Deadlines for Shipping Chrismas Gifts
Ship Early to Save Money and Assure Your Presents Arrive on Time
Nov 12, 2008
Relatives, friends and companies will ship millions of Christmas gifts again this year but some of them won’t get there on time, simply because some senders don’t pay attention to the shipping company deadlines listed on their websites. Some people will also pay more than they need to for the same reason.
Christmas falls on Thursday in 2008, which means there are no weekend complications to cause additional shipping problems.
Individuals and companies can save considerable money on Christmas packages by shipping early enough to use two and three-day services rather than the much higher one-day services.
United Parcel Service Deadlines
United Parcel Service (UPS) has set some firm deadlines. It will maintain normal delivery service for air, international and ground packages through Wednesday Dec. 24. However:
- "Second Day" packages must be picked up no later than Monday, Dec. 22 to arrive on Christmas Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 24.
- "Next Day Air" packages must be picked up no later than Tuesday, Dec. 23 to arrive on Christmas Eve.
- "Second Day Air" packages picked up on Tuesday, Dec. 22 will be delivered on Friday, Dec. 26.
UPS will not make any ground pickups on either Dec. 24 or Dec. 25 and will make no deliveries on Christmas Day.
UPS Express "critical service" will be available on Christmas Day for urgent packages.
FedEx Ground Deadline is Dec. 17
For gifts to arrive in time for Christmas, FedEx has set Dec. 17 as the last day for ground shipments and Dec. 22 as the last day for FedEx Express.
The company says Dec. 10 is normally its busiest day for ground packages and Dec. 17 is expected to be its busiest night to receive Express packages.
USPS Suggested Mail Dates
The United States Postal Services (USPS) provides these "suggested mail dates" for packages to arrive in time for Christmas.
- Dec. 4 – For international priority mail and military APO/FPO priority mail
- Dec. 12 – For international express service
- Dec. 18 – For military APO/FPO express mail
- Dec. 20 – For domestic priority service
- Dec. 23 – For domestic express service
The USPS two-or-three day priority mail starts at $4.50 for shipments up to five pounds. International priority service starts at $9.95
USPS one-day express service within the United States starts at $12.60. It includes up to $100 in free insurance as well as free tracking and confirmation services. International express service begins at $23.95.
Free Package Pickup
The postal service also offers:
- Free pickup of packages for express and priority mail and for international services. The packages must be ready for shipping.
- A series of different size boxes with flat shipping rates. USPS says "if it fits, it ships for one low rate," often eliminating the need to weigh the contents or calculate postage.
- Decorative packaging
- Holiday stamps
UPS, FedEx and USPS also offer a growing number of online shipping conveniences on their websites.
References:
- USPS.com
- UPS.com
- FedEx.com
