time should also be taken into consideration when choosing the best way to go- generally the packages i send out 'Priority Mail' take 2-5 days to arrive at destination---i've had parcel post packages take 3 months= or longer---i had one package that i sent out parcel post in October (the person receiving requested this) she did not receive the package until the following March!---and the whole time in between she was kind of (upset- hurt toward me= i had no delivery tracking (another thing she did not think was necessary) she thought i only said i sent it---) when it finally arrived she did apologize for the bad feelings she had had--and the things she had been telling people--but of course it was a little to late for much damage control- so now i insist on priority, insurance and delivery confirmation on every package i send through the mail- regardless of how much more it may cost- it is not worth a buck or two savings to go through what we went through.