Retailers across the country are urging customers to complete their holiday shopping as soon as possible because supply chain issues are on the rise. Shortages are posting a concern.
Mailing companies like UPS, U.S. Postal Service, and FedEx have released their deadlines for the holiday packages as well as cards. It’s basically a reminder for customers to mail their packages soon because it’s going to be peak season.
Picking your holiday gift is only half the work. You will also need to plan ahead of time to ensure that the gifts reach the recipient on time. There is nothing worse than knowing that the special present you bought for your loved one reached after Christmas.
When ordering online, you must remember that online retailers have their own deadlines for deliveries.
To make sure you spread the joy, it’s important to ship your package in time while the pandemic continues. To help you make a quick work of your holiday packages, here’s a round-up of useful tips to get the holiday gifts wrapped and shipped on time:
1: Mark the Date on Your Calendar
Want to qualify for free shipping and to be sure that your present reach your doorsteps in time for Christmas? Make sure you ship your package by December 14th to qualify.
For that, it’s best to save the date in your calendar like you save the date to Spectrum call service for paying your monthly bill. If the gift involves shipping it to a loved one’s address, last-minute Christmas shopping won’t work here. Shop in advance and make sure you ship before the deadline.
2: Plan It All Out
By using usps.com, you can avoid long lines at the post office and stay safe and healthy at home throughout the holidays. Create an account and order Priority Mail Forever Prepaid Flat Rate boxes after you’ve done so.
Postage-paid boxes are delivered to your mailbox, allowing you to pack and ship your gifts without ever leaving your home. Your return address, free tracking, and unlimited postage are all included in the boxes. Before the Christmas rush, stock up on all of your shipping and mailing goods at home so you can send out gifts with ease while sipping hot cocoa and avoiding the post office chaos.
3: Know the Mailing Deadlines
The United States Postal Service, FedEx, and UPS have all released their “Last Day to Ship” schedules for the 2021 holiday season, making it simple to know when to ship if you want your gifts under the tree by Christmas morning.
4: Pack With Care
Since it’s a present, it should be wrapped safely. Nobody wants to open their Christmas gift to find a damaged item inside.
The holidays are full of expectations, one of which is that a shipment arrives on schedule and in good condition.
Carriers transport a large number of shipments, and despite their best efforts, packages can get damaged. Improper packaging materials are frequently the cause, and if a carrier discovers that this was the case, they may refuse to replace the item as well. This means you should pack everything nicely.
Each item should be cushioned for at least two inches and put at least two inches away from the box’s walls. This way, even if the box walls are destroyed, the thing inside remains undamaged. A good place to start is with approved packing materials like packing peanuts and bubble cushions. To limit the chance of damage, make sure a package doesn’t rattle and can’t be tossed around.
5: Choose a Service with Good Tracking Function
Nobody wants their package to be lost in the transition. This is why mailing companies let you track the order.
There could be delays due to the exceptionally large amount of holiday shipments. Hence, it’s critical to choose a courier that offers frequent tracking updates because they will cover all stages of transportation (from pickup to arrival, then departure, and final delivery.) You will be able to keep a close eye on their shipments.
6: Mail Directly to the Recipient
There is a way to cut the hassle and not have to ship the gifts by yourself. How do you ask?
Simple! Just mail the order to the receipt’s address.
Rather than ordering the item, wrapping it, and paying to send it again, save time and money by having an internet order mailed directly to whomever you’re gifting it to. Many online businesses provide free or low-cost gift wrapping. Look for this option at the check-out stage.
This could mean you are sending the present in advance (i.e., before Christmas) because every retailer has its own shipping policy.