How to Ship Christmas Gifts

• by Trent

Introduction

• Making sure that your loved ones receive their Christmas gifts and greetings on time is as important as the gift itself. This year the United States Postal Service (USPS) expects to deliver approximately 20 billion letters, cards and packages. Make sure you're aware of the dates, deadlines and packing tips before you send your gifts.

Dates & Deadlines

• There are different shipping deadlines for the big three: USPS, FedEx and UPS. However, no matter what the deadlines are or what the destination is, there is one simple fact: shipping early will save you money and stress.

USPS domestic holiday shipping dates & deadlines

• The USPS will be working overtime this holiday season, so make it easy on everyone involved and get your gifts out early. Here is a list of deadline dates that the USPS has established so that you'll know exactly when you will need to send your gifts.

USPS at your service. (Creative Commons Photo by Terry Johnston)

• Parcel Post—Dec. 15
  • The least expensive method the USPS has to offer. Parcel Post is considered bulk mail and does not have priority over priority mail.
• Letters and Cards—Dec. 20
• Priority Mail—Dec. 20
  • Also known as first class.
• Express Mail—Dec. 22
  • The fastest service the USPS has to offer. Guaranteed next-day and second-day delivery.

USPS military holiday shipping dates & deadlines

• For those sending gifts, letters or cards to troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and other overseas destinations, you will need to get them off at the beginning of December. For tips and information regarding shipping and mailing our troops, check out Military Addressing Tips.

• Iraq/Afghanistan—Dec. 4
• Other overseas destinations—Dec. 11

USPS holiday international shipping dates & deadlines

• Shipping costs and dates vary depending on which country or continent you plan on mailing to. Here's a breakdown of international shipping deadlines. For tips and information regarding international shipping, check out Addressing International Mail.

Gifts in the shipping box. (Creative Commons Photo by Jewels Sadler)

• Africa, Central & South America
  • Letters and Cards—Dec. 4
  • Priority Mail—Dec. 4
  • Express Mail—Dec. 12
  • Global Express Guaranteed—Dec. 19
• Asia, Pacific Rim, Australia, New Zealand, Caribbean, Mexico, Europe and Middle East
  • Letters and Cards—Dec. 11
  • Priority Mail—Dec. 11
  • Express Mail—Dec. 17
  • Global Express Guaranteed—Dec. 19
• Canada
  • Letters and Cards—Dec. 11
  • Priority Mail—Dec. 11
  • Express Mail—Dec. 18
  • Global Express Guaranteed—Dec. 20

FedEx shipping dates & deadlines

• U.S. to U.S.
• U.S. to Puerto Rico
• U.S. to Canada
• U.S. to Mexico
• U.S. to International
• Rate Information

UPS holiday shipping dates & deadlines

• UPS will be delivering packages as late as December 24. They recommend that you ship no later than Dec. 21. You can calculate the time and cost online for shipping via UPS.
• 3-Day Select—Dec. 19
• 2nd Day Air—Dec. 20
• UPS Next Day Air—Dec. 21
• Last chance to use UPS Next Day Air;additional pricing applies— Dec. 22

Shipping Tips

• To insure that your packages get to their destinations on time and intact, there are several tips to consider.

1. Time is of the essence. Sending your packages with time to spare will ensure that the recipients get them. December 17-22 is expected to be the busiest shipping week this year so try to get your packages out before then. In addition, the sooner you ship, the less you will pay. It is not in your wallet's best interest to procrastinate during the holidays.
2. Pack it in. If you are pressed for time and don't mind spending a little more to money to rid yourself of the hassle of packing, UPS and FedEx Kinko's are there to help. They will pack and ship your boxes for you.
3. Heads up. Inform the recipient that you are sending a package so that they can be home to sign for it.
4. Insurance. Chances are, you will be sending valuable items. You will need to protect yourself against the possibility of your package getting lost or damaged. Purchasing insurance isn't expensive and will give you better peace of mind. FedEx doesn't offer insurance. Instead, you can declare the value of the package and if it gets lost or damaged you will be compensated.
5. Box in a box. If you are shipping many small gifts to one destination, you can wrap them individually and place them inside of the shipping box. Make sure to use packing material to cushion the smaller gifts. Wrap the shipping box and make sure that the shipping label is securely fastened by taping it to the paper.
6. Batteries not included. When shipping electronics, make sure that the batteries are not in the device. This prevents your package from making beeping or ticking noises. The recipient will be dismayed if the present arrives and the batteries are dead.
7. Save a plastic tree. If you don't want to buy thousands of packing peanuts, you can put those plastic grocery bags to good use. Wad them up and place them in your shipping box so that they cushion your smaller gifts. Not only will you save money on packing peanuts, but you'll finally get rid of some of those cumbersome bags. Other recommended cushioning materials include, crumpled newspaper, bubble wrap, Styrofoam and peanuts.
8. Quality control. Don't rely on an old beat-up box to ship your gifts in. Get a new shipping box and rest assured.
9. Splurge on the perishables. When shipping perishables, place them in an interior airtight container or plastic bag. Make sure that there is plenty of cushioning in the box so that the food doesn't get mashed during its voyage. It's also worth paying a few extra dollars so that the package gets to its destination as quickly as possible and the food remains fresh.
   

   Make sure your box is strong enough. (Creative Commons Photo by Thomas Kriese)
10. Tale of the tape. Contrary to what you might think about packing tape, Duct tape, cellophane tape and masking tape are all frowned upon. Use a tape that is designed specifically for shipping, such as nylon-reinforced kraft paper tape or glass-reinforced pressure-sensitive tape. Cover all the seams of your box with tape.
11. Handle with care. When shipping fragile items there are two ways of doing so. When shipping framed photos or artwork, take the glass out of the frame and wrap it separately. If you have breakable items such as glass or ceramics, pack them in a box and place that in another box surrounded with packing material.
12. Labels are OK. In case the outer shipping label gets damaged, place a backup inside the box. Make sure that it has addresses for both the sender and the recipient.

Resources for How to Ship Christmas Gifts

• abc7chicago.com: Holiday package shipping deadlines approach
• USPS: Holiday Shipping Calendar
• USPS: Express Mail
• USPS: Military Addressing Tips
• UPS: Holiday Shoppers Need the 'Packing 411' to Help Gifts Arrive in Shape, On Time
• UPS Pressroom: Shipping
• UPS Store: The UPS Store
• UPS: Calculate Time and Cost
• USPS: Rate Information and Extra Services
• Bankrate.com: 6 tips for savvy holiday shipping
• Associated Content: 10 Tips for Shipping Christmas Presents 
• eBay: Shipping Tips & Tricks
• UPS Pressroom: UPS Suggestions For A Well-Packed Box
• Wikipedia: Duct tape

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