Keeping your holiday-bound goods in shipping shape isn’t difficult if you keep the following suggestions in mind:
– Use a box with enough room for cushioning around the item. If reusing a box, cover up previous labels and markings with black marker or adhesive labels.
– Cushion the item well with newspaper, foam peanuts or bubble wrap, then close and shake the box. If you can hear the item move around, add more cushioning.
– Tape the opening of the box and reinforce all seams with 2-inch-wide tape–clear or brown packaging tape, paper tape or reinforced tape. Don’t use string or twine, which can get caught in mail-processing equipment.
– Address correctly: Put delivery and return addresses only on one side of the package. Include the ZIP code and complete street address. For overseas shipping, include correct postal codes, city or town, province or state, and country name. Do not put the shipping label over a seam or closure, or on top of sealing tape.
Fast and easy
– ups.com: Select delivery service, pay by credit card, print a shipping label, seal package and affix label. Hand the package to any UPS driver, arrange for a pickup or take it to a UPS shipping location.
– usps.com/pickup: Using Click-n-Ship and a credit card, prepare priority mail or express mail packages, then notify the post office online that you have a package for pickup the next day. (Same-day pickup costs $12.50.) Priority flat-rate shipping costs $3.85 for envelopes and $7.70 for boxes.
Cards, cards
Here’s a shortcut for those of you hard-pressed to get your cards out. The electronic Christmas card allows senders to say “I’m thinking of you this Christmas” even if it’s at the very last minute. There are even some pre-written family newsletters for those who have run out of witty updates.
With the “Instant Christmas Letter Generator” from christmaslettertips.com, just fill in the blanks with your own family triumphs and misfortunes, and you have a printable, rhyming letter within minutes.
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SHIPPING DEADLINES
To make sure your package arrives before Christmas and Hanukkah, send by:
Dec. 14: Parcel post
Dec. 19: First-class mail
Dec. 21: Priority mail
Dec. 22: UPS Air services.
Dec. 23: Express Mail (check with local post office for availability)
