im planning on sending out 25 coon skins to get tanned......any suggestions on how to pack them to save on shipping? i'm goin with ups......I wont deal with the incompentence that's running rampant with the postal service.

You might talk to your tanner and let them tell you... if you call UPS they can't tell you squat.

Garry-

you might be right garry

Gently tuck the tails up inside the pelt. Don’t crease them, just gently fold.

If you find a golf club box, that might be about right to hold 25 coon.

Pack them in as tight as possible. Don’t leave any empty space at the end of the box. Cut the flaps down if necessary..

A box like that will be measured for dimensional weight and if the dimensional weight is greater than the actual weight, you will pay extra.

Tell UPS you are shipping to a commercial address.

UPS rates just went up after Christmas. Shipping isn’t cheap.

If possible, take the package directly to a UPS counter or UPS store. If you use a third party shipper, they add their fee on top of UPS rates and some times that is a bunch.

Isn't that the truth. I keep wondering when the point will come where a lot of say ebay sellers and other "ma & pa" type of small businesses simply get forced out selling to distant points across the country? The ratcheting up in shipping prices has been going on for years, even when oil is cheap.

How far from Wellsburg Iowa are you? You could probably drive there and back for alot less than the shipping cost would be. It's a bit of a haul for me, but from where in Wisconsin I'm at I leave home and be back in about 7 hours. Nice road trip if you don't mind alot of flat land. Sleepy Creek Tannery.

looks like around 350 miles from my front door to Wellsburg Iowa

Check out Speedee. Looks like there are walk-in locations where you can bring the package to ship it in Champaign and Springfield. Call ahead and they should be able to give you a quote. You're probably looking at about $15 shipping, but it's a 100 mile round trip. Call them because there will be an added walk-in fee, but I don't think its more than a few bucks. BUT, your package will arrive safely the next day.

I shipped this ice fishing sled with Speedee and it cost me $11. It arrived the next day 100 miles away.

I used to own one of those.

That is, if you're shipping to Sleepy Creek Tannery in Wellsburg Iowa.

Based on their price list, your total bill would be about $500.