Shipping deadlines fast approaching
The deadlines are fast approaching to get those holiday packages in the mail and to their destinations.
When it’s all said and done, the U.S. Postal Service expects to deliver more than 15 billion pieces of mail this holiday season.
In the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, the Postal Service also expects to deliver 850 million packages, which is more than a 10 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Starting this week, customer traffic is expected to increase, with the week of Dec. 18 – 24 predicted to be the busiest mailing, shipping, and delivery week.
During this week, nearly 3 billion pieces of First Class Mail, including greeting cards, will be processed and delivered.
The Postal Service also expects to deliver nearly 200 million packages per week during the last two weeks before Christmas, which falls on a Monday this year.
So if you want to get your packages there on time, here are some dates to jot down.
Monday was the deadline for Priority Mail and First Class Mail, and today is the deadline to send packages Retail Ground.
First Class packages should be mailed by Saturday and First Class Mail, such as Christmas cards should be dropped in the mail by Tuesday, December 19th.
And if you’re really pushing it, December 20th, is the deadline to send packages Priority Mail.
Last minute shoppers and shippers have until December 22nd to send parcels Priority Mail Express, but it will cost you more.
And if you want to send gifts overseas to a serviceman or woman, you have until this Saturday if you want it there in time for Christmas.
Post Offices nationwide will be closed on Christmas Eve, Sunday, Dec. 24 and New Year’s Eve, Sunday, Dec. 31.
The Christmas Day and New Year’s Day federal holidays will be observed on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 respectively.
Post Offices will be closed on those days and only Priority Mail Express packages will be delivered.
All Post Offices will be open and regular mail delivery will resume after the holidays on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.