Holiday shopping done? Follow these guidelines to ship your packages on time
| Sunday, Nov 29 2009 12:00 PM
Last Updated Sunday, Nov 29 2009 12:00 PM
If you bought presents on Black Friday and want to ship them to friends and relatives for the holidays, don't delay!
Read on for guidelines from the major shippers in the United States.
If you want your mail to arrive for Christmas, send by these dates, said James Brouillard, Bakersfield's postmaster with the U.S. Postal Service:
Dec. 4: Military mail headed to Iraq or Afghanistan.
Dec. 16: Mail sent via parcel post.
Dec. 21: First-class mail.
Dec. 23: Express mail.
Don't wait until the last minute to mail anything, but especially don't wait when it comes to express mail, Brouillard said. Keep your package's destination in mind, he said, and ship accordingly.
Because Hanukkah begins early this year, there are no additional guidelines for packages to arrive on time other than ship earlier rather than later, Brouillard said.
Additionally, Brouillard said, don't re-use boxes with labels for hazardous materials such as bleach or alcohol. Even if the box doesn't contain these items, the box can't be shipped.
Want to bypass the post office? The postal service has a service, Click-N-Ship, which allows users to order priority shipping boxes, print mailing labels and let the post office know they have a package at their house. The post office will pick it up. For more information, visit www.usps.com.
Or you may pick a different way to ship.
Jenny Evans, owner of the UPS Store on California Avenue, said packages shipped via UPS Ground bound for the East Coast should be sent by Dec. 16 to ensure delivery before Christmas. Packages staying on the West Coast should be shipped by Dec. 21.
In addition to ground shipping, UPS also offers 3-day Select, 2nd Day Air and Next Day Air services.
Air packages will be delivered on Christmas Eve, but not ground packages. Visit www.ups.com for more information.
At FedEx, the last day to ship via ground is Dec. 17, and the last day to ship via Express is Dec. 23, said FedEx spokeswoman Sonya Thorpe. FedEx expects to send 13 million packages Dec. 14, which will be its biggest day in the company's history, according to its Web site. Visit www.fedex.com for more information.
To make the shipping process easier, do not wrap your boxes in string, twine or duct, masking or cellophane tape. Packaging tape is the only acceptable method.
