Pricing a small move

Dear all,

I've searched for this but I'm still undecided on the cheapest way to ship my boxes, so thanks for any help!

I'll have about 15 boxes, half or more of which will be book boxes and the rest of which will be clothing - nothing breakable.  I am a student and I teach as well so books are my livelihood.

I am being quoted between $1,425 and $1,525 by Rainier and Sterling.  I originally wanted to use UPakWeShip but the reviews make me very nervous.

Can I ship this stuff for cheaper?  I know that even with UPS it would be about $100 a box anyway, and I need to do door-to-door shipping given that I don't have a car and live on a 5th-floor walkup.

My move is from NYC to London.  Thanks for any help!
 

M-bags for the books might be an option: https://www.usps.com/send/airmail-mbags.htm

You might be best off shipping the books with M bags (just carry them one at a time to the post office or pay for a taxi a couple of times) and the clothes as excess baggage on your flight.

I think they've discontinued M-bags based on info I found on other sites.  Also, there's no longer any M-bags info on the USPS website.

Unfortunately most airlines seem to allow a maximum of two bags in the hold.  Is there any way to take more bags on?  I'm flying Continental and the maximum you can check is two bags - after that it's $200 per bag which seems more than I'd pay to ship stuff.

Or, any ideas on affordable door-to-door shipping?  Thanks for your help!  

Cali Girl linked to the USPS site about M-bags. So yes, they do exist, although they go via airmail now instead of ground.

Yes, and strangely there's nothing on that page, leading me to believe along with other evidence that M-bags no longer exist... I guess I'd need to go to the post office to ask about it?

However, I don't have the strength to carry 10 boxes of books down five flights of stairs in my building.  That's why I'm wondering if there are any door-to-door options.  Does UPS pick up, for example?

Thanks!

It's $37.95 for 11 pounds, and $3.45 each pound after for up to 66 pounds.

You need to call your local post office and see what they offer, but since it is a heavy package going abroad that might not be an option - a pick up that is.



 

Odd, that page isn't blank for me. Sorry!

USPS picks up prepaid priority boxes but I'm not sure about M bags.

Princess eab did you ever figure out what you were going to do? I think using the post office may be cheaper for most of your items