Post Office announces holiday mail deadlines & packaging/mailing tips

The shopping malls and stores are not the only ones with more crowds and activity starting the day after Thanksgiving.

Post offices pick up in activity as Americans get the jump on doing their holiday mailing. The day after Thanksgiving through Christmas is the busiest time of the year at the post office.
The Postal Service will handle more than 20 billion pieces of holiday mail between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

As for domestic US mail deadlines, for delivery by Christmas, the Postal Service recommends mailing to out-of-state destinations by Wed, Dec 20; and to in-state destinations by Thu, Dec 21. Express Mail is still available for mailing packages after those dates to most major metro destinations.

Deadline to mail to most US military troops stationed overseas, and to most international countries is Dec 11. Express Mail is still available until Dec 19 for sending packages to most military overseas and international countries for delivery by Christmas.

See below and next page for holiday mail packaging tips, deadlines and information.

The Postal Service thanks Americans for mailing early and for sending your holiday greetings and packages with the post office.

Holiday mail deadlines and tips
Deadlines for US delivery by Christmas: Using regular mail and Priority Mail service, mail holiday cards, letters and packages going out-of-state by Wed, Dec 20. Mail to in-state destinations by Thu, Dec 21. After these dates use Express Mail for packages sent to major metro destinations.

General deadline for delivery by Christmas by regular and Priority Mail to most US military troops serving overseas and to international countries is Dec 11. Express Mail is still available until Dec 19 for mailing packages by Christmas to most overseas military and international destinations.

The Postal Service offers Click-N-Ship service where you can prepare and mail your holiday packages from your home or business, with FREE carrier pickup. All you need is a computer with internet service, a printer, a weight scale and your credit card. Prepare your packages. Then go to usps.com

Many larger post offices now offer self-service Automated Postal Centers (APCs) in their lobbies. Similar to ATM machines, with APCs you can buy stamps, mail small packages and purchase other mailing services using a credit or debit card. Most APCs are open 24 hours a day.

Post offices offer special-sized FLAT-RATE Priority Mail boxes for mailing a package anywhere in the country at one low basic rate - $8.10. The $8.10 rate applies for a package weighing up to 70 lbs. and as long as the contents fit inside the Flat-Rate Priority Mail package.

Call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) to get the holiday customer service hours of your local post office, rates, ZIP Codes. You can also get holiday mail information at usps.com

Preparing your holiday mail & packages
Include the correct printed address on all cards, letters and packages including name, street, apartment #, city, state, ZIP Code. Print return address in the upper left corner.

When preparing your package for mailing, use a strong, sturdy box with no writing on the outside. Package the contents of your parcel tightly and securely; using newspaper, bubble wrap or other cushioning inside. Remove batteries from toys and appliances. Package cookies, fruitcake and food items in leak-proof containers or secure protective wrapping.
Seal your package with strong, reinforced packing tape. Do NOT use paper or string on the outside of the package. They can get tangled in mail processing equipment.

For packages, print the complete name and address including ZIP code in large print on one side of the package only. Make sure you print your return name and address in upper left corner.

For packages, include the name and address destination on a piece of paper inside.
Package senders are encouraged to purchase package Delivery Confirmation service and Insurance.

For holiday cards and letters, the Post Office offers several colorful 39-cent holiday stamps pictured here including Holiday Snowflakes, Christmas Madonna & Child with Bird (that features a painting from the Denver Art Museum, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and EID stamps.

Besides post offices, you can order holiday stamps and other stamps by phone at 1-800-STAMP-24 and from the USPS web site at www.usps.com

Mail early. You save on postage costs, save on convenience, and help get your holiday mail there on time, avoiding possible bad winter storms which can delay delivery.

The US Postal Service expects the biggest and busiest mailing day of the year at post offices to be Mon, Dec 18. The biggest delivery day is expected to be Wed, Dec 20.

 

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