On 4/3/2014 8:38 AM, F*O*A*D wrote:
On 4/3/14, 8:34 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 4/3/2014 8:15 AM, Poquito Loco wrote:
On Thu, 03 Apr 2014 03:52:56 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 4/2/2014 9:45 PM, Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 02 Apr 2014 21:37:01 -0400, Poquito Loco
wrote:

Insurance is available at USPS. Today I dropped off a package and
asked the lady at the counter if
she knew why the US Mint was using UPS instead of USPS. She didn't
know either.

===

Yes, you can insure and request a tracking number. Rates seem to be
cheaper than UPS in my experience although I think UPS might be a tad
faster.


The USPS has a "if it fits" flat rate shipping program. They have
priority mail shipping boxes in several sizes. If your item fits in
one
of the boxes it ships for a flat rate regardless of weight or
destination. (I think there's an upper limit on the weight though).

The shipping boxes are free at the post office or you can order some
on-line and they will deliver them to your house or place of business.

The flat-rate shipping includes free tracking and $50 free insurance.
You can up that if desired. Delivery is priority mail, so it usually
takes only three days. Not a bad deal. I just shipped a digital
recorder with a bunch of accessories to a guy in Texas. I shipped
it on
Saturday, he received it on Wednesday. Cost to ship: $15.00.



Those flat rate boxes are convenient, but unless they're filled to the
brim they're expensive. But,
I'm a cheapskate at heart anyway.



They are not expensive. They are *free*. You pay for parcel post
boxes and ship via weight and size but the priority mail boxes are free
and shipping is a flat rate.




The USPS usually is *substantially* less expensive than UPS, especially
if you have to ship UPS via one of the small-business owned UPS package
stores, which add a big premium to the already high UPS rates. The
nearest owned and operated UPS facility here is about 30 miles away, so
these days, if I have to ship something, I use the U.S. Postal Service,
which is nearby.




As previously mentioned, I've shipped over a hundred guitars to
customers over the years. Guitars (especially acoustics) are fragile
instruments and need to be well packed. After experimenting with FedEx,
the USPS and UPS, I found that taking the guitar and case to the local
UPS store franchise and having them pack it was the best way.
Cost more but at least the insurance coverage is undeniable. If you
pack it yourself even UPS will deny a claim citing "improper packing".

We've been in the process of starting the clean out of "stuff" in our
house in hopeful anticipation of a future move. I can't believe the
stuff I have collected over the years. I've already sold and shipped
four receiver/amps, a high-end tuner/preamp, a BluRay player, speakers,
a power amp, a digital recording system and have barely scratched the
surface. Yesterday I counted at least five more receiver/amps I have
not being used. Unreal. And that's just *my* stuff. Mrs.E's
collection of "stuff" makes mine look puny.