With 16.5 billion cards, letters and packages to be delivered between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, the U.S. Postal Service has shipping tips to help make sure gifts are delivered promptly and safely during the holiday season.

 

 

The Postal Service recommends the following mail-by dates to ensure gifts arrive on time:

Dec. 3 – Military mail destined for Afghanistan
Dec. 10 – Military mail for other overseas bases
Dec. 15 – Parcel Post, the most economical shipping service
Dec. 20 – First-Class Mail
Dec. 21 – Priority Mail
Dec. 22 – Express Mail

Due to security requirements, packages bearing postage stamps and weighing more than 13 ounces must be presented to an employee at the retail counter of a Post Office and cannot be dropped in blue collection boxes.

Shipping Basics

• Remove batteries from toys and other electronic devices. Wrap and place them next to the item in the mailing box. Customers should include the new batteries in the manufacturer’s packaging.
• Place a card inside the package that contains both the delivery and return addresses. This ensures the safe return of an item that could not be delivered should the mailing label become damaged or fall off.
• Include both “to” and “from” information on packages — and only on one side.
• Always use a return address, which tells the Postal Service where to return mail if it cannot be delivered.
• Select a box that is strong enough to protect the contents.
• Do not reuse mailing boxes as they can weaken in the shipping process.
• Leave space for cushioning inside.
• Stuff glass and fragile, hollow items, like vases, with newspaper or packing material to avoid damage.
• When mailing framed photographs, take the glass out of the frame and wrap it separately.
• For Parcel Post packages using a customer-supplied box, the weight cannot exceed 70 lbs. and the combined length and width measurement must be 130 inches or less. Make sure the width is measured around the largest point of the package.

Envelope and Package Addressing Guidelines

• Print the complete address clearly.
• A complete address includes:
  • The recipient’s name
  • Post Office Box or street number
  • Street name
  • Suffix (Ave., St., etc.)
  • Directional (N, S, E, W)
  • Secondary address (apartment or suite number)
  • City, state and 5-digit ZIP Code
  • Example: 123 S. Main St. Apt 4, Washington, DC 20001

  Following these simple steps should help the Post Office try to meet your expectations and hopefully ensure a positive experience from beginning to end.

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