You’ve gotten to the stores early, selected the presents, gotten the correct sizes and made sure that no gifts have been duplicated. Now all you have to do is ship those packages safely and on time.
Gifts can’t delight if they arrive damaged. That’s why proper packaging is important. First, choose a sturdy box for shipping. If you don’t have one, you can purchase strong, corrugated boxes at office-supply stores, moving and storage centers (such as U-Haul) or post offices.
Here are some packing tips offered by the United Postal Service and Federal Express:
– Fragile items need extra packaging. Use bubble wrap and place in a separate box inside the packing box.
– Clothing and soft toys may be gift-wrapped and placed in a stronger outer carton.
– Electronic equipment should be shipped in its original packing material. For added insurance, place the carton, surrounded by cushioning materials, inside a larger box.
– Seal boxes with 2-inch-wide plastic sealing tape. Do not use cellophane tape, masking tape or water-activated tape.
– Place address labels on both sides of the box. Be sure to remove all old labels. Addresses should have name and number, plus ZIP Code. When shipping Fed Ex, a telephone number is required.
– The best time to ship is as early as possible. Give yourself at least a week before the holiday you are targeting. Avoid the peak times, which are the week before Christmas for national mailing, two weeks before Christmas for international mailing. If you have several gifts going to the same address, pack them all together. This will combine shipping costs and reduce any tracking problems.
U.S. Postal Service (www.usps.com) delivers Priority Mail parcels in one to three business days. Fed Ex (1-800-463-3339 or www.fedex.com) will deliver overnight Christmas packages as late as Dec. 23. UPS (www.ups.com) will arrange for pickups at 1-800- 742-5877.
