<p>We are not going to bring my son home. He has rented a storage unit for the summer and will be flying somewhere else before coming home so he needs to mail some of his clothes that he won't be using home on his trip home.</p>
<p>What have you found to be the cheapest way to do this? Hints? pitfalls?</p>
<p>We found that really big packages are cheaper to mail via UPS. You can do the estimate yourself on their websites, but just a few weeks ago my husband had to mail something big and when he did the comparison, UPS was cheaper.</p>
<p>S1 bought some shipping boxes (about 18" x 18" square) and packaging tape from Walmart for about $2.00 each. He stuffed them with clothes/shoes and I think he said it was about $14 to UPS. Make sure he wraps the tape all the way around the box (both ways) so the bottom doesn’t fall out.</p>
<p>We like FedEx Ground. We’ve found the prices to be excellent, and like the fact that they’ll take suitcases (without the suitcase being in a box).</p>
<p>^^^^I love the concept of shipping an entire suitcase!</p>
<p>Mtpaper, about how much does it cost for a big suitcase from where to where? Just trying to get some idea what that option costs.</p>
<p>I wonder whether FedEx ground is any easier on your luggage than the arilines?</p>
<p>Years ago, I shipped four chairs by Greyhound bus. It was cheap and they were big.</p>
<p>love this thread…thank you…bookmark!!</p>
<p>$9.73 via FedEx Ground, Rochester, NY -> Princeton, Suitcase (it was either small carry-on size, or medium, not huge) filled with stuff; we dropped it off at FedEx</p>
<p>$18.55 via FedEx Ground, Princeton -> Rochester, but this included pick-up service</p>
<p>those are the only 2 rates I can find easily. I’m pretty sure the FedEx website has a cost-estimator… not sure how complicated it is to use. I do know my dh works at finding the most economical, and has been so satisfied with FedEx Ground’s rates based on past research, that he is confident enough now to use it without comparing the cost to UPS for each transfer.</p>
<p>PS: If you go this route, remember that FedEx Ground is not the same as FedEx. You have to use a separate billing label, and specify FedEx Ground. Regular FedEx is MUCH MUCH more expensive</p>
<p>and, see if your school participates with: [Student</a> Storage, Student Shipping - Collegeboxes](<a href=“http://www.collegeboxes.com%5DStudent”>http://www.collegeboxes.com)</p>
<p>My older son who goes to college so far away is fortunate that the area has lots of cheap storage places available. It’s just $100 for the three months. He’s used this option each year. This year he has a hatchback car so he’ll bring home more than usual.</p>
<p>My campus is not near a FedEx or UPS facility, so I ship boxes via USPS. Their rates are usually the cheapest for shipping long distance and there is no surcharge for delivery to residential addresses or Saturday delivery. For peace of mind, I do suggest paying extra for a tracking number.</p>
<p>We have used Fed Ex ground to ship packages from the west coast to my D’s east coast school. I am lucky because my company lets us use the lower rates they get for Fed Ex and we just have to pay back the company with a check.</p>
<p>With heavy boxes (books, densely packed clothing,) we found USPS book rate (now called media rate) was cheaper than UPS.</p>
<p>If you are looking for a price comparison, I have found this site to be very helpful.</p>
<p>[ShipGooder:</a> Courier Rate Search, Shipping Rate Search for FedEx, UPS, DHL and the United States Postal Service](<a href=“Situs Slot Gacor Online : Hoki108 Terbaik, Terpercaya & Terbaru !”>http://shipgooder.com/)</p>
<p>I usually use FedEx ground. The clerk at my local drop off location told me that if I set up an account on their website, ([Account</a> Options](<a href=“FedEx | System Down”>FedEx | System Down)) my rates will decrease. I did just that and have noticed a significant savings on each package shipped. There is no charge or minimum usage required for you to set up an account.</p>
<p>If you can ask some employee who works for a company that has special deals with FedEx, USPS,… to send the packages you may reduce the cost to 50%.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great suggestions!!!</p>