How ship vs check calculator Works
The courier math
Ground shipping prices at ~$25 + $0.85/lb + distance — a 45-lb bag 1,200 miles runs ~$95 each way. Against $35–70 checked fees, standard suitcases lose; heavy gear (skis ~$150+ to fly, golf bags with overweight risks) and fee-hostile carriers flip the math. The 4-day ground service is the only price-competitive tier.
The time cost is real
Shipping means traveling bag-less for 2–3 days at each end: first days in purchased essentials, last days without your stuff. Business travelers on 2-day trips never ship; relocators and 3-week-stayers often should. The calculator prices the wait because the fee comparison alone flatters shipping.
The gear exception
Sports equipment is where shipping stops being a curiosity: airlines charge oversized fees ($150+) for ski bags and golf clubs, and the damage risk travels with them. Courier services price ski bags coast-to-coast at $60–90 ground with better tracking. For gear-heavy trips, shipping is the standard move, not the hack.