With so few genuine surprises remaining in life, few things are better than getting a box of goodies from a loved one or pal, expected or not. And few things are worse than opening that box and seeing shards of a broken toy, memento or other gift.
So, here's a holiday-mailing guide, with deadlines to know, packaging tips and more.
“We just tell people to ship as early as possible and have their packages ready,” said USPS spokeswoman Naddia Dhalai.
DATES TO KNOW
- Christmas Eve is Sunday, Dec. 24.
- Hanukkah is Wednesday evening, Dec. 25, to Thursday, Jan. 2.
- Christmas Day is Monday, Dec. 25.
- Kwanzaa is Thursday, Dec. 26, to Wednesday, Jan. 1.
- New Year’s Eve is Tuesday, Dec. 31.
- New Year’s Day is Wednesday, Jan. 1.
SHIPPING DEADLINES
USPS
Recommended send-by dates for expected delivery before Dec. 25:
- Military First Class and Priority Mail: Monday, Dec. 9.
- USPS Ground Advantage: Wednesday, Dec. 18 (Monday, Dec. 16, for Hawaii and Alaska).
- First Class: Wednesday, Dec. 18.
- Priority Mail: Thursday, Dec. 19.
- Priority Mail Express: Saturday, Dec. 21 (Friday, Dec. 20, for Hawaii and Alaska).
FedEx
Last shipping dates for select services to help ensure delivery before Dec. 25:
- Ground Economy: Friday, Dec. 13.
- Home Delivery: Dec. 17-Dec. 23.
- Ground: Dec. 17-Dec. 23.
- Express Saver: Thursday, Dec. 19.
- 2Day AM: Friday, Dec. 20.
- Overnight: Monday, Dec. 23.
- SameDay: Tuesday, Dec. 24.
UPS
Recommended last days to ship for expected delivery before Dec. 25:
- 3 Day Select: Thursday, Dec. 19.
- 2nd Day Air: Friday, Dec. 20.
- Next Day Air: Monday, Dec. 23.
- Ground: Calculate shipping time and cost at ups.com/ctc.
PACKING TIPS
Tried and true packing tips have remained mostly unchanged. Here’s a list:
1. If possible, use new, double-corrugated boxes. If you are re-using a box, make sure it is in good shape. If it’s flimsy, toss it in the recycle bin.
2. Don’t overpack. If something is in a box and poking the sides, you need a bigger box.
3. If an item rattles, you didn’t cushion it well enough.
4. Wrap items separately, no matter what the item is. That beloved pet portrait should be separate from the frame.
5. Use packing materials. Bubble wrap, newspaper, packing peanuts, air packs, crinkled butcher paper and shredded paper work nicely. Consider saving these items throughout the year and reusing for holiday mailing.
6. For heavy items, use thick cardboard as protection inside boxes.
7. Allow at least a 2-inch space around items for cushioning materials.
8. Consider putting wrapped items in plastic bags to protect against moisture, especially if the box might sit outside on a snowy or rainy day. And if you are shipping clothes with something delicate, use the clothing as protection.
9. If you mail via USPS boxes, make sure your item will fit into the mailbox slot. They should weigh no more than 10 ounces and be a half-inch thick or less. For box restrictions, go online.
10. If your item is breakable, write “fragile.” But no cute doodles. Keep it clean so postal workers can read it quickly.
11. Non-lithium batteries should be left in original packaging. Do not put them in toys, clocks or other items before mailing. In transit, a device could turn on and raise security concerns. Batteries should be sent separately. Or mail a gift card for a store that sells batteries.
12. Consider media mail. Positive: It’s cheaper. Negative: Restrictions exist. It’s limited to books, video and sound recordings, manuscripts, play scripts, printed music, some films, loose-leaf pages and binders with medical information and more. Advertising, video games and comic books are among restricted items. Media mail takes two to eight days.
13. Two-inch wide tape is best. Do not use masking, cellophane or duct tape. Tape side seams first, then across the top. Reinforcing bottom flaps is a good idea. If a box has tape, make sure its adhesive sticks.
14. Never use brown paper as a mailing wrapper. Labels can be torn and paper can rip. Do not use string, rope, cord or twine. It’s impractical and can muck up machinery.
15. Consider Click-N-Ship to pay for and print postage at home. You leave the package for your carrier and don’t have to leave the house. Note: 70-pound box limits. Free priority boxes — if it fits, it ships — incur flat-rate postage. Or you can fill, wrap, measure and weigh your box, then enter specifications online. Required postage amount will be given.
LABELING TIPS
- Carefully remove old labels. Mark out notations, names, codes or addresses.
- Write neatly in block letters or print labels with clean fonts, nothing fancy.
- Put addressee’s name and address inside the package. If you print a mailing label, print two — one for outside, one for inside.
- Do not write “to” and “from” all over the box. Use one side only.
- Be an editor. Did you leave off a zip code, return address, apartment number?
- Know zip codes. Look them up. If you know the +4 code, use it. USPS says no zip is better than a wrong one.
- If you use self-serve USPS kiosks, make extra sure the address is correct. A clerk will look, but at the kiosk it’s on you.
