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Saving $$$ on Shipping

This is FYI before you ship that next small package.
I just bought 400 pieces of Lapua brass. The package weighed 8 pounds. The cost of shipping UPS was $11.26. Guess who paid the $11.26?

That same package, even if it would have weighed six times as much would have cost $7.70 U.S.P.S. Priority mail, and would have been delivered in three days anywhere in the continental U.S.

How? Well the post office has two sizes of flat rate priority mail boxes that they will give to you. You can ship up to fifty pounds,if it will fit in the box) for a flat rate of $7.70 anywhere in the USA.
Don't take your box to them to get the flat rate charge, it has to be their box, which is free. A side benefit is the three day delivery, UPS would have charged a bunch extra for that!
 
Another note of caution. I normally ship Fedex Ground. They are fast and the tracking is the best. However, there is a "dark side". A recent ammo shipment went out to North Dakota. Fedex charged a $4.60 "residential surcharge" which effectively doubled the shipping charge for the two-pound box.

FYI, if you ship loaded ammo, it has to go via a common carrier, not the U.S. Postal service. But for other items, Danny is right, USPS flat rate is often the best option.
 
Another note about FedEx Ground, the delivery trucks are owned by private contractors that contract exclusively with FedEx, this is probably the reason for the surcharge for out-of-the-way and rural residential deliveries. There was a big brouhaha in this county about a year ago when one of the county supervisors, who lives on a rural route, discovered she was not receiving mail order merchandise shipped via FedEx Ground. It was discovered that the independent contractor was losing money making the rural deliveries so he was depositing the packages in the local dumpster. This is probably the reason for the surcharge, to ensure that the independent contractor doesn't loose money,now, gas money) on these routes.
 
Danny - When we order from vendors, i.e. Sinclair, Bruno, Midway, etc., etc., will they ship USPS, using their boxes, if we demand?
 
I know Sinclair will ship with who ever you specify and getting stuff to Australia USPS is the cheapest and fastest so is sent via USPS. When i say cheapest it ain`t cheap still costs $25 or more for a small parcel couple Wilson micrometer seater's and neck turner and a couple of other pieces but i save $100 on buying them in Australia and having them delivered.
 
Ten ring: I doubt it. Sinclair already has a fair rate regardless of weight. Some of the others do a little padding to make a couple of extra bucks on "Shipping and handling". Some only ship UPS. You can always try though, all they can do is say no.
One well known bullet maker who will remain anonymous stung me by charging me $18 shipping and handling for one box of bullets!My own fault for not asking beforehand, but it won't happen again. I wouldn't care if his bullets were sent from heaven, I'll never buy from him again! I won't name names here but anyone who really wants to know more can e-mail me.
To that bullet maker "You know who you are, and shame on you"!

Aussie Bob: for small items like dies etc. an option for you is Global Priority Mail envelope. Flat $13 U.S. anywhere in the world. I've sent a Redding die set and some small items "down under" this way. Works pretty well.
 

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