Best/cheapest way to ship a 1911 slide

[Kenneth07ex]

Title really says it all, but here's the rest. Insured, of course. My trijicon sights need to go back to trijicon for warranty. It's a 1911 commander slide, so it's not big. I really don't have access to anything but the post office, since I live rural. The nearest office for fed ex, or ups, is forty miles one way. Of course they deliver to my door, on the turnaround. But for drop off, I'd have to make the trip. So unless someone has a better idea, we're talking about the difference between "if it fits it ships" box. And just a plain box, shipped. Either way, it's going insured. Any thoughts about this, or something entirely different, that I haven't considered? Sorry, I feel ridiculous for asking such a newb question, but I'm used to receiving packages, not sending them.

 

[DWalt]

I use the flat rate USPS boxes frequently, and have for years. I have never had one lost in the mail. You can buy additional insurance if that makes you feel better. A slide alone should fit in the smallest box. For anything 13 ounces or less, I usually ship first class parcel post as it is cheaper. You still get a tracking number that way.

 

[max]

One of the small flat rate priority mail boxes should work just fine. You can buy additional insurance.

 

[SASABERANGER]

USPS Flat rate with insurance is about as cheap as it gets.
A 1911 slide should fit just fine. Or even if you have to use a medium Flat Rate box the cost is about $14 with the new rates, insurance is what drive up the cost, but still cheaper than UPS/Fed-Ex by a bunch.
Thom Braxton
SWCA #1474

 

[Kenneth07ex]

Thanks guys, I guess I really just wanted assurance that it'd be fairly competitive prices. I'd hate to pay twenty bucks, plus the cost of insurance, then find out that someone else offers fourteen bucks, with insurance included. As I've said, I live rural, so even the hunt for a box is an issue, so it's like a scavenger hunt. As long as I'm in the ballpark, I'm good. Thanks for the assurance fellas.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

A different point of view! Call Trijicon. Ask for a prepaid shipping lable, then when you are boxed up, you call FedEx or UPS and they come to your door or workplace and pick it up. You don't have to drive anywhere.

The prepaid labels are not free, you will be reimbursing Trijicon either before or after, but the entire time the tracking or work order number is tracked! I do this with packages for work and play all the time, sometimes the first time is hard to get moving, but the receiving company has all the technology needed to make this happen.

Ivan

 

[sipowicz]

The cheapest way is to address it to yourself with no stamp and put the address of the place you are sending it in the left hand corner. Since it has no postage they will return to sender. Of course, this works best if you live in the same town, if you are sending out of state, they will most likely catch on.

 

[Cardboard_killer]

And we wonder why the USPS lost 3 billion dollars last year.

 

[DWalt]

I just wish USPS had a few more options in box dimensions. Many times I will ship something small, but it is too wide in one dimension to fit into the smallest flat rate box. If there were a more cubical small flat rate box of the approximate same volume also available, that would be great. I think USPS does have two different dimensions of medium flat rate boxes.

 

[billwill]

Box it, tape securely, insure and send it 1st class

 

[DWalt]

Box it, tape securely, insure and send it 1st class

That's what I do, but the first class parcel weight limit is only 13 ounces. Heavier than that, you must use regular parcel post or the flat rate boxes. Not sure the slide weight is less than 13 ounces, including the box.

 

[max]

I believe you can leave a note in your mailbox for your postman and he will bring a box the next day.

Thanks guys, I guess I really just wanted assurance that it'd be fairly competitive prices. I'd hate to pay twenty bucks, plus the cost of insurance, then find out that someone else offers fourteen bucks, with insurance included. As I've said, I live rural, so even the hunt for a box is an issue, so it's like a scavenger hunt. As long as I'm in the ballpark, I'm good. Thanks for the assurance fellas.

 

[Kenneth07ex]

Thanks again, and just to be clear, I'm not looking to be too creative, just wondering what everyone else does. It's a slide, for a fifteen hundred dollar gun, so it'll need to go first class. Nothing creative, just a simple, insured mailing. My concern was an overpriced usps, vs ups, or fed ex. Like I said as long as it's price competitive, I'd prefer usps going out. They can do whatever on the way back. If I lived in the city, I'm certain that it would be different. Had a bad experience trying to return an electric blanket last year. They wanted fifty bucks to send it. But this is way more important than that, so I just wanted to get a little feedback.