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runscott...the cheapest rate they had available. They stuck it on a scale, asked for a zip code, and gave me a price. UPS is competitive when you are looking for the same services as USPS registered mail, for light-weight items; otherwise, I gather you are paying for conveniences that I personally don't need. In fact, I almost always use UPS rather than registered US Mail, mainly because I don't like having to use that brown paper tape so they can stamp those red circles all over it.
The Post Office thing didn't really bother me, as I should have remembered that. Normally I would have taken that item to the post office, but I just assumed UPS would be cheaper for large items rather than the other way around.