Ryan and Christy's Place

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm talking about the U.S. Postal Service.

This summer, I stressed myself and my finances (slightly) in my quests to find boxes to send Ryan care packages. I bought tons of packing tape and sent him whatever I could to try to bring him a little cheer while he was in training.

It wasn't until before he left for Kuwait that I found out you can get a number of postal supplies for FREE via the USPS Web site. The first time I ordered I actually used their toll-free number (which I can't find, but hey, why would you order something by phone when you're sitting here on the Internet and I just gave you the link to free supplies?) and received two boxes of priority mail boxes, a roll of priority mail tape, labels and customs forms.

I've also disccovered the new flat-rate boxes (one is long and thin, the other smallish and square), in which you can send anything priority mail at any weight for $7.70. They're plugged as being convenient, as you can slap on postage and mail them from anywhere rather than going to the post office. I also find them nice for mailing heavier things -- but I wouldn't mail anything light in them, as you always pay $7.70 and might end up paying more than if you would with a regular box.

Personally, I like mailing via priority mail -- I don't know why, it's just my personal preference, though there may be better ways. The fact that it's priority mail doesn't affect how fast it gets to the Army bases once it leaves the United States, only how fast it gets to its respective sorting area here. But like I said, it's what I like using. Any other tips are welcome.

Also, something I didn't know about that could help those of you mailing things for the first time: You must use a customs form, listing the contents of the packages you are sending. You can get these at your local post office. Of course you can't send items like pork or pornography, and food such as chocolate in the summer when it would melt. BUT I would also warn against being super specific on the forms about what you are sending and maybe round down the items' prices (which you also have to list on the form). I only say that to discourage stealing, which I've only heard rumors of but I'm sure has happened.

For example, don't write: NCAA Hockey 2005 PC Game, $50 (or however much it really is.) Maybe write: Game, $25. Something un-flashy might not catch other people's attention. I'm not sure if listing the exact prices of items has any real benefit. I also don't have any particular knowledge about whether insuring packages does any good, so tips on that may be good, as well. Tips on anything, in fact. Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. But I do frequent the post office.

Really, what I care about is getting things to Ryan that make him happy and remind him of home. And so far, everything I've sent has arrived in about two or three weeks (except six soap dishes, which were in one of the first packages I sent but oddly arrived last). So if you find a way that has worked for you, stick with it. I'm only putting this out there because people helped me, and I want to help other people.

Anyway, order some boxes! Everybody loves free stuff.

-- Christy