We don't use USPS Priority Mail for our standard shipping method for a few reasons, chief among them:
1) We wouldn't have the ability to track a package en route, which is something we really like to be able to do for our customers, and...
2) The USPS web site is really a PITA to use.

We are not the only ones who feel this way. I recently purchased a single spiral bound book from a publisher and my shipping options started at $7.50 for UPS Ground, went up from there for 2nd Day or Overnight through UPS, then finally my last option was for USPS Priority Mail for $25.95. They must have really wanted to discourage their customers from choosing USPS and it worked!

For the record, we do ship USPS for international shipments and shipments to a PO Box, but for all other shipments our standard method is FedEx Ground or Home Delivery. We have a few reasons for this, chiefly being:
1) For only slightly more than Priority Mail we get much better tracking ability for the package and automatic insurance on anything up to $100.
2) Much easier to use web interface.
3) Pretty darned good customer service in our experience.

Now I know some people have had bad customer service experience with FedEx, as people have had with USPS and UPS and DHL and just about any other shipping one might name.

But then again this thread was not really intended to be a sounding board for complaints about shipping companies or shipping costs. If someone wants to open a seperate thread for that, please feel free to do so in the Off Topic section.

As I started this thread to extend a special sale offer to our friends at X Marks, and that sale is now over, I hereby ask the moderators to close the thread.

Once again, thanks everyone for shopping with us and being supporters of our museum!