Todd Hughes
>I think you will find that the post office is still the cheapest way to mail most items
For example lets see what it would cost if I was to send a 3 lb. plane from Md. to Ca.

If I was to use UPS it would cost me $31.86 to send it 2nd day, $$25.45 for 3rd day and $16.66 to send it ground.

To send the same plane with the post office it would cost me $10.35 for priority mail if it fit in a medium size flat rate box or $11.95 to send it priority mail if it didn't. The post office will give you priority mail boxes for free something I don't think the UPS will. If you wish to send it parcil post using the US post office it will cost you $8.12

As you can see is quite a bit cheaper to use the post office for something like this and most other items too I am sure.
I have sent many thousands of items using the post office and can count on one hand the problems I have had with them. In my experance the post office is run amazingly well and it is very very rare to have a problem and while yeah i would like to ship things at the prices you could 10 years ago i still think they are a bargin.
I have used UPS probably 12 times and in 5 of those they either broke the item or didn't deliver it to the right address. Once ran over a rifle I sent, you could see the tire tracks on the box!Even though I had bought insurance they fought me tooth and nail on the claim because I had used a "used" box to ship the item.... Personaly I don't see how they stay in business, I know i sure don't want to ever deal with them again.....Todd