mailing a newborn stash

[ovenrack]

So my friend who is due in the middle of February across the country wants to try CDing!  I'm going to mail her my newborn stash, because I know she will take good care of it and give it back when I have another babe.  So, anyone have thoughts on:

1) the best method for mailing large heavy things across the country?  This seems dumb, but I've never mailed something this large/heavy.  UPS/FedEx/USPS... anyone have opinions?

2) what I should send her?  Literally only newborn stuff, or also small?  In my NB stash box is:

15 nb GMD workhorses
17 nb GMD prefolds
7 newborn covers
3 nb AIOs

10 small GMD workhorses (I think... these are inexplicably in another box)
25 small GMD prefolds
6 assunta tiny covers
7 thirsties sized small covers
7 small AIOs (BG and thirsties)

I used the small prefolds immediately, because I liked the fit better than the newborns.  But I think I'm often the only one mentioning that?  So only send literal newborn stuff, perhaps plus assunta tiny covers?  Add in some of the small prefolds?

[DGM]

You are an amazing friend! I have no advice about the stash itself unfortunately, but I like USPS. They have flat rate boxes so that may make it cheaper to ship.

[ovenrack]

Jan 16, 2015 23:00:29 GMT -5 DGM said:

You are an amazing friend! I have no advice about the stash itself unfortunately, but I like USPS. They have flat rate boxes so that may make it cheaper to ship.

Yeah, I'm thinking a couple large flat rate boxes?

[ovenrack]

I also have GMD small flats. Hmm. I use them, but not usually all dozen.

[mooncharm]

I guess you can price it out at the post office. I think UPS might be cheaper for heavier things, but it's probably not too heavy, right?

[mooncharm]

PS - I agree, this is super sweet of you!

[MapleMe]

The cheapest way to ship with any company is online, with an account. You're easily going to be paying an extra $5/box or so if you go to one of those retail shipping places. USPS tends to be pricier for larger/heavier/farther packages. But you can price out USPS and UPS via paypal's multi-ship option.

[rachelca]

If you have or know someone with a vacuum sealer try sealing things so you can get more into a flat-rate shipping box.

I would definitely send newborn prefolds and workhorses with covers if you are only going to send a few things at first. Maybe some small prefolds and the sized covers (they weigh like nothing anyway) for when she is ready to size up.

Sending all those prefolds will be heavy, so $$$.

You are the nicest friend!

[awful]

I would price out UPS ground vs USPS parcel post.

[nvywife]

Do you have a food saver? You could vacuum seal the diapers to make them smaller to fit more in a flat rate box.

[unaveragejane]

Our local shipping place has told me several times that flat rate boxes aren't really the cheapest option unless you're shipping something heavy. I'd definitely try the Pay Pal shipping calculator if you can figure out how much the package weighs.

I'm wondering...if she doesn't need it immediately, would USPS media rate be an option? It's supposed to be for books and such, but if you put in a couple if board books, that would count, right?

[brandiewine11]

You can get those ziplock space bags and use your vacuum to pack them. Then perhaps a large flat rate box from usps. And use PayPal to buy the label.

[DGM]

Jan 17, 2015 16:59:32 GMT -5 unaveragejane said:

Our local shipping place has told me several times that flat rate boxes aren't really the cheapest option unless you're shipping something heavy. I'd definitely try the Pay Pal shipping calculator if you can figure out how much the package weighs.

I'm wondering...if she doesn't need it immediately, would USPS media rate be an option? It's supposed to be for books and such, but if you put in a couple if board books, that would count, right?

I only know and ship USPS because it's most convenient in my small town, but this is good to know!

[unaveragejane]

USPS isn't necessarily more expensive; it's just the flat rate isn't always a deal versus regular priority mail rates unless you're sending something heavy. DGM

[Nik Pal]

I've used media rate, and they're pretty picky that it's just media. You can't even include a note.

[piccyami]

Jan 17, 2015 17:53:43 GMT -5 Nik Pal said:

I've used media rate, and they're pretty picky that it's just media. You can't even include a note.

Yeah. I shipped something via media mail once and the guy stopped me and told me they could possibly open it and shipping would end up costing one of us quite a bit more if there was anything other than the books in there.

[unaveragejane]

Well, shoot! They didn't used to be picky. Good to know!

[rrrrrachel]

I mailed a bunch of stuff in a large flat rate box and I used my food saver to smoosh t all really dense and I fit a ton in there. If you had those space saver bags that use the vacuum you could do the same idea. Otherwise parcel post.

[rrrrrachel]

But I see that already came up so never mind.

[MapleMe]

Jan 17, 2015 17:44:39 GMT -5 unaveragejane said:

USPS isn't necessarily more expensive; it's just the flat rate isn't always a deal versus regular priority mail rates unless you're sending something heavy. DGM

Distance matters a lot with flat rate vs priority. It's almost always been a good deal for me when shipping cross country.

[ovenrack]

I am shipping literally across the country. Thanks guys. I am going to grab a vacuum bag and sort things out.