Shipping via US Mail vs. shipping company

What shipping method works best really depends on how much “stuff” you plan to ship.  We routinely send small boxes of personal goods from Texas to STX using the USPS Priority Mail service and our shipments have always arrived within 3 to 5 days.  Using USPS’s less expensive non-Priority service usually takes about 10 days.  

If you are sending larger items such as furniture then you need to use a freight forwarder like Tropical Shipping.  

These folks do a very good job and are easy to talk to about your needs.

I recommend them - am not associated in ANY way.

https://shipvi.com/

Ship your stuff to Paradise Freight in Miami. They're super easy to work with and very economical. I use them all the time. www.paradisefreight.com

I use free checked bag from airline for many things ( up to 50 lbs in a home depot or Lowe's large size box) as I go back and forth.

I use USPS for small items that are heavy or fragile but fit in flat rate box - I just shipped 50+  lbs of lead shot dive weights to myself in a medium flat rate box for $15.05 - they checked, and it would have been $125 for parcel post.

I use VI Cargo or Paradise Freight for most large items, especially shipments that are delivered stateside for free - 

I haven't tried the one @exit-zero mentioned, but will give them a call and check rates next time.

If you have a lot of stuff to ship, you might look at renting a small container (they come in 10, 20 and 40 foot sizes). Most shipping companies charge a processing fee, but you can minimize that expense by combining shipments.

if you have more than a few items, use a freight forwarder. ive had usps shipments take more than 3 weeks when shipping stuff from the mainland. 

Yeah, I shipped 28lbs of dive weights plus a few lbs of other stuff in a medium USPS flat rate box to myself a few weeks ago.   It's a deal. And 4-5 days delivery.

@vicanuck I use paradise a lot, but lately things have been taking 2 weeks or more to get.  I think the new customs process is slowing things down, but I'll pay the extra few $ to get it in 3-4 days from amazon if needed ASAP lately.   

@daveb722

There was a back log of shipments a few weeks ago caused by a ship sailing out of MIA that had mechanical issues and had to turn back. This caused two weeks worth of containers to arrive all at once. There were many unhappy and impatient people milling about everyday waiting for there shipments to be found. But, overall, they provide excellent service and I'm rarely there for more than a few minutes, especially when I pay ahead of time online.

@vicanuck how do you pay ahead of time, i looked for that option and cannot locate it.  That would definitely be a time saver.  Thanks.

@daveb722

When they email you that your shipment is ready, there is a link at the bottom where you can pay with your credit card. You can also pay over the phone if they call you.

I used to always go in the office, but, the prepay is a huge time saver.

@vicanuck Oh, I always have them call me, I will let them know to email me going forward.  With one person allowed in the office it takes forever right now.  Thanks for the info.

@daveb722

Oh yeah...100% agree. I love all the staff and enjoy seeing them, but, time is money to me.

Posted by: @vicanuck

@daveb722

When they email you that your shipment is ready, there is a link at the bottom where you can pay with your credit card. You can also pay over the phone if they call you.

I used to always go in the office, but, the prepay is a huge time saver.

you forgot the $6.95 transaction fee i believe for doing it on line

@stxisbest

Lots of companies charge a transaction fee. I'd rather pay the $6.95 than wait in line in the hot sun.

Time is money. Besides, I'm a business owner picking up business related shipments. Ultimately the customer is paying the fee, not me.

I've seen the fee's on Amazon are in the $12 to $18 range so if I consolidate my purchases I can spread the fee over a number of items so the cost per item is small.  Bottomline, I've been using them when possible.

Posted by: @vicanuck

@stxisbest

Lots of companies charge a transaction fee. I'd rather pay the $6.95 than wait in line in the hot sun.

Time is money. Besides, I'm a business owner picking up business related shipments. Ultimately the customer is paying the fee, not me.

understood but if you don't pay attention to the fine print what you thought was only going to cost you $6 with insurance now becomes a $13 fee--a percent or two added to total bill because of doing it on line is fine but $6.95 is really pushing it--may be fine for a business like you that can write it away but the laymen gets screwed

Posted by: @jaldeborgh

I've seen the fee's on Amazon are in the $12 to $18 range so if I consolidate my purchases I can spread the fee over a number of items so the cost per item is small.  Bottomline, I've been using them when possible.

not understanding fees are $12 t0 $18

@stxisbest

I don't understand your question or concern.

Posted by: @stxisbest

not understanding fees are $12 t0 $18

This is the shipping fee, which wouldn't exist on a mainland shipment as a Prime member.

@vicanuck

just saying that if people don't pay attention to the fine print on paradises pay online extra fee that what would of cost me /them just $5-6 now turns into a double payment--if you didn't catch it then your actual cost for shipping could double in that instance--so unless it is a business or a sizeable cost for shipping, the online payment is not good at that rate--should only be a percent or two added not a flat fee

@jaldeborgh

that is never the same charge--it will add more or less depending on what and from where it is shipping--sometimes you can still get free shipping depending on if it is coming direct from the vendor and they still honor it to here--does happen--amazon in general will start you at around $10-15 but as you add items cost goes up--sometimes not worth it even if trying to as you said spread cost over other items--sometimes cheaper to do more than one order as a test (don't continue to final payment) to see if shipping will be cheaper by doing multiple orders--either way we still get screwed even if we have prime because of location--best thing is the free shipping to paradise or vicargo is still available--at least they seem to still be cheaper than walmart with their obnoxious "handling/processing fee on top of shipping cost when using mail

@stxisbest

I ship so much stuff...I don't even think about it anymore.

Standard mail may be fine for parcels, but I don't know about furniture, or if they even would do it. When we relocated to VI we used this service https://threemenandatruck.net/ which is a moving company based out of the U.S. We compared a few and they seemed to be the cheapest, but we never considered shipping with USPS since we had a decent amount of things that needed to be shipped. Not sure what type of furniture you need shipped, but it's more than just smaller pieces, I would probably tend toward a moving company and they would also be able to ship boxes and other things for you. No real need to use two different services if everything's going to the same place. 

1. @gettermoving This is helpful. Thanks!