<p>Does anyone know when and how we'll receive the ship-to info for new students at Tulane? We'd like to ship some bulky items and also rent books but we aren't sure the dates we are allowed to do so or where they'd go. It's my understanding that the eventual address includes a mail box number vs the dorm room info. </p>
<p>Ie: Full Student Name #(Box number)
Tulane University
31 McAlister Dr.
New Orleans, LA 70118</p>
<p>Also, where do you pick up the packages once you're there?</p>
<p>Pretty soon you will receive a “kit” with mailing labels and instructions. Because they are specially coded, FedEx stores them on huge trailors that they then park on Newcomb Place on move-in day. You will go there with your info and they will locate your stuff, then ROTC volunteers take it to the dorm for you, where more volunteers and you can take it to the room.</p>
<p>You can also ship things to the 31 McAlister Dr. mailbox, which is in Bruff. You claim it just like you would at your post office at home. But for move-in, you will want to use the FedEx Ground system that Tulane sends you.</p>
<p>Like FC said you want to wait for the shipping labels. They will also give you a date when they start receiving packages. I think last year it was packages were not to arrive before 8/16 or 8/17 I think.</p>
<p>You can use the stickers you receive in you kit to ship packages to Tulane using any shipping service you choose. FedEx does organize delivery on the Tulane end once items are delivered. Last year we shipped expensive items (TV, printer) FedEx as we didn’t want to have a situation where something was damaged and the different shippers were claiming the other was responsible. Her other boxes were shipped using both UPS and USPS . All items were picked up at the FedEx truck. </p>
<p>Maybe letters(books) would go to Bruff, I don’t know as D didn’t have any. The system works very well.</p>
<p>Hi Septmbr - Thanks for that clarification. I did not realize (or just plain forgot) that you could ship using UPS, for example, and it would still find its way to the FedEx truck. I know we just used FedEx for move-in, and have sent things using UPS, FedEx, and USPS to her Bruff address since then. BTW nj_mom, if they haven’t done so already, they will give you very specific instructions on how to format the address for letters and packages on things you want to send during the school year.</p>
<p>Excellent. Great information and had not seen anything on this previously. I suppose if you are shipping a rug from Walmart, a printer directly from Staples or Amazon for instance, they’ll tell you how to do that as well since the merchant would not have these stickers? Would like to take advantage of as much of the free or discounted shipping out there that we can. 
Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Yes, those would be sent to the 31 McAlister Drive address you will get.</p>
<p>JW, how does it work with sophomores? Do they get new mailbox numbers or keep last years? How do we go about shipping things down there for move-in? I could ask my S but somehow feel this is the place to get the “real” answer.</p>
<p>You keep the same box. I hadn’t thought much about shipping stuff for move-in because we used one of those storage companies that delives her stuff right back to her new place on move-in day. But we will be shipping a box or two and I just assumed I would send it FedEx to her 31 McAlister Dr. address, and we would have to pick it up. If you or I find out anything different on that, let’s post it here.</p>
<p>Fallen - tell us more about the storage company you’re using. I was thinking we’d do the same in May but having them deliver back to the school in August sounds ideal. I didn’t know that was even an option!</p>
<p>Not much to tell at this point, other than there are two (I think it was two) that the school recommends, and sends out information sometime in April. I am hesitant to mention the company only because if Tulane changes their recommendations, then I would go with one they endorse. I think, although again not sure, they only let endorsed companies have access to the dorms. So might as well wait, but they are very good about giving out all that information in plenty of time. Of course during Christmas break the stuff all stays in the room.</p>
<p>Oh, and I do believe that both the companies they recommended had climate controlled storage, probably a very important feature over the summer in New Orleans!</p>
<p>Oh, I had thought you researched it. You are always very thorough. No problem. I will wait. No sense in worrying about the storage and move-out yet! Have to get them there and moved-in first! I am thrilled Tulane gives us all the information you have mentioned. I thought we’d be kind of on our own to figure it out. What a relief!</p>
<p>LOL, thanks. I research what I need to, but Tulane takes care of it for us in this case. Tulane is usually pretty good about this stuff, although there have been glaring exceptions at times. Not so much lately though. But then, I don’t think I have heard of a school yet that doesn’t have some hole in the system somewhere!</p>
<p>FC – thank you. If I hear anything further on it, I most certainly will post it.</p>
<p>We found the pick-up & delivery storage companies that Tulane suggested a bit expensive. I found a unit in Metaire (Public Storage) that charges by the month (first month only $1). It is a 5’ by 5’ unit (10 feet high) that fit tons of things and it is also climate controlled. It was about a 15 minute drive from Tulane. We even stored a couple of items for other students since we had extra room. If anyone is interested, I can let you know how it goes once we move everything out of the unit and into the dorm.</p>
<p>Yes, I saw that one too, but I never get a car when I am there. I figured the price if the rental car offset the extra expense of these other companies, and it is nice to just have it dropped at the room when it is so hot in August! But for those that drive their own cars, definitely a cheaper option.</p>
<p>FC – you were correct again (as usual). I called the school and my son will have the same mailbox number as last year.</p>
<p>MY s researched storage places and checked with students who had used different ones. He ultimately left a few things with a friend who lived nearby,so didnt end up using any storage facility. This year he left some stuff in the house he’s renting off campus. He just drove to NOLA last weekend with a friend to bring his first load of stuff for the house. He brought his bike,which he chained to the deck outside (left front wheel in the house). I am betting it will be gone by the time he arrives back in 2 weeks. I hope I am wrong…</p>
<p>I wonder if there is any way to save those expensive fedex boxes I just bought for the end of the year move out. Seems a shame to have to buy new ones all over again. Suppose they could be flattened and stored under the bed. I think I just made a plan! Now if I could only figure out a cheaper way to mail them (heads up: each box is coming in around $40 to send, multiply that by 8 boxes and you have a not so insignificant moving bill!)</p>
<p>3bysmom – I would recommend putting a lot of those things in storage at the end of this year. That’s a lot less expensive than shipping things back & forth. I paid $200 (May to August) for a 5’ X 5’ climate-controlled storage room. This unit is large enough for 2 people to share. Save the boxes under the bed, anyway. You will need them for storage, as well. Also, I find shipping via UPS less expensive than Fedex. BTW, there is a Best Buy, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Target, and a Bed, Bath & Beyond in New Orleans. A lot of things can be purchased down there.</p>
<p>Also, with BB&B, they allow you to purchase in your local store and have it ready to pick up at the New Orleans store, or at least they did. Best Buy might do the same. Probably not the others, but worth checking.</p>
<p>I have decided that paying six luggage fees (for three people) makes more sense financially than shipping boxes from as far away as we live. That is 300 lbs of stuff for $180. I am thinking of using some duffles to leave there and then old suitcases that we want to get rid of and then throwing them away or taking them to goodwill in NOLA. We did the BBB thing for most of the stuff we could. And it looks like I can order from Office Depot and Walmart and pick it up there (but I don’t think it works with Target).</p>