Should I be worried shipping USPS Parcel Post?

I would insure all of them. It seems from other's experiences that the insurance stickers deter any pilfering!

I've been shipping packages to STX by USPS multiple times a year for close to 10 years (usually anywhere for 10 to 30 packages over the course of each year) and have never had a package go missing. I've never once insured them but I do pay for tracking. FYI - if you ship by Priority Mail from the US the package usually gets there in 3 to 5 days but it does cost significantly more.

I highly recommend insuring every package. It is worth the money. I shipped many boxes here and the only ones that arrived "damaged" (read "opened") were the ones that I had not insured. It also seems to me that insured packages arrive a bit faster too.

Insurance or tracking should keep the teefs away. I usually do both insurance and tracking. Otherwise, you'll still get the box, but possibly with somebody else's contents swapped in.

even if you insure your packages, you would have to provide the sales receipts for the items or the post office won't honor paying you the insured amount. It's a scam and a half, especially if you're sending household items you've owned for years and don't; have years worth of receipts to prove the purchase prices, etc.

Just did a quick check on USPS.com and if you ship small things priority flat rate, it is the same price as inside the lower 48. I know it's not practical for household items but I have gotten my vitamin suppliers to agree to ship them there when I need it.

even if you insure your packages, you would have to provide the sales receipts for the items or the post office won't honor paying you the insured amount. It's a scam and a half, especially if you're sending household items you've owned for years and don't; have years worth of receipts to prove the purchase prices, etc.

USPS insurance seems to be more useful as a deterrent to theft, rather than a way to recoup a loss. I often insure for much less than the value.

When I first moved here, just a little over a year and a half ago, I was ignorant and shipped everything that didn't go on the plane with me USPS. I think there were about eight boxes. The most valuable (both $$ and soul) was my snorkel gear. The first time I went to the post office, the guy fussed at me for being ignorant, but after he got that out of the way, he helped quite a bit. He kept an eye out for those boxes of mine. We'd come in once a week to check if they made it or not. He'd see us walk in and wave and smile. By the time we would get up to the counter, he'd already be able to tell us if our boxes were there yet. I think it took a total of six weeks to get all eight boxes (uninsured) but none of them had been touched, crushed, or got lost. Perhaps, I just got lucky. Perhaps, the guy felt sorry for me being such a stupid newbie and my attitude about it was taken the right way. Or perhaps, my top was low-cut enough. Heck, I don't know, just glad from hearing others' horror stories I didn't have one to add to it.

Over the past six years I have sent many packages both to and from STX and only used tracking. Some packages took 6 weeks and others arrived in ten days. All the packages were large and some with expensive equipment and never had a lost unit or serious damage. I do use packaging tape on all the edges of the box, include a shipping label inside the box and cover the outside mailing label with tape so it does not get wet or torn. I've always been pleased with the USPS service. The only minor negative is that sometimes the tracking lists nothing on the progress of the package until it's delivered.

the only problem i have ever had, has been slow shipping even with envelopes. my dad sent me a giftcard for my bday in october- i think he got it back sometime in january. he did get my address wrong somehow so it was his fault.

Invest in heavy duty boxes and good packing tape that really sticks, not the bargain brands. Tape all seems, corners and edges. If a box isn't completely full stuff it with balled up newspaper so the box doesn't crush and split open. In ten years and hundreds of we have only lost one wine glass when shipping by mail.

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I have been going crazy with the shipping tape, I also wrapped the boxes and used more shipping tape on the outside. It looks like I will minimally insure and track all the boxes. Thanks again!

We ship often via the USPS and have never had any issues. We recently discovered if you specifically ask for “ground” that it is significantly less expensive, especially for large , heavy items. Sometimes it takes longer because they won’t send the ship until it is filled to a certain capacity, so it just depends. If you are not in a hurry it is great option.

I second the other posters regarding packing tape, and sturdy boxes it makes all the difference.

I agree that bad packaging is the biggest problem, which is not really USPS's fault. My rules of thumb are: pack so it can survive a 3 foot drop on any side, somebody sitting on it, a brief rain storm, and the label falling off.

Invest in heavy duty boxes and good packing tape that really sticks, not the bargain brands. Tape all seems, corners and edges. If a box isn't completely full stuff it with balled up newspaper so the box doesn't crush and split open. In ten years and hundreds of we have only lost one wine glass when shipping by mail.

You can never use too much tape 😀
You also can use clothes, towels, sheets, etc. for filling. It might make the box heavier, but you are killing 2 birds with 1 stone.

Even when I mail envelopes to the states, I use tape.

STXBob is right on the money. I have shipped lots of stuff this way, never had a problem.

If you are shipping to a PO Box rather than to Connections or the Mail Center, buy some baked goods as a thank-you for the post office personnel helping you out with all those packages. Yes, it is their job, but a little appreciation will go a long way the next time you want to get anything done there.

I second the 'use a lot of tape'. Also when packing, remember, 'If it doesn't shake, it won't break' (well, most of the time anyhow 🙂 ) On St. John, for arriving packages, Parcel Post has taken anywhere from 3 weeks to 13 weeks to arrive to me. Having labels that are on White paper, typed in a large bold font, and completely taped over helps a bit too. And boxes with little or no extra writing (or any writing thoroughly blacked out) helps. And I also second the insurance option and delivery confirmation will help you know when the package is at the Post Office (sometimes it can take days for them to actually notify you that your package has arrive).

We mailed 40+ boxes from STX to Louisville in January with no problem. We did not insure, but tracked. Parcel Post. Took about a month, but everything got here with zero breakage. Tape all the seams.

Recent personal experience.....

We shipped about 10 boxes 20x20x20 usps from Boston parcel post.

They cost about 50 dollars at 60 pounds each +/-

They took 2 weeks to get here

All I did was tracking number no insurance

Nothing was stolen or broken but the boxes did arrive pretty beat up

Recent personal experience.....

We shipped about 10 boxes 20x20x20 usps from Boston parcel post.

They cost about 50 dollars at 60 pounds each +/-

They took 2 weeks to get here

All I did was tracking number no insurance

Nothing was stolen or broken but the boxes did arrive pretty beat up

Two weeks!? I'm also shipping from Boston and assumed it would be about 5 weeks. That is good know. Thank you!

Two weeks!? I'm also shipping from Boston and assumed it would be about 5 weeks. That is good know. Thank you!

Don't bank on the two weeks. Even Priority mailings can take from 2 days to 3 weeks and parcel post can take up to three months. There's no rhyme or reason!

Yes, you'll need to plan for both longer and shorter time frames -- you can't count on either. When I first moved, I shipped boxes three weeks before I left. They arrived in a week, and Connections was very cranky with me for having to store them for all that time (even though I'd let them know beforehand that I would be shipping, I did not expect the packages to get there so quickly!).

Generally what's been posted already in this thread is accurate. Parcel Post is usually 5 weeks, sometimes a little shorter sometimes a little longer. Priority with Delivery Confirmation is the preferred way to go for general mailing if you can, that'll usually get here in 5 to 7 days. That said, I have had Parcel Post items get here in 3 weeks and I recently had a tiny, lightweight part for my jeep shipped Priority with Delivery Conf not show up for over 3 full months, no exaggeration.

Ship items now to arrive before American Airlines transitions to their skeleton Sched in August.

AA is the USPS' #1 contractor for Express, Priority and some Parcel Post mail. Once AA withdraws Eagle service in 2013, most USPS mail will be arriving in STX via ship.

The USPS mail contract is the only reason AA still operates 1 flight/day from MIA. Without that contract in place the daily AA Mainline flight would probably cease to exist. The gov't still utilizes the USPS to move its mail/parcels around for free, courtesy of the US Taxpayer. So I suspect there will be plenty of pressure to keep the AA daily even if the US Taxpayer has to pick up that tab too.

The important thing to remember is to ship today to avoid a delay!