So I know I’ve already explained a bit about how we’ve been sending everything to Hawaii via Parcel Post through the US Postal Service, but we’re 3 out of 5 boxes sent and super under budget. For this reason, I felt that the sometimes forgotten option of Parcel Post deserved some special recognition with a post of their own.
Ok, so we had assumed between $300-$400 to ship our four boxes (five now) across part of the continent and over the ocean. We got these numbers by pricing things out via FedEx, UPS, and USPS Priority Mail. For the most part, it looked like it was going to average us about $100 per box that we needed shipped, size and weight being minor variables after a certain weight and size. Needless to say, it was a little disheartening.
Thankfully, I paid a little closer attention to the options at the USPS website and rediscovered Parcel Post. I say rediscovered because I used to send things Parcel Post back in the day before the flat rate Priority Mail boxes came along. Without a doubt, most things I send are via the flat rate boxes because of the rate and convenience, but moving boxes aren’t an available size in flat rate shipping. So Parcel Post to the rescue.
We’re shipping some things of value, too, and will be insuring those boxes indefinitely for our safety and the reassurance of their arrival. Even with all these different variables that we hadn’t included the first time around, we’ll still land smack dab in the middle of our original budget: about $350. With everything, we’ll be able to ship another box and insure two of those boxes and still stick to the budget thanks to Parcel Post. See my excitement?
Next time you need to ship something of substantial size, I urge you to consider Parcel Post. Yes, it will take longer than Priority, Express, or Overnight shipping, so don’t expect too much. However, if you’ve got time and all you need is for something to get from one place to another, reconsider shipping Parcel Post. Your budget will thank you!
