Two days ago Mr. Tow went to the little mail center in our neighborhood with a Christmas package to mail to my 85 year old Mom in New York.
Because I have to mail so many packages out of town to relatives and friends every year, I try to be VERY careful to keep the gifts lightweight so the postage will be affordable.
Yesterday he told me the package to Mom - which was in a small box and was very light, cost $22.00. I am in total shock. A few years ago it would have cost under $10.00.
He sent it UPS. The guy at the mail center said U.S. Postal Service would have cost over $30.00.
Three tiny packages I sent to friends around the country cost a total of $20. I used to mail them in Kansas for about $3.00 per package.
Now I am literally feeling sick. I have four more packages to mail -- which are all considerably more expensive than the box we mailed to my Mom. I can envision costs for shipping this Christmas totalling significantly more than $100. To me that is outrageous. Not many years ago, postage for all of our packages was under $50.00.
Moral of the story: You can make sure you live close to every single person you plan to give gifts too, or don't buy and mail gifts to loved ones out of town. Or pay a LOT of money. There are no other options.
BAH HUMBUG on UPS AND the U.S. Postal Service.
