EXCELLENT shipping rates for shipping to/from TX, OK, west LA, south NM and Mexico

Ok... heres what I got for you. I just shipped yesterday from Tulsa, OK to Poteet, TX (approx 30 miles south of SanAntonio). I shipped grount (which is guaranteed by the end of the second day). The computer informed me when I printed the airbill that it would most definately be the second day due to the distance. However, I got a call from the mama today to let me know that she'd received it already. Note: I had it picked up from my house at 6pm and it was delivered by Noon. WOW! Also, the TOTAL price was $19.86. This included shipping, fuel surcharge and pickup ($3.50) and residential delievery ($2.20) fees. $19.86 was the total bill. I'm still amazed. Can you tell.

Anyway, my recipient mom recommended that I check the local petsmart for insulated boxes. I called my petsmart and they were more than willing to give me the boxes, however, my petsmart only gave me the styrofoam and not the surrounding cardboard boxes. You could try. I was told they get shipments in on Thursdays here and to call that morning and they'll hold all the boxes I want for free. Hopefully it will wrk for you with the cardboard as well. Also, I called a local small petstore and the owner told me he'd sell me the complete insulated boxes for $10 (which is cheaper than ordering them online, I believe).

To answer how many oz can fit in that sized box... yesterday I shipped a box that was 12x16x16 and had a 1inch styrofoam container inside. It held 440oz. It weighed 33lbs. There was no room for anything except the milk. But when I talked to the mama today, she said it was still frozen solid. I just got off the phone with LSO and they said they WILL accept the styrofoam without the cardboard around it. She said, "as long as you feel it will make it there in one piece in whatever container you ship it in." So, I assume that means using the thicker styrofoam box.

Hope this info helps you.
Amy

Thanks so much for the tip -- Do you know about how many ounces fit into that sized container? Also, did this shipping company require that you use a sturdier box over the styrofoam chest? FedEx won't allow chests to be shipped on their own and we are having trouble finding a box that fits right around a chest (chest and dry ice from one place, box will have to be from somewhere else).

Thanks for any more information!

I just thought I'd pass this along to everyone shipping to and from these areas. Lonestar overnight (LSO.com) has AMAZING rates on shipping! I just found that I can ship a 70 pound box that is 24x24x24 w/ dry ice from Tulsa, OK to about 30 miles south of San Antonia, TX for less than $30 and its guaranteed by the 2nd day. From my door to theirs.

You can go to the website and figure out shipping with the weight and diminsions of the package and zipcodes. Don't forget to add the extra charges for picking up ($3.50) and residential delivery ($2.40) as well as fuel surcharge (5%). They also have an equation that is used to calculate oversized shipping. My package was 24x24x24 and it calculated my new oversized weight at 71lbs. Because 71lbs is greater than 70lbs, I put 71lbs in the quote part. Than added all the fees and fuel charge and it costs $29.98. I thought it had miscalculated, but I called cust service and they told me that it was, in fact, accurate.

Accounts can be set up for free and they have customer service available via phone.

Hopefully this will help someone save a lot of money!