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Expensive Packages

August 13th, 2015 at 07:23 pm

I mailed two packages this morning -- one to my son and one to my BIL. Both contained clothing and each were weighed at 4.3 lbs. The one to my BIL was one shirt -- so I know it wasn't 4 lbs. The total cost to mail them was $23.92. This seems to be a lot more than I am used to paying, but then, I usually mail books by media mail. I'm going to rethink whether I really want to ship things any more. They are just used items, bought cheaply. I don't want to spend a fortune to mail them.

I walked to the post office to get exercise, and toted the packages in my little cart. I also went to the library, but the branch is closed on Thursdays. Outside the building was a bag of donated books and DVD's. I decided to put the bag in my cart and take them to the library tomorrow when it's open. Once home, I went through the bag. One of the items is a DVD I will watch today, and I decided to keep a few of the books to read and donate later. Do you think this is unethical? They will all get to the library eventually -- and they might not have, had I not rescued the bag.

If they were just left by the garbage, I wouldn't think a thing about it, but since they were obviously intended as a donation, I do feel a bit guilty.

My variables spending is at 105% this month, but there is still $874 surplus from previous underspending.

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments »

6 Responses to “Expensive Packages”

  1. starfishy Says:
    August 13th, 2015 at 07:28 pm 1439494117
    1439494117

    i don't think what you did is unethical since you are going to donate the books later anyway. seems like you did a good job stewarding the donation that was left outside and could have been taken, rained on, peed on by a dog, etc.!! Smile

  2. My English Castle Says:
    August 13th, 2015 at 11:08 pm 1439507310
    1439507310

    I'd have the same qualms, but think you're right. And I agree about mailing prices! I'm always taken aback by how expensive it is.

  3. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    August 13th, 2015 at 11:55 pm 1439510130
    1439510130

    If I were donating books, I'd be very happy to know that someone truly got some use and enjoyment. Sometimes I think that most books I've donated end up in the trash, but then, I donate to charity stores rather than to the library.

  4. snafu Says:
    August 14th, 2015 at 03:21 am 1439522464
    1439522464

    I recall one of the bloggers mentioned the PO uses a formula of size and weight of packages. If you can use really small packaging or envelope [Kraft] mailers it keeps cost more moderate. If clothing can be shoved in a zip bag with air sucked out via vacuum cleaner to replicate a space bag, it might help costs.

  5. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    August 14th, 2015 at 04:40 pm 1439570439
    1439570439

    I agree with the others. I don't think what you did was unethical - especially since you plan to donate them to the library later.

  6. doingitallwrong Says:
    August 16th, 2015 at 11:48 am 1439725737
    1439725737

    Have you tried Priority Mail? The flat rate envelopes and the small flat-rate box are around $6 to send, regardless of what's in it, how much it weighs, or where it's going (in the US).

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