[MrAC1980]

Go with Fedex, its the cheapest. I ship a lot of rods all over the US and both USPS and UPS charge stupid fees because its a round tube and not a square box. If you need a tube, try any of the big box boat stores or even some bigger tackle shops, they sometimes have a tube or two that their rods came shipped in. Even Shakespear antennae tubes work nice.