I don't use checks much anymore.  Most of our bills are paid online; there are only two that need to be paid via paper checks.  I only use checks at three stores - the commissary so I can write the check for a few dollar over to tip the bagger, the thrift store because they don't accept Visa, and the BX - we write checks there for cash to avoid the ATM fees (our primary bank account is in South Dakota and we get charged fees at all of the ATM's on base).

Consequently, one box of checks lasts us quite a while.  In fact, the last time I ordered checks was December last year, and I only ordered one box. 

Last Thursday I needed to re-order.  We had about 10 checks left, so I thought that I'd have the checks delivered via USPS rather than choose the DHL option for $6 more (we're cheap like that) and I didn't pay to have the 'in factory rush' option either (we're cheap like that too).  When I was going through the online check ordering process I got pop-up windows reminding me that DHL was faster than the USPS option I had chosen; DHL delivery time was 5 business days and USPS...well, they didn't have a projected delivery time.  I still chose the USPS option, went ahead and paid the amount due and expected to recieve my cheks sometime next week, or maybe the week after.

They arrived yesterday.  I ordered them Thursday lunchtime, and they were in my mailbox yesterday. 

Had I chosen the DHL option, they wouldn't have been here until tomorrow, maybe the day after..  The company would have given them to DHL on Friday, and the very last day they could have delivered them on and still been within their '5 business day' guarantee would have been Thursday this week. 

So, not only did I get my checks here quicker, I also saved us almost $10 (the 'in factory rush' fee and the DHL shipping fee).

Being stingy pays off sometimes!