<p>We live in China and shipping from the US is very expensive. My mom has paid $100 to ship small Christmas gifts to my kids for the last few years. They do often open the packages - and from what friends say sometimes things are missing. My book group sent me a box of their favorite books the first year I moved here and I never did receive it. I have heard that amazon is very reliable for shipping to China and things seldom get opened.</p>
<p>Hm...I used USPS fixed rate priority mail boxes all of last year to ship coast to coast (items were heavy but not bulky). Is Fedex ground really cheaper? We don't have a Kinkos within 30 miles of here. I'm wondering how much cheaper because I would have to factor in the time/gas costs to get to where they ship Fed Ex ground. Another question...do they ship to boxes (Box number 22222, for example)? In the past, I know that UPS did not...what about FedEx ground.</p>
<p>While D was staying with her German Exchange family near Munich she wanted to share something American with them, and what could possibly be better than Toll House cookies? Only there are no chocolate chips (as we know them) in Germany. So I sent one priority FedEx package off to Munich and it arrived in time for the girls to bake away before D had to leave. Chocolate chips, recipe, cup and teaspoon measures: $10.00. Shipping: $50.00. International relations: PRICELESS.</p>
<p>I just compared shipping 2 packages - 13in x 13in x 16in 16lbs; and 10in x 10in x48in (skateboard) 11lbs. The USPS price was ~$22 + ~$27. The FedEx price was ~$17 + ~$12.
I can't remember the UPS price. It was closer to the USPS price but much further away.</p>
<p>This was Northern Virginia to San Diego - sent by FedEx 6pm Friday, will get there Thursday.</p>
<p>thumper1, I send packages to my S's on campus Box number via UPS on a regular basis. The UPS store always looks up the Campus street address and includes both box number and campus street address(they just use the main address for the campus). But at my son's school, the box number is a campus box number and the school's mail folks receive all mail and sort things into the mail boxes. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>I'm trying to figure out what/how to send s in China a 21st birthday present. Will he need to pay hefty taxes on what ever I send him? If so are some things taxed more/less than others. What can't be sent? How long would you allow for delivery?</p>