# Mailing/shipping a suitcase & backpack

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mailing-shipping-a-suitcase-backpack/327106>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 20, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mailing-shipping-a-suitcase-backpack/327106 "2005-10-20T17:15:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mailing-shipping-a-suitcase-backpack/327106/1 "2005-10-20T17:15:15Z")

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I feel really stupid. I have a heavy suitcase and a backpack I need to send over to somebody in Canada.

What do I do. I suppose I can’t just smack a label on it and go to the post office? Do I need to box it? Nobody in my office seems to know the answer, either.

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**Author:** ![FlyingCowOfDoom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyingcowofdoom/32/21776_2.png) [@FlyingCowOfDoom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingCowOfDoom)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mailing-shipping-a-suitcase-backpack/327106/2 "2005-10-20T17:19:21Z")

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Actually, you can mail any object on which you can attach stamps…but in your case you’ll probably want to go to the nearest UPS Store and get an appropriately sized box.

–FCOD

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mailing-shipping-a-suitcase-backpack/327106/3 "2005-10-20T17:29:50Z")

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If it’s _really_ big & heavy you may want to look into a shipping company like Roadway Express. UPS to Canada can get _really_ expensive for larger and heavier items. Re backpacks and suitcases I’ve sometimes found it makes more sense to simply order a new suitcase/backpack instead of paying shipping on the old one if the old one has any significant wear and tear.

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mailing-shipping-a-suitcase-backpack/327106/4 "2005-10-20T18:53:13Z")

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> [@astro](#):
>
> If it’s _really_ big & heavy you may want to look into a shipping company like Roadway Express. UPS to Canada can get _really_ expensive for larger and heavier items. Re backpacks and suitcases I’ve sometimes found it makes more sense to simply order a new suitcase/backpack instead of paying shipping on the old one if the old one has any significant wear and tear.

Thanks. I ended up just taking it to UPS. Price wasn’t that bad. $60 for 70 lbs worth of stuff. Didn’t even need to put it in a box or anything.