USPS Offers Convenience, Holiday Mailing Tips

With 16.5 billion cards, letters and packages to be delivered between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, the U.S. Postal Service has shipping tips to help make sure gifts are delivered promptly and safely during the holiday season.

“The Postal Service is making it easier to ship packages to family and friends for the holidays — be it online at usps.com, or by visiting your local Post Office,” said Gary Reblin, vice president of Domestic Products. “And remember, proper addressing and packaging will ensure every gift receives the service it deserves."

Reblin suggests making shipping easier for yourself for the holidays by using Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes -- which offer "value and convenience" with one low rate to any state and without weighing or having to calculate postage.

In addition, customers who mail online with usps.com/clicknship qualify for a discount on priority mail and express mail, Reblin said. For even more convenience, when you are ready to ship a package you can log on to usps.com/pickup to schedule free package pickup from your home or office.

Post Offices nationwide are offering ReadyPost, the Postal Service’s exclusive line of pre-packaged shipping products including sturdy, secure boxes, bubble wrap, mailing tubes, tape, envelopes and even greeting cards.

Here are some more shipping and convenience tips from USPS

Free Supplies and Services

• The Postal Service offers free Priority Mail and Express Mail boxes delivered right to a customer’s home or office, available by ordering at usps.com/holiday.
• Free Variety Packs of Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes, also are available, containing 1 each of the Small Flat Rate Box, Medium Flat Rate Boxes 1 and 2, and the Large Flat Rate Box.
• Busy holiday shippers can skip a trip to the Post Office altogether, by scheduling package pickups online. The Postal Service will pick up packages at a time and place convenient for the customer, with schedule and pickup options available on usps.com

Shipping Basics

• Remove batteries from toys and other electronic devices. Wrap and place them next to the item in the mailing box. Customers should include the new batteries in the manufacturer’s packaging.
• Place a card inside the package that contains both the delivery and return addresses. This ensures the safe return of an item that could not be delivered should the mailing label become damaged or fall off.
• Include both “to” and “from” information on packages — and only on one side.
• Always use a return address, which tells the Postal Service where to return mail if it cannot be delivered.
• Select a box that is strong enough to protect the contents.
• Do not reuse mailing boxes as they can weaken in the shipping process.
• Leave space for cushioning inside.
• Stuff glass and fragile, hollow items, like vases, with newspaper or packing material to avoid damage.
• When mailing framed photographs, take the glass out of the frame and wrap it separately.
• For Parcel Post packages using a customer-supplied box, the weight cannot exceed 70 pounds. and the combined length and width measurement must be 130 inches or less. Make sure the width is measured around the largest point of the package.

Envelope and Package Addressing Guidelines

• Print the complete address clearly.
• Never guess a ZIP Code. NO ZIP is better than a WRONG ZIP. Find the correct ZIP Code atusps.com “Look Up a ZIP Code” or by calling 800-ASK-USPS.
• A complete address includes:
  • The recipient’s name
  • Post Office Box or street number
  • Street name
  • Suffix (Ave., St., etc.)
  • Directional (N, S, E, W)
  • Secondary address (apartment or suite number)
  • City, state and 5-digit ZIP Code
  • Example: 123 S. Main St. Apt 4, Washington, DC 20001

The Postal Service recommends the following mail-by dates to ensure gifts arrive on time:

Dec. 3 - Military mail destined for Afghanistan 
Dec. 10 - Military mail for other overseas bases 
Dec. 15 - Parcel Post, the most economical shipping service 
Dec. 20 - First-Class Mail 
Dec. 21 - Priority Mail 
Dec. 22 - Express Mail