Shipping Quilts with USPS

These tips are provided to help those quilters who live at an overseas location and ship quilts through the US Postal Service ship their quilts easily and securely. If you are living in the United States, you can still use Registered Mail, as it might be cheaper than UPS or FedEx, just disregard any references to a customs form or return shipping to a relative.

Ship via USPS Priority Mail Registered Service
Value the quilt for its full value; it’s much cheaper than purchasing insurance for that amount for standard Priority Mail ($5000 quilt mailed for $22 instead of $60)
Decide on your quilt’s value (have it appraised!), then declare it on the registered form
Realize that without an appraisal, you won’t get full value if it is lost or damaged in the mail
Write “wallhanging” or “bedcover” or “fabric” or “bed linen” on customs form
Never declare “quilt;” prevent theft from the mail
The box is accounted for every step of the way when you use Registered Service
Each Postal worker that touches that box signs for it
Very quick service in my experience
Check with the show beforehand to make sure they will ship it back to you via registered mail to your APO address
It’s extra work for them, so try to be understanding
Put complete and explicit return shipment instructions in the box
Be aware that it may be easier to have it shipped to a relative in the States via the show’s chosen carrier, and reshipped to you via Registered Mail