Holiday Shipping

The holiday season is here, and that means it is time to start shipping. Whether you’re a company selling items or a shopper giving gifts, you all have the same goal, which is that packages arrive on time. It can get hectic this time of year, so take a quick look at our tips to help out during the 2017 holiday season.

·        Keep track of deliveries with tracking numbers. If your package gets stuck in the same place for several days at a time, investigate. Packages do get lost, but keeping an eye on them may allow you to get someone to locate them.

·        Choose your shipping option carefully. This isn’t just for the carrier you use, but the type of shipping you send. You can ship earlier to save money, and some services can even get you same day shipping. Use whatever suits your needs best.

·        If you can, ship now rather than later. The USPS has announced that the busiest time to send a package will be the last two weeks before Christmas. Not only will there be long waits at the post office, but with such a high volume of mail and packages service may slow down. Get out there by the start of December!

·        If you can ship from online, do it. With USPS you are able to print shipping labels, pay for postage, and schedule for someone to pick up your package from your home. This will save you a ton of time.

·        Be sure to package your items carefully to avoid damage. Choose the right mailer or box; one that has room to add cushioning materials. The items in the packaging should not move around much, if at all, once it is ready to be sent.

·        Make sure the address is correct, and make sure it is legible. Illegible addresses can lead to lost packages, or packages sent to the wrong place.

We hope these tips help you with your holiday shipping needs. 

Holiday Shipping Deadlines

Christmas will be here in less than two months and while some of you may think it is too soon to be thinking about mailing gifts, shipping deadlines may be closer than you think. This is particularly true for packages that are shipping internationally and more specifically, the military.

For example, if you wish to mail to the military using standard post, your deadline is November 7^th. The latest you can ship to a military address so your package will arrive by Christmas is December 17^th, but that only applies to certain destinations. You can find a detailed list of deadlines for military mail here.

Shipping an item internationally but not to the military will allow you more time. For select parts of the world, and for the right price, you can ship packages as late as December 22^nd. But if you are looking to save some money and ship for a cheaper price, you need to have your gifts ready to go by the very start of December. Plus these deadlines from the USPS do not take into account how long packages may take to get through customs. Plan accordingly. 

If shipping domestically you still have a lot of time. Standard post can be shipped as late as December 15^th for a Christmas arrival. For most locations across the country you can ship as late as December 23^rd, for the right price. You can get further details here.

You can buy shipping supplies in stores, online, and even at your local post office. Some boxes may even come complimentary with shipping! Before you ship make sure you have the correct address. You don’t want to waste time and money sending something to an incorrect address. Be sure to also package your items with care, lest they get damaged during transport.

Keep an eye on those shipping deadlines so your packages make it to your loved ones in time for the holidays!

Holiday Shipping

Christmas is under two months away, which means it is time to start thinking about shipping presents out to loved ones across the country, or even out of the country! You might be thinking that it seems a bit early to worry about this, but the U.S. Postal Service has announced their recommended holiday shipping times already!

It is always better not to wait when it comes to shipping gifts. Of course it is not always that simple. You may not have the gifts yet and cannot get them for a while. Maybe you are waiting on an address. Either way, it is always better for a gift to arrive too early, rather than too late.

Outside of mailing dates, what are some other tips when it comes to mailing holiday items? We have a few for you. The first is to be positive that the postal service can ship your items. This is rarely a problem, but it is better to be safe. Be sure to pack your items intelligently. You want a sturdy box with plenty of padding for larger items, or a bubble mailer for smaller items. No one wants your gifts to break while they are in transit. You can also save time by requesting the post office to pick up the package from you, saving yourself a trip to the post office.

In summary, don’t rush to send out your packages to loved ones right now, but don’t wait too long!

Below we’ve listed the USPS recommended shipping dates. You can get more information about shipping items at usps.com.

USPS 2014 Christmas Shipping Deadlines: 

 

• Dec. 2 – First-Class Mail International

• Dec. 2 – Priority Mail International

• Dec. 10 – Priority Mail Express International

• Dec. 15 – Standard Post

• Dec. 17 – Global Express Guaranteed

• Dec. 20 – First-Class Mail

• Dec. 20 – Priority Mail

• Dec. 23 – Priority Mail Express