Shipping Quilts?
 

I am finishing a quilt for a DGS and his wife, and need to ship it accross country. What is the best method of shipping it? Your help will be greatly appreciated.

I always use UPS, they have tracking at every step of the way (USPS is getting better at that, though). I find that for over 2 pounds or so, the rates are cheaper and the first $100 of insurance is included in the price.

Priority Mail Insured with Confirmed Delivery. They have to track it every step of the way. I've sent packages to Bahrain this way with no problems whatsoever

i've been sending quilts all across the country for a few years now- i always use priority flat rate (when they fit) or regular priority mail boxes if too large for a flat rate. i ALWAYS add insurance & delivery confirmation...the one time i did not add insurance/delivery- because the customer insisted it was not necessary-- i sent quilt in october---she finally received it in March---for 6 months she was upset with me- and saying very negative things- i had no way to track it- because she insisted it was not necessary- when she finally received it & with it the explanation/apology from her post office she was very...sweet to me, apologizing, but alot of damage & hurt feelings had happened in the mean time...so i ALWAYS regardless of what someone may say- ALWAYS add both- insurance & delivery-and have never had one take longer than 5 days to get anywhere- usually 3 days is all it takes.

I just sent one via USPS this week. It was a twin size so it fit in the large flat rate Priority Mail box and I also purchased the Delivery Confirmation option. I forgot the insurance part (I would have purchased that too) but mostly I wanted to know that it arrived. I tracked it as it made its way to its new home. It made it from western US to the upper midwest in two days.

I also used UPS to send a quilt to India.

Those are the only two quilts I've mailed and they both arrived safe and sound. The India one was MUCH more expensive as was to be expected. I am thinking I will probably use USPS again - no special reason I guess except that the price was nice for the Priority Mail box and it was very convenient.

Priority mail and confirmed delivery is how I go too. Just shipped one to charisma on Mon. to be quilted. I do this all the time and have never had a problem. I mailed it on Mon. from In. and she got it on Wed. in Wash. St.

I always find it cheaper to use priority than the flat rate boxes, flat rate is good if you have something small and weighty.

and I agree that insurance and confirmation is worth the small amount extra, saves a lot of worry

Because my little rural post office has an amazing postmaster who goes the step above to help, I always ship USPS Priority or whatever way HE recommends after weighing my package and discussing it with me. He knows I ship a lot of quilts and always takes an interest.

Jan in VA

I mailed my sister in Texas a quilt via USPS and it took 18 days to get there. Scared me but she got it. I didn't get insurance, nor tracking number-silly me.
so you choice. things do happen but not often. good luck.