How to Get Christmas Items and Delivered by the Postal Service in Time for Christmas

It is that time of year again when you will purchase and ship approximately fifteen billion cards, letters, and packages to family and friends within the continental United States and overseas. And with so many of our soldiers overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, that number could be even higher. There are guidelines and deadlines you need to make that happen.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. You should send mail and packages going to members of the military in Iraq and Afghanistan by December, while military mail going to other military posts should be sent by December 11.

2. Parcel post is the least expensive way you can ship items and cards. The deadline for mailing by parcel post is December 15. If you send packages by first class or priority mail, the deadline is December 20. You have until December 22 to send Christmas packages by express mail.

3. If you would like to request a free package pickup, purchase stamps, hold mail and design holiday cards, visit the USPS website.

Tips & Warnings

• The largest volume of mail is processed on December 17. You should avoid tying packages with string, as that, too could cause shipping problems.
• Place a backup tag inside each package that specifies both the shipping and return addresses, in case the outer label gets damaged. .
• The postal service is recommending that you remove batteries from electronic items because they could turn on, prompting postal employees to open the package for inspection.

Resources

• United States Parcel Service