[pct-l] Food Packages -- Priority Mail vs. First Class

[Slyatpct at aol.com (Slyatpct@aol.com)]

In a message dated 3/11/2004 12:54:08 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
JRDPAD@aol.com writes:

> I am interested in hearing about PCT thru-hikers experience in mailing food 
> packages.  Were there significant delays in arrival?  Any packages that did 
> not show up?  Damage in shipment, etc.  Yogi has made her opinion clear in 
> her Handbook.  What have others experiences been?  .... 
> 

First of all all, 1st class will be deemed Priority as it will most likely be 
over 13 ozs.  which is the cut off.  Do you mean Priority Mail vs. parcel 
post?

When using the buy as I go strategy, I tend to mail parcel post to save 
money, unless I know I'll be there in less then a weeks time.  In my experiences, 
anything I mailed parcel post, up trail, was there before I was.  I also found 
it very helpful to ask at the PO before deciding.

A couple of exceptions though, if you're mailing cross country you'll only 
save $.15 or so by using parcel post AND if it's something I may not need at the 
time, such as a bounce box, I'll use Priority Mail that has free mail 
forwarding.

Sly