Best way to send a large parcel?

elfieb

Title says it all really!!

What is the best way to send a large parcel? Its a box full of books so reasonably heavy too.
Having never used a courier before, do I take the parcel to them, or do they pick it up?

Also I expect to get some interest from the USA, what would be my best way to send overseas??

Thanks everyone in advance

Strapped

I'd recommend having a read of the cheap parcel delivery thread. Typically, couriers pick up the parcel, unless you specifically want to drop it off at one of their depots (if, for example, you can't wait in for it to be collected). With many of the courier resellers, you need a printer, and after you've paid you print out the address labels and shipping labels (with barcodes on them) and attach them to the parcel, so that the driver just has to scan them and stick them in the van. Couple of tips: Put more than 1 address label on, esp with big parcels, so if it's in a pile, the delivery guys can still read / scan a label. Also, different couriers/resellers have different "cut-off" points for weight and size so shop around if you have a very heavy one (eg ParcelMonkey mentioned above are probably cheapest at the moment for a smallish/lightish parcel but from memory, their economy service is only up to 20kg, whereas say PayPerParcel will accept up to 30kg.