And now for something completely different - help me with my MAILING dilemma, please?

[themilf]

A young friend of my daughter has been deplioyed overseas, Germany to be exact and while he was unable to take along a lot of the "comforts of home" and since his birthday was a couple of days before he left, I offered to send some stuff to him.

The stuff has evolved to include an xbox, games, dvds, controllers, headphones... actually I'm FINE with that, he's making a huge sacrifice and protecting my freedoms. I'm getting aggravated because his Mom, who is completely unable to handle any expense or responsibility keeps adding stuff that I should send. And today, she's decided to send his pillows and blankets, too. How about just a pillowcase that "smells like home"? Pillows and blankets???

I'd determined earlier that it would probably take two large priority mail boxes to get this stuff to him, now it might be even more. And it seems like it's starting to get a bit expensive. I guess if I'd picked up, packed and sent prior to today, I wouldn't be in this position but... I am so I'll live with it.

Do any of you have experience shipping stuff like this? It's going to an APO so we're dealing with US Postal services, I've done some googling so I think I have it figured out but if you have any input, I'm all ears!

Thanks and hope everyone is well!

 

[KlaytonFrost]

I think the idea of just sending pillowcases rather than the whole pillow is a practical and sensible one. Maybe have a word with the mother about that? You're doing a generous thing, and so you should be in charge of the extent of what you do.

Other than that - if he's going to be out there a long time, surface mail is a possibility worth looking into.

And since he couldn't take a lot of stuff with him... has it been considered how he might get some of these things back at the end of his deployment?

 

[1Browneyedguy]

maybe

this can help as well

http://www2.apobox.com/apoprice.php

 

[themilf]

Thank you both! Good point about how he will get it back here, in fact how will he get it to his nect assignment? I guess once he has it, he can ship it forward or back home.

Interesting service, the apobox.com but I think I don't exactly understand. I'm in touch with them for more info.

Thanks, he's going to be one hapoy guy!

 

[fire_breeze]

A young friend of my daughter has been deplioyed overseas, Germany to be exact and while he was unable to take along a lot of the "comforts of home" and since his birthday was a couple of days before he left, I offered to send some stuff to him.

The stuff has evolved to include an xbox, games, dvds, controllers, headphones... actually I'm FINE with that, he's making a huge sacrifice and protecting my freedoms. I'm getting aggravated because his Mom, who is completely unable to handle any expense or responsibility keeps adding stuff that I should send. And today, she's decided to send his pillows and blankets, too. How about just a pillowcase that "smells like home"? Pillows and blankets???

I'd determined earlier that it would probably take two large priority mail boxes to get this stuff to him, now it might be even more. And it seems like it's starting to get a bit expensive. I guess if I'd picked up, packed and sent prior to today, I wouldn't be in this position but... I am so I'll live with it.

Do any of you have experience shipping stuff like this? It's going to an APO so we're dealing with US Postal services, I've done some googling so I think I have it figured out but if you have any input, I'm all ears!

Thanks and hope everyone is well!

My brother is deployed, so I send him some stuff, as I have when he was deployed before. The one thing he asked is not to send him too much stuff, for the simplest reason is that he has to bring it all back, and with the souvenirs and gifts that he wants to bring us, he won't have any space. So I send him magazines and books and candy and very little trinkets that he ends up sharing with his barrack. Sometimes, he'll have a list of things he needs (certain types of deodorant, nail clippers, etc that he can't get at the base store). But too much is too much and there's space to account for. Make sure he wants and has the room for whatever you are going to send him.

My suggestion is to tell his Mother ONE thing that smells like home - not the entire pillow. He does not need any pillows and blankets. There's no room for pillows and blankets. He won't be able to bring back pillows and blankets. And the rest of his barrack will probably make fun of him.

ETA: if he's in Germany, then many of the electronics are accessible to him and probably cheaper than in North America. Again, check with him what he needs or wants . I made the mistake of sending a couple of DVDs to brother's army buddy and he could only play them on his laptop, which he was throwing out because he found a better model there for considerably less. I don't know if your daughter's friend has provided the list for stuff or not, and if he has then just ignore all this

Plus if you do send electronic equipment, check with regulations and then make sure you provide an adapter!!

 

[Zulae]

I am from Germany and I visited the United States a couple of years ago, so I can understand that he misses home. There are many differences between the USA and Germany (e.g. we make our beds much differently - I know it sounds strange, but getting used to "a new way of sleeping" can really be irritating if you are still contending with the jet lag).
But I would not recommend sending pillows or blankets; they may smell like home at first (even that is not guaranteed after a couple of days of being squeezed into a parcel with many things), but as they will get in contact with "local" sheets the smell will wear off. And he will have to wash them sooner or later. Even if he manages to get the washing agent he knows from home the laundry will still smell different - there is much less chlorine in the water here.
Perhaps you should try to persuade his mother to send a couple of photos instead. He may have them on his phone or computer, but seeing your loved ones smile at you from your bedside table right after waking up helps to make a good start And they would be much lighter