember what method I was using.

[WinterWine]

I have actually gone into the post office at a non busy tune with whatever I want to send in a bag. Tell the clerk that you want the cheapest method with tracking, and they will tell you which method. Just bring your own box, tape, and sharpie in case that's cheapest.

Brought to you by the sweetest usps worker ever that used to work at my college when I was a student. She would literally repack things fit students to help them save a few bucks.

[bugandbibs]

Follow up question- is there a cost advantage to using mailing envelope vs. a box?

[Poeticxpassion]

USPS Priority shipping or flat rate shipping comes with tracking and $50 worth of insurance for free. A flat rate medium box is around $12.00 to ship no matter how heavy it is. If you go with your own box, the price is determined by how much it weighs and the zip code of where it is going.

[Poeticxpassion]

Oct 25, 2014 19:13:39 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

Follow up question- is there a cost advantage to using mailing envelope vs. a box?

Just the weight factor. The heavier the envelope or box is, the more $$ to ship.

[VillainV]

Oct 25, 2014 19:13:39 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

Follow up question- is there a cost advantage to using mailing envelope vs. a box?

If you're sending clothes, I would use one of those plastic shipping bags (like what they put your clothes in when you order from Gap online).  They're water proof and lightweight.  Boxes themselves aren't very heavy, but if you're sending several, you might save money on bags vs. boxes.

[ellipses84]

I used to use my own boxes and ship the slowest, cheapest way possible without insurance or tracking on USPS but the last couple times were CRAZY expensive. I've switched to flat rate and it's not as outrageous, plus you have insurance and it gets there in 2 days. The other day I sent a medium size box (kind of the size of a typical fedex box) and a slightly smaller one for $26. My sisters and I all have boys so we ship hand me downs back and forth to each other when we have a long stretch between visits or have too much to shove in our suitcases. Clothes are pretty heavy, so that's why I think flat rate is the way to go.

[lys]

Do you even need a box?? Can you use those plastic shipping "bags"?