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Shipping to college: UPS vs. USPS

N

NakaNaka

Diamond Member
Hey guys - In a few weeks I'm going to be sending stuff for my first week of college and I don't know if I should use UPS or USPS. I keep hearing bad things about UPS but I don't know if those are just the exception or the rule. I'll be sending clothes, linens and I guess DVD's and an Xbox. No computer (laptop)

Any help would be appreciated. Cost is a factor but not the only one.

Thanks

-Phil
 
If timing of when it arrives is not an issue (meaning, you could ship it and have it arrive before you get there), use USPS "parcel post." I think that's what it's called. Basically they ship it for you when they have extra room on a truck, in my experience it moves pretty quickly though.

why not take it with you?
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Maybe going far away and flying? According to his profile he lives in NYC, so it's possible that his parents don't even own a car.
 
Sounds like shipping will cost a lot if you're sending up clothe and linens. BTW, why not take the time to drive? 😕
 
FedEx Ground is pretty much always cheapest as far as large heavy packages go, plus I trust them more than the others.

Also, check into the new DHL... they're trying to be competative...? Anyone know about them?
 
Originally posted by: homestarmy
FedEx Ground is pretty much always cheapest as far as large heavy packages go, plus I trust them more than the others.

Also, check into the new DHL... they're trying to be competative...? Anyone know about them?
Click to expand...
saw a DHL commercial on TV a couple weeks back... basically one of the DHL trucks driving past a fedex truck and ups truck with announcer saying "there's a new guy in town" or something to that effect.


ah, I hadn't thought of flying there and not wanting to take all the luggage with said person.
 
Originally posted by: Atomicus
Sounds like shipping will cost a lot if you're sending up clothe and linens. BTW, why not take the time to drive? 😕
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If he's going from New York to California, it would probably take him 5 days to drive. I think it's worthwhile to just ship the clothes at that point. Although why someone would go that far away to college is beyond me. 🙂
 
I am going 1/3 to a 1/2 way across the country to college (NYC to Chicago, see sig) and our car isn't big enough to take all my stuff anyway. And I've booked plane tickets. Driving would take 2 days, some 18+ hours, and I don't think my mom and I can do that kind of road trip.

My school won't accept packages before September 9th and we get there the 13th so I can't just send it now parcel post, which is a big problem.
 
18 hours is doable, but not enjoyable. 🙂 Took me about 11 hours to get to my school, but I did it in as few as 9 or as many as 16. What school are you going to out in Chicago?
 
Originally posted by: mugs
18 hours is doable, but not enjoyable. 🙂 Took me about 11 hours to get to my school, but I did it in as few as 9 or as many as 16. What school are you going to out in Chicago?
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Northwestern

and the drive is also bad because mom would have to drive back alone. or renting a car one way means she still has to fly home.
 
My shipping choices:
1. FedEx
2. USPS
3. Drive/Fly/Bus it there myself
4. Walk it myself
5. Throw it in the air and hope the wind catches it.
6. Drop it in a river hoping the current takes it where it needs to go.
7. Pick some random guy and ask if he can take it where in needs to go.
8. Not a real choice.. UPS.
 
Originally posted by: NakaNaka
Originally posted by: DeathByAnts
ask Thoreau about DHL, he works there.
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DHL seems pretty expensive to me.
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Say what?

I've been using DHL for a while now, and they're by far cheaper than UPS or FedEx.. for ground at least.
 
Originally posted by: TwiceOver
My shipping choices:
1. FedEx
2. USPS
3. Drive/Fly/Bus it there myself
4. Walk it myself
5. Throw it in the air and hope the wind catches it.
6. Drop it in a river hoping the current takes it where it needs to go.
7. Pick some random guy and ask if he can take it where in needs to go.
8. Not a real choice.. UPS.
Click to expand...

LMFAO! 😀

Cheers TwiceOver :beer:
 
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: NakaNaka
Originally posted by: DeathByAnts
ask Thoreau about DHL, he works there.
Click to expand...

DHL seems pretty expensive to me.
Click to expand...
Say what?

I've been using DHL for a while now, and they're by far cheaper than UPS or FedEx.. for ground at least.
Click to expand...

Cool, I'll have to check it out for the NOS kit and Intake Manifold that I need to send this week, thanks!
 
Originally posted by: NakaNaka
Originally posted by: mugs
18 hours is doable, but not enjoyable. 🙂 Took me about 11 hours to get to my school, but I did it in as few as 9 or as many as 16. What school are you going to out in Chicago?
Click to expand...

Northwestern

and the drive is also bad because mom would have to drive back alone. or renting a car one way means she still has to fly home.
Click to expand...


Northwestern eh? Brainiac 😀
 
Originally posted by: DaWhim
Air borne, wait for the 50% off in office max.
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Heh, I'm sure the lackeys working the copy counter at OM will love it when you bring in all your college stuff to ship. 😀
 
Originally posted by: NakaNaka
I am going 1/3 to a 1/2 way across the country to college (NYC to Chicago, see sig) and our car isn't big enough to take all my stuff anyway. And I've booked plane tickets. Driving would take 2 days, some 18+ hours, and I don't think my mom and I can do that kind of road trip.

My school won't accept packages before September 9th and we get there the 13th so I can't just send it now parcel post, which is a big problem.
Click to expand...

hmm i didn't know they had new student week this yr, last two yrs i think they only had like 3 days

you shouldn't take too much junk the dorm rooms are tiny
 
*avoid* parcel post or media mail, the worse of the worst!!!*avoid*
I'd shipped media mail to this dude in florida from ks and it hasn't arrived after 2 weeks!!!
If I'd pay just a few bucks more for priority, he'd already gotten it.
 
In my experience I think the big 3 are all just fine. UPS, USPS, FedEx. You will always find someone that had one bad experience with one of them, and then swears that they will never use them again. As far as I'm concerned they are all pretty much the same, you can have good experiences, or bad experiences with all of them, but overall they all work.
 
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