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Postal Push: Busiest Mailing Day Of The Year

Today marks the busiest mailing day of the year for the United States Postal Service.   The dash to deliver those holiday presents kicks into high gear today! T...

Today marks the busiest mailing day of the year for the United States Postal Service.   The dash to deliver those holiday presents kicks into high gear today!

The Postal Service offers the following tips and deadlines to make the mailing season merry and bright:

Deadlines:

The Postal Service is suggesting these remaining mail-by dates and tips to help customers mail and ship conveniently for the holidays:

 

Key Shipping Dates for Dec. 25th Arrival
Dec. 8 Priority Mail Express International™
Dec. 15 Standard Post
Dec. 19 Global Express Guaranteed®
Dec. 19 First-Class Mail®
Dec. 21 Priority Mail®
Dec. 23 Priority Mail Express™

 

Delivering Holiday Cheer to Service Members

 

Military Mailing Deadlines
APO/FPO First-Class Mail® Letters and Cards Dec. 10
APO/FPO Priority Mail® Dec. 10
APO/FPO Priority Mail Express™ Military Service Dec. 17

Shipping Deadlines - For a full list of domestic, military and international deadlines please go to https://www.usps.com/holiday/

  • Self-service kiosks can be found at the following locations. At one of the kiosks, you can mail packages, purchase stamps, and more:

* Scranton Main Post Office, 2800 Stafford Avenue (available 24/7)

* Wilkes-Barre Main Post Office, 300 South Main Street

 

  • Contract Postal Units (CPU) offer postal services at convenient hours. Area CPUs include:

* Lord’s Valley, 693 Route 739, Lords Valley

* Andrew Brown’s Pharmacy, 1502 Pittston Avenue, Scranton

* Throop Contract Station, 319 George Street, Throop

To find the closest retailers and their hours, go to usps.com and under Quick Tool click on Find USPS Locations or call 1-800-ASK-USPS.

Visit usps.com to ship and send in just a few clicks:

  1. Analyze prices, shipping options and delivery times by using the Calculate a Price
  2. Receive a discount at checkout on select products when you print, prepare and pay for shipping labels with Click-N-Ship®.
  3. Schedule a next day Package Pickup for no extra charge.
  4. Order stamps via com for delivery to your home.

Visit local retailers to purchase holiday stamps and mail packages:

  1. Many grocery stores, pharmacies and national retailers sell holiday stamps.
  2. Several local retailers offer postal shipping services in the evening and on weekends.
  3. To find the closest ones and their hours, go to usps.com and under Quick Tool click on Find USPS Locations.

Packaging Tips

How to pack a gift like a pro:

  1. Pick a strong and sturdy box, and tape it closed tightly.
  2. Cushion contents to protect them during transportation, and wrap glass and other fragile items with extra newspaper or packing material.
  3. Place wrapped gift boxes inside a plain larger box.
  4. Remove all batteries from electronics.
  5. Remember to place an extra shipping label inside the box, so the item can be returned in case the box or label gets damaged.

Successful shipping tips:

  1. Print addresses clearly and in CAPS.
  2. Include complete ‘to’ and ‘from’ info.
  3. Check com for the correct ZIP Code — never guess.
  4. Be sure to label a box as ‘FRAGILE’ if it needs to be handled with extra care.
  5. Visit com to pay and print postage and schedule a pickup, or drop off your gift for delivery at the Post Office™.

Ship gifts across the globe without leaving home:

  1. Use the Postage Calculator tool on com to check prices and compare options.
  2. Visit com to complete a customs form and pay the postage.
  3. Print your shipping label.
  4. Schedule a free next day Package Pickup, or drop off your gift at your local Post Office.

For letters and cards:

  1. Use sturdy envelopes, especially when inserting gift cards inside.
  2. If sending a gift card, consider sticking an address label on the gift card; if item is separated from envelope it can be recovered for delivery.
  3. Never send cash.

Postal facts:

  • USPS will handle approximately 15.5 billion letters, cards and packages during holiday season.
  • Of those, approximately 600 million will be packages – up 10.5% from last holiday.
  • In many areas, delivery of packages will occur 7 days per week (adding Sunday) to facilitate extra volume.

Before You Leave, Check This Out