Shipping advice for college students

Just got back from the local post office, which was full of students mailing piles of packages home at the end of term. For them, a few pointers from someone who sends lots of stuff year-round:

- USPS is great for books, but be sure to put only books in the parcels to go book rate.
- For heavy stuff, use FedEx Ground; you'll save a bundle. UPS is OK, but FedEx aren't so cavalier about leaving parcels on porches.
- Forget masking tape -- it's only for painting. Duct tape isn't much better. Use proper packaging tape, and if you want extra strength, fiberglass reinforced tape.
- Don't close that box by interleaving the flaps. The flaps won't sit flat, so you won't be able to tape them closed properly.
- Put water-vulnerable items in plastic bags before boxing them up.
- Unless you feel profligate, avoid mailing services like Mailboxes Etc. Even if you don't have them box your items, you can end up paying double what you would had you taken your packages directly to FedEx or the post office.

AND should also mention for everyone else's sake that those return receipt postcards are next to worthless. Literally half the time I get a package with one, the PO workers forget to detach it for my signature. Certified Mail is enough as far as getting proof of delivery. And if you want something signed for, insure it for at least $51 -- no signature required on $50 or less (save your $1.35; do you really think more than one in forty packages goes missing?).

Posted by David on May 27, 2003 5:31 PM