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I was curious to hear if anyone's having shipping issues with the US Postal Service. I use Priority Mail exclusively, and with the new Postmaster General and the moronic changes he's made since June, things have gone off the rails. I have one package shipped out to a customer 100-miles from me that arrived in Pensacola (the destination) overnight. However, the next day (today) it's in Austin, Texas. I have another, from a supplier, that's been laying idle in Jacksonville, Florida, since August 7th. I've also noticed my incoming "snail mail" has dwindled down to near-nothing. That's only two examples for me personally, but I'm thinking I'll open UPS and/or FEDEX accounts and bypass the ol' postal service completely. At least until the political sabre-rattling ends. Any thoughts?

I've typically just bought from the shop in town. But at the rate I go through leather it's adding up and got me thinking that I should consider other options, everything else I use I tend to buy wholesale and this got me going down the rabbit hole of the internet trying to find a Canadian tannery or wholesale option. I've had no luck with this with the exception of a couple guys that tan leather out of deer hides or I might find a supplier that's little cheaper but then the shipping costs within Canada make it not worth it. Right now I'm using around 6-8oz latigo leather for strapping on backpacks and paying around $15CAD a sqf which seems to be the going rate in Canada for retail? Has anyone found a good online supplier, tannery or wholesale in Canada? Similar to Hide House or anything like that? There are quite a few options in the US but as other Canadians know it's the shipping and duties that kill that option and make it too pricey. Curious if anyone has found anything in Canada? Or if you're Canadian and buy from the US what's your experience like and who have you used?

Yet another blue gun supplier "bites the dust". $42 per gun, which aint bad - only $3 above "wholesale" at Rings. Then $10 shipping, meaning they're charging me $2.50 ot put it in a priority box. Then almost another $10 for "insurance". Wait.. what?@!#!??! Seriously people, you DO know that priority mail is ALREADY insured, right? They could just raise the price of the gun, and charge reasonable shipping charges, but I guess maybe they rank lower in a search by price? So, again... this is for YOUR benefit... you DO know that priority mail is ALREADY insured, right?

Yet another one down in flames. Thought I'd order some hardware - holster clips, paddles, screws -- so I signed up for yet another site (knife kits) only to get a message at checkout that they won't be responsible for lost packages. This, apparently, has become the new norm. I know I could call my credit card company and basically"break it off in 'em" over paying for something and not receiving it. My card company would charge back, and I'm guessing repeated instances would result in fraud charges. Still, I'm just not doing business with people who do things that way -- just don't need the headaches. One more place down...

Wondering if anybody knows where I can buy boot boxes to ship boots? Any help is much appreciated.

Can anyone make any recommendations on the best way to go about having a used cylinder arm machine and stand shipped approximately 1000 miles? I am trying to buy a used one from a forum member that had posted in the classified section. He is going to crate it up, but neither of us know anything about freight shipping. I did some quick calling around today and was getting quotes like $550! I knew shipping would not be cheap, but I was expecting more like $200. Is this an unrealistic expectation? The seller is willing to take it to a shipping hub and I am willing to go to one to pick it up. I told the company I spoke with this, but still got the huge numbers. One girl on the phone acted as if the fact that it was a sewing machine put it in some higher price class. Does it really matter what's in the crate (beyond the obvious hazardous and liquid restrictions)? I filled out a quote request on uship.com and got a quote of $183 which is perfectly reasonable and it's from a reputable carrier who's depot is not far from me. However, the only shipping category available to choose that a sewing machine seemed to fit under was "Business and Industrial Goods". I don't want to rely on these numbers if when the seller takes it to a carrier and says it's a sewing machine that the price goes back to $500. Any suggestions are welcomed. I really want to make this deal work as its exactly what I've been looking for for quite a while. But I won't pay nearly half the cost of the machine to ship it.

Hi There, Looks like I will move from San Francisco, CA to Hamburg Germany. Of course I want to take my beloved Juki 1541 with me. I already called Juki USA ,but they do not have any spare original packaging. Does anybody have tips for me how I best can pack up and secure the machine for a overseas transport? Thanks Martin