Great Deal from UPS Store: The Rest of the Story

[fightingquaker13]

OK, I posted what a great service UPS Stores offered (though it varies by the store) in terms of holding a box for you vs checking it on the plane. I shipped today. Here are my thoughts.
What I shipped:
1 28"x18"x18' box. Weight, about 55 pounds. Cost to ship? $76 plus anothe $30 for $1500 in insurance. The box (with fly rods, bag, tent, boots, stove,  flys etc.) is worth about $4000, but the insurance  got stupid after $1500.Its kind of scary to realize how pricy your toys are, but thats what happens when you accumulate them over 20 years and then have to figure replacement costs.
On the other hand.  Cost to check a second bag on Delta? $50 plus the overweight and over sized baggage fee of $165. Thats $165 per weight plus $165 for size.Advantage UPS. (all numbers are one way)
Still, I will pay  $100 to ship this stuff each way. With a first class ticket you get three bags at 70 pounds free.
 Lesson learned: If you have to fly steerage, UPS saves money. If you have the FF miles or the cash to upgrade to business or first class, check your gear and pray.
FQ13

[MikeBjerum]

If you want to make sure you get through baggage claim quick, are going to a gun friendly area and have a ticket that matches what you need to check - properly secure and pack a small gun in your bag.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his kindergarten security crew aside, the airline keeps a close eye on bags flagged as having firearms.  I know some have been misplaced over the years, but I can't figure out how.  Every time I have flown with guns I have stood in the window watching bags going on the plane, and mine are the first ones off the cart, last one on the plane and first ones off.  The guys putting the bags on the conveyor have always kept my bags with guns right next to them as they load everything else.

All that aside, shipping stuff ahead is a great idea and saves a lot of airport hassle.  I have friends that take cross country motorcycle trips, and they will ship items to themselves (mostly new clean clothes or weather garments they only need for certain segments) at different points in the journey.  They learned this from people hiking cross country and bicycle riders taking cross country treks.

[Hazcat]

FQ,

I can get ya $5,000.00 worth of insurance for $40.00.

[fightingquaker13]

FQ,

I can get ya $5,000.00 worth of insurance for $40.00.

You've got  between now and Tuesday. PM me  and its sold.
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

You've got  between now and Tuesday. PM me  and its sold.
FQ13

Have fun on your trip FQ.
We expect pictures !

[Sponsor]

[MikeBjerum]

FQ,

I can get ya $5,000.00 worth of insurance for $40.00.

It isn't about the amount of insurance.  The fact that he put insurance on the package just about guarantees it won't get "lost."

An office worker at UPS told me that most of their tracking system came out of the insurance side of their operation.  Once something is insured they need to be sure they know where it is and find where it got lost.  Flag it as insured, and it will be well watched, electronically, through the entire trip.

The most visible of this is with the USPS.  Insure something you mail, and every step of the way it must be scanned, and it can not be just put in a mailbox or even a post office box - it must be hand delivered person to person.