How to Avoid Long Lines at the Post Office During the Holidays

In December, you're guaranteed to face a long wait at your local post office. Here's how to minimize your aggravation.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Boxes
• Address Address Labels
• Envelopes
• Packaging Tape
• Packing Peanuts
• Boxes

1. Buy all your gifts from stores that will wrap and ship them for you.

2. Shop from catalogs or on the Internet and have all the items sent directly to the recipients.

3. Take your wrapped presents to a store that will pack and send them.

4. Call a shipping service, either air or ground, and have it pick up your gifts (wrapped and packed by you) at your home or office.

5. Shop and mail early, ideally before Thanksgiving.

6. Time your post office visits for nonpeak hours: early morning and mid-afternoon on weekdays. Avoid Saturdays, lunch time and the period between 4:00 p.m. and closing.

7. Go to the post office at opening time if you can't avoid a Saturday visit.

Tips & Warnings

• Postal and shipping rates, packing guidelines, and delivery times can change from year to year. To avoid frustration, get the latest details from the post office or a private shipping company well ahead of the holiday rush.
• A useful number to file away is (800) ASK-USPS.

[postmuffin]

on 12/9/2006 Go to usps.com and use the Click and Ship service to print your own prepaid shipping labels. You can get free delivery confirmation this way. Then schedule a pickup (for free) and your letter carrier will pick up your packages and take them back to the post office. No lines, no hassle.

on 11/22/2005 I have worked for the postal service for 20 years, so I know what makes mailing easier.

Mail early, especially if you have packages going overseas.

Make sure the items are mailable. Different countries have different rules. Some items are unmailable, period.

Pack your items well. If the item is very fragile, pack it in a box with packing peanuts around it. Then place that box in a larger box with packing peanuts between the two.

Don't wrap your boxes with brown paper, it tends to get torn off. If you do, make sure the addresses are written on the box itself. Also, don't wrap string around your boxes. It gets caught in the machinery.

If you have a scale, goto www.usps.com and print your postage there. You can also get delivery confirmation and insurance up to $200. You can also request carrier pickup, and avoid the post office all together.

Get your Christmas stamps early. They are usually on sale by the end of October.

If your local post office has an automated postal center, use it. A lot of lobbies are open 24 hours a day seven days a week, so go in the off hours. Most domestic mailings can be done through this machine.

Find out what custom forms you will need for international packages and have them filled out ahead of time. This will keep the line moving quicker.

The post office website has a wealth of information to help you with your mailing needs.

on 11/22/2005 Pick up some forms in advance such as:
PS Form 3811, for Registered, Express,
Certified, Insured, COD(?) Return Receipts and HAVE THEM FILLED OUT PRIOR TO GOING TO THE P.O.

Form PS 3800 for Certified Mail. Follow directions on the back and have this attached to your letter prior to going to the P.O.

They also have a small blue form for insuring packages. They fill in the $ amounts.

on 11/22/2005 Purchase gifts that need to go out of town online, and have the gifts wrapped and sent directly for you. Otherwise, get gift certificates online and have notification be sent directly to the recipients. Saves money and lots of time!