Does the US Post Office still use surface mail for some mail coming to Hawaii?
Decades ago, it was possible to mail parcels very cheaply, and it was known they went by ship between the mainland and Hawaii. I’m unable to find any information about this practice now.
Very cheap postage has disappeared for parcel post. It’s now close to the cost of more expensive priority packages.
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Great question. I have a friend who lives on Oahu and I used to send her packages from the mainland, and they took 8–9 days to get there, which tells me that they used to go by ship from the west coast.
We’re not so close any more and I don’t send packages, but I wonder about how they would be sent. My guess (no idea if this is correct) is that there are now so many flights from so many mainland cities that there isn’t an advantage to sea transport. But I don’t know for sure.
“USPS Ground Advantage, available to retail and commercial customers, is a better fit by combining three existing USPS® services into one comprehensive product. It is a perfect option for shippers of all sizes who want affordable domestic ground shipping to all 50 states, U.S. military bases, territories, possessions, and Freely Associated States.”
https://faq.usps.com/s/article/USPS-Ground-Advantage
Commercial and retail only! We receive packages from retail accounts, not the Islands.
@Tropical_Willie while that is interesting, it doesn’t answer the question on whether shipments to hawaii are by air or by sea.
^^^^^ ” . . . affordable domestic GROUND SHIPPING to all 50 states, U.S. military bases, territories, possessions, and Freely Associated States.” ^^^^^^
@elbanditoroso it is ground or sea shipping
Where’s Astrochuck when we need him?
I found this in the Ground Advantage fine print: Items weighing 15.99 oz or less travel by air to Alaska, Hawaii, and offshore destinations. Items weighing over 15.99 oz travel by ship to Alaska, Hawaii, and offshore destinations.
I believe anyone can ship this way, not just businesses.
Yes I believe individuals can use it but it was set-up for companies and retail outlets . . . and that includes sending lithium batteries.
@Tropical_Willie Thank you very much. I don’t know why my search did not reveal that information.
@kevbo1 Thank you very much for finding the fine print.
Looks like you got your answer, I’ll just add letters are the same single stamp for all 50 states and APO addresses.
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