Old_Rosebud, you can ship priority mail and get your tracking number. That is what a friend of mine does. I do mine online at the USPS website. You can fill out the paperwork online and everything. then just drop at the PO. When you go into the post office, it costs you more because we need to pay the person working. You can just print out the label on regular paper and attach it with tape to the box. Works even if you are using the envelopes. You can order those online thru their website as well. I hope that helps. Seems rather silly to have to pay that much. I shipped a whole quilt express mail for that price.