David Goldman / AP
In this Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, photo, packages wait to be sorted in a post pffice as U.S. Postal Service letter carrier Michael McDonald, gathers mail to load into his truck before making his delivery run, in Atlanta.
Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017 | 2 a.m.
By the numbers
• UPS processed an average of 30 million packages a day during the 2016 holiday season. The company handles delivery for many large retailers, including Amazon and Walmart. Last year, UPS hired 95,000 extra employees to help manage the holiday load.
• UPS expects to ship 750 million packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.
• FedEx is anticipating record demand this year with about 400 million packages.
• The U.S. Postal Service anticipates it will deliver more than 15 billion pieces of mail this holiday season, including 850 million packages.
Christmas is a week away, and Hanukkah has already begun. Have you sent your presents and cards? There’s still time for them to arrive before the holiday season is over, but the clock is ticking.
Pack right
A little time planning and preparing can help ensure your items arrive safely.
• Choose a box in which your items fit snugly.
• Remove any labels or previous shipment markings that are no longer applicable.
• Use strong packing tape designed for shipping. Tape the bottom of the box to prevent it from breaking open when lifted, especially when packing heavy items.
• Do not use string or paper overwrap.
• Remove batteries from toys.
• Place small parts or spillable materials in a sealable plastic bag.
• Use a rigid box that has its flaps intact. Corrugated boxes are best. Pro tip: The Post Office provides free Priority Mail boxes in a variety of sizes.
• Use a single address label that has clear, complete delivery and return information. Don’t forget apartment or suite numbers. Affix the label to only one side of the box.
• Use adequate cushioning material, such as bubble wrap, newspaper or packing paper. Fill all empty spaces in the box. You should not hear items move when you shake the box.
• Wrap fragile items individually with at least 3 inches of air-cellular cushioning material. Use newspaper to stuff fragile, hollow items. When mailing framed photographs, remove the glass from the frame and wrap separately.
• Mark your packages “Fragile” if items inside can break. Mark food items “Perishable.”
• Place a duplicate address label inside the package so it can still be delivered or returned if the mailing label is damaged or falls off. Pro tip: Go online to prepay and print your shipping labels. That enables you to avoid lines at the post office or shipping center. You can just pop in to drop off your parcel.
Shopping online
Fifty-one percent of Americans are expected to shop online this year for the holidays, and consumers plan to spend just as much online as they do in brick-and-mortar stores, according to a Deloitte Holiday Survey.
People said they prefer online channels because of the convenience of shopping from home, the ease of home delivery and the benefit of free shipping. In fact, a survey by the National Retail Federation found that free shipping is the single biggest factor in convincing an online shopper to make a purchase.
Consumer expectations continue to rise when it comes to shipping. Almost two thirds of holiday shoppers said they think they should be able to order gifts after Dec. 17 and still get free delivery by Dec. 24, Deloitte found. People also want their items to arrive faster. In 2015, 63 percent of shoppers considered three-to-four day shipping fast, Deloitte found. That percentage fell to just 42 percent in 2016. The majority of the people surveyed said fast delivery means two days or less.
Deadlines to ship packages for arrival on or before Christmas Day
U.S. Postal Service
• Domestic: First-class Mail Service, Dec. 19; Priority Mail Service, Dec. 20; Priority Mail Express Service, Dec. 22.
The deadline for USPS Retail Ground was Dec. 14.
• To Alaska: First-class Mail Service, Dec. 20; Priority Mail Service, Dec. 20; Priority Mail Express Service, Dec. 21.
• To Hawaii: Priority Mail Express Service, Dec. 20.
The deadline for both First-class and Priority Mail Service was Dec. 15.
• International: This far into the season, your only choice for sending packages internationally for arrival by Christmas is Global Express Guaranteed Service. Africa, Dec. 19; Asia/Pacific Rim, Dec. 19; Australia/New Zealand, Dec. 19; Canada, Dec. 21; Caribbean, Dec. 21; Central and South America, Dec. 20; Europe, Dec. 20; Mexico, Dec. 20; Middle East, Dec. 18.
Christmas Eve delivery?
The U.S. Postal Service will deliver on Dec. 24. However, FedEx plans to provide only limited service, and UPS will make only “critical” deliveries that day.
FedEx
• Domestic: FedEx SameDay, Dec. 25; FedEx First Overnight, Dec. 21; FedEx Priority Overnight, Dec. 21; FedEx Standard Overnight, Dec. 21; FedEx 2Day, Dec. 20; A.M. FedEx 2Day, Dec. 20; FedEx Express Saver, Dec. 19.
The deadline for FedEx Ground was Dec. 15.
• To Puerto Rico or Canada: FedEx International First, Dec. 21; FedEx International Priority, Dec. 21; FedEx International Economy, Dec. 20.
• To Mexico: FedEx International First, Dec. 20; FedEx International Priority, Dec. 20; FedEx International Economy, Dec. 19.
Visit fedex.com/ratefinder for details about shipping to other international destinations.
UPS
• Domestic: UPS 3-Day Select, Dec. 18; UPS 2nd Day Air, Dec. 20; UPS Next Day Air, Dec. 21.
Amazon
• Domestic: Standard shipping (free with Prime), Dec. 18; Two-day shipping (free with Prime), Dec. 22; One-day shipping (in select cities, free with Prime), Dec. 23; Same-day delivery (in select cities, free with Prime, by 9:30 a.m. local time), Dec. 24; Two-hour delivery (in select cities, free for Prime members via Prime Now, by 9:45 p.m. local time), Dec. 24.
The deadline for free shipping was Dec. 15.
