Sorry for the really mundane topic.
I’m from the UK but I’m visiting the US in a couple of weeks. My dad has friends in the US (but in a different state to where I’m going), so I’m bringing some small gifts from him which I will mail to them internally. It will be a small (A4 or maybe a bit bigger) padded envelope stuffed with chocolates and other small things.
I planned just to find a post office and send it from there. But I have heard that there’s a service (my dad thinks it’s called Kinko) which is a better option. Or do you use DHL or UPS preferentially for this sort of delivery? Any couriers to avoid? I just don’t want to end up paying over the odds, or choosing a really crap and slow service.
Thanks!
25 comments
USPS
USPS, UPS, or Fedex will all work
Just go to the closest part office. It’ll be cheaper than ups,etc.
Kinko was bought out a while ago and turned into FedEx office.
You can probably use UPS, USPS or just FedEx.
Any of them will be fine. USPS is probably cheaper than UPS or Fedex, but really just find the location that’s most convenient. Kinko’s used to be a business but they were bought by Fedex – sometimes you might still see a “Fedex Kinko’s” but I think they’re just called Fedex now. If it’s not time sensitive, avoid overnight shipping because that will be the most crazy expensive. Recommend Priority or Ground options, those will be the cheapest.
The post office, USPS, will usually be the less expensive way but can take a little longer 1-2 days longer. UPS, FedEx, will be slightly higher cost, will be a little quicker in delivery (to/from where I live anyway).
Post Office for envelopes unless you are sending it overnight then UPS or FedX. Mostly because the Post Office’s system is designed to handle envelopes so it’s less likely to get destroyed going regular shipment.
Kinko is just a pick-up point for one of the big shippers.
I’m lazy, so I just roll into the neighborhood UPS store, give them whatever I’m shipping and the address and they pack it up and handle the rest for a reasonable price.
I could probably box it up myself and stand in line at the post office for less, but as previously stated, I’m lazy.
The United States Post Office is a good way to send a small package. They offer all the tracking services of the private carriers. Cost and delivery options will vary according to the delivery address. But you can use Priority Mail with the Post Office at a low flat rate with reliable delivery.
Kinko’s was the name of a print and copy center that FedEx acquired about 20 years ago and rebranded as FedEx Kinko’s as a competitor to UPS Stores. They had thousands of existing locations that they put shipping centers into. They then rebranded as FedEd Office.
They then rebranded as FedEx Office (With Kinko’s Inside) because Kinko’s was the ubiquitous brand name for “a copy shop” and people still called their stores Kinko’s. Facial tissue = Kleenex, a machine that sucks dust out of carpet – Hoover, A store to make copies – Kinko’s.
If you look on Google for Kinko’s, you probably won’t find one because it’s not the real name of the store. You’re looking for a FedEx Office. Source: former Kinko’s and FedExOffice employee.
UPS Store, FedEx Office, US Post Office…all a perfectly reasonable option to send your package. None have a distinct advantage over the other. The Post Office is typically the least expensive.
FedEx/UPS, at least in my experience, tend to charge slightly more than the US Postal Service for the average person to send a package.
For small and lightweight items, if you don’t need a urgent delivery, First class packages (weight limit 13oz) often have unbeatable pricing. (For example, the maximum 13oz item is $7.05 to 7.65 depending on delivery distance. For anything more, the Priority Mail flat rate box pricing structure is very clear, and the boxes are available at no cost at post offices).
Check prices on USPS .com and UPS.com for small things. FedEx ususally doesn’t have better prices unless you are shipping larger things, or have a contract and ship a lot of things.
Use the closest post office. They’ll have [Priority-Mail Flat Rate](https://www.usps.com/ship/priority-mail.htm) boxes and envelopes of various sizes there, which arrive in 2-3 days of delivery. It sounds like you’ll probably be able to use an envelope. You can ship whatever can fit inside these boxes and envelopes without extra costs due to weight. And Priority-Mail comes with a tracking number, so you’ll be able to track the package.
USPS works just fine. However, I would send express delivery rather than ordinary parcel post. That way you can track it.
*”I planned just to find a post office and send it from there.”*
That would be your absolutely best route. Any of the other parcel services you’re going to have to find the nearest one which may not be in the town you’re in but The Post office is everywhere, in every town, and delivers everywhere.
Fun fact; depending on where the delivery is going the other major shippers may well use the post office for the ‘last mile’ of delivery anyway. IE. You shipped it UPS but they have to pick it up at the Post office.
Plus you can get the parcel insured, delivery notification, tracking so you know where in the route it is, if you care, and these services are actually pretty cheap or even free. I ship parcels all over in the US and unless it’s a really big or heavy or otherwise unusual item, the USPS is my go to shipper.
Any USPS post office. Your cheapest/fastest option is probably just one of their flat rate envelopes if it is just a padded envelope. It will be sent priority and will include insurance and package tracking.
UPS and FedEx are the other options. Kinko’s was a office supply/printing/copying center that merged with FedEx and now goes by FedEx Office. You can go there and ship things via FedEx.
Google the nearest post office and go there. It should be remarkably easy to mail it and the person at the counter should help you. If you’re in a populated area there might be a line, but you can pay the postage at the counter – it’s based on the weight of the package and there are add-ons if you want the person to sign for it, or if you want a delivery receipt. Regular ground shipping should be fine as long as there’s nothing in there that will get messy if it melts.
Go to the nearest post office and ask for the cheapest service with tracking available.
I would use either UPS or FedEx. I’ve had nothing but bad experiences with the USPS. They’ve lost sensitive documents of mine on two occasions. Then they take no responsibility for it.
Go to your local Post Office.
The United States Postal Service is in every town in the country, cheaper than FedEx or UPS, and for having a small package delivered the prices are quite reasonable.
Send it Priority Mail, it’s relatively fast (1 or 3 days to anywhere in the US) and the prices are decent for the level of service.
Kinko’s is now owned by FedEx (they are a copy shop/office supply store that is now used as a retail location for FedEx package service). UPS is the other major package service, and they’ve got their own chain of UPS Stores. They’re options too, but they aren’t as widespread as the USPS (they actually use the Postal Service to deliver a lot of their packages). DHL is fairly uncommon in the US.
USPS would be best
I’d just go for the post office. No need to complicate things.
Put it in a cardboard box with a bunch of wires sticking out LOL.
The post office is dirt cheap, yet still *very* reliable in the US.
Like others said, just go to the post office and bring it to the counter. The clerk can print out the label and put it on, and you can pay on the spot.
FedEx and UPS are faster but significantly (like 10x) more expensive. DHL doesn’t really do domestic services here anymore.
Post office would be best for that… Your dad is thinking of Kinko’s, which is owned by FedEx and could send it that way. There are also UPS stores. But USPS would be cheaper for what your sending.
If you’re not too worried about how long it takes, postal service is fine. If you want it to be there quickly or if it’s something important/expensive you want to be able to track and/or insure, I would use UPS.