For what it is worth.
There was a good thread a while back on using Fastenal. The good the bad and ugly. I have not shipped by them yet but we have one close by and will try some time.
Greyhound is also a much repeated shipper but experience, and many prior post, have found that it depends on WHO is running the terminal where you are at as to what they will or will not ship.
Fed-X vs UPS is a toss up in some area's, per post here, but my experience here in my hometown is Fed-X has beat UPS every time and doesn't rip up stuff like UPS. It also helps if you go ahead and establish an account with them and can ship to a business address which is on their beaten path everyday. Also, Fed-X has beat the pants off UPS every time I have shipped out of the USA.
The U.S. postal service is getting slower and slower and their rates have went up while the priority boxes have shrank.
...as a foot note, smaller is better regardless of weight. They go by Volume as much as the weight so keep the box cut down as small as possible. Heck, on SOME items (flywheel in this case) I actually wrapped it in only a saran like wrap, put an address on it and shipped it with Fed-X.(heavy but small)
Lastly... Never use a UPS or Fed-X store that is NOT really a Fed-X/UPS store but a PRIVATE store "authorized" to package and take stuff in for the big guys. You WILL pay a lot more. Go to the shipping terminal if you can... Some of us may not have a choice?
Location, management and packaging all play a part. It can all vary drastically. Les, in the end let us know how your story ends.
