<p>My parents won't be going down to duke on move-in day, so they're going to ship in all my dorm stuff by UPS. </p>
<p>How specific should the shipping address be: should I include the residence hall name, and even room number? Or is there a specific place where all shipments will be dropped off for freshmen to pick up?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Anything shipped UPS or FedEx will be delivered directly to your dorm room, so you have to have the residence hall name and room number. </p>
<p>Packages shipped by US Mail are delivered to the Post Office and you are emailed when they are available for pickup. </p>
<p>Just make sure nothing will get there before you move in, because Duke will not accept packages before then.</p>
<p>How much, on average, should one expect to spend on shipping?</p>
<p>I know this is a really vague question that varies widely from person to person ,but does anyone have numbers?</p>
<p>for a UPS ground delivery, for a 30 pound package from CA to NC is about 44 dollars according to a little calculation thing I just did online...
if that tells you anything. I'm really considering it too. I would be down for driving out there jiust because I feel like it would be easiest by just throwing evrything in the bed of a truck</p>
<p>Everyone I know usually just shows up with a car full of stuff. I've shipped CLOTHES home before...but nothing too big and heavy. I think it's part of the college experience, honestly, to do the big move-in thing at least once.</p>
<p>At the end of the year, though you'll see alot of shipping companies on campus (like Collegeboxes) who offer to stores and/or ship your stuff for reasonable prices (and they provide boxes). I've used them once or twice and it's painless.</p>
<p>As was said before, don't get the stuff delivered the before you get there. (I might shoot for the day after move in actually) Also, UPS delivers to you door so include room number and such.</p>
<p>Another option if you are flying is to just pay the extra money per box and bring it with you on the airplane. I don't know how this will work with the new luggage restrictions but when I first came to Duke it was the most cost effective way for me to transport my stuff. (also, don't buy anything till you get to Duke; save on shipping)</p>
<p>If you are driving then obviously you would be a fool not to just load that stuff up into your car.</p>
<p>Oh and if you can swing it (have a car or a friend with a car) I'd store stuff yourself and not use collegeboxes. (you can only use their boxes, stuff has to all fit in their boxes, damage possibility in transit, carbon footprint if that is important to you) I store all my stuff in a unit at PublicStorage. Much less expensive and I can actually store big stuff. (like my lamp and refrigerator and such)</p>
<p>Finally, speaking of paying too much for services in college; anyone thinking about renting a microwave/fridge please consider the following. You are paying nearly the cost of buying these things to rent it for a year. You could buy them instead, use them all four years and rent a storage unit just for them over the summer with the money it would take to rent them for all four years. (and then you actually get new equipment instead of a used refrigerator and microwave) You could even buy them used for a lot less than it takes to rent these things. Just saying I see way too many freshman wasting money on this stuff each year.</p>
<p>This is how I did my address, and things always shipped fine.</p>
<p>Name
Duke University
Dorm name and room #
Durham, NC 27708</p>
<p>AH- I totally forgot the storage suggestion (Imagine that, I'm moving out of my unit Wednesday and just totally forgot I had one). Storage is GREAT and you'll find so many people storing things that you can go in on one with a few friends. I only got a unit for 2 months since I'm moving into my off campus apartment this week, and splitting it with 3 people it cost us $30 a person for 2 months. PLUS we got a truck rental for free to help move our stuff. </p>
<p>I forget the name of the place exactly, but do your searching and you'll find good deals like 1 free month, etc etc. Just be sure to get one early!</p>