Hollywood, MD – After everyone has finished shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday it will be time to wrap and ship those packages. The three options for shipping are Federal Express, U.S. Postal Service and United Parcel Service.
Your guide for getting your packages there by Christmas, Dec. 25 is below:
Shipping Packages Using Federal Express
Here are your last days to ship with FedEx Express®, FedEx Ground® and FedEx Home Delivery® so your shipments are scheduled to arrive on or before Sunday, Dec. 25.
The following FedEx Express services will deliver Saturday, Dec. 24 – FedEx First Overnight®, FedEx Priority Overnight®, and FedEx 2Day®. A $16 Saturday delivery fee will apply per package. For residential shipments using these services, we will extend the time for delivery to 8 p.m. These shipments must be tendered by Friday, Dec. 23, to receive Saturday delivery.
FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery will not deliver Saturday, Dec. 24. Check out FedEx Ground Service Maps to determine the day-definite transit time of your FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery shipments.
With FedEx SameDay® service and some of the other expedited services, you can ship on Christmas Day or any other day of the year. FedEx SameDay is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for your most urgent shipments.
Call FedEx Customer Service at 1-800-GoFedEx or 1-800-463-3339. For FedEx® International Next Flight, please call 1-800-974-7333 for precise transit time quotations and to schedule a pickup.
Dec. 16 is the last day to ship via FedEx Ground if you have a regularly scheduled pickup or you drop off shipments at a staffed FedEx location. Transit times are typically 1 to 5 business days within the contiguous U.S. (3 to 7 business days to and from Alaska and Hawaii) based on the destination ZIP code.
Dec. 14 is the last day to ship for FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery shipments to Alaska or Hawaii.
Dec. 12 is the last day to ship via FedEx SmartPost. FedEx SmartPost does not provide day-definite delivery. Transit times are typically 2 to 7 business days within the contiguous U.S. based on the destination ZIP code. Longer transit times to destinations outside the U.S.
The delivery date for FedEx International Next Flight shipments depends on the time to clear customs based on commodity, origin of goods and destination. FedEx International First is only available to postal codes in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, England, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain and Switzerland.
You may ship FedEx First Overnight and FedEx Priority Overnight shipments on Friday, Dec 23 for delivery on Saturday, Dec 24. A $16 Saturday delivery fee will apply per package. You may ship FedEx 2Day shipments on Thursday, Dec. 22 for delivery on Saturday, Dec. 24. A $16 Saturday delivery fee will apply per package.
Saturday delivery is not available for FedEx Standard Overnight®, FedEx 2Day A.M., or FedEx Express Saver.
Shipping Packages Using U.S. Postal Service
Customers are encouraged to ship early. To ensure timely delivery of cards, letters and packages within the United States by Dec. 25, the Postal Service recommends that customers ship their items by the following dates:
Domestic Services – Mail by Dates
Dec. 15 – USPS Retail Ground–Ground service for less-than-urgent deliveries and oversized packages.
Dec. 20 – First-Class Mail–Service for standard-sized, single-piece envelopes and small packages weighing up to 13 ounces with delivery in 3 business days or less.
Dec. 21 – Priority Mail–Domestic service in 1, 2 or 3 business days based on where the package is mailed and where it’s being sent, with a variety of flat-rate options.
Dec. 23 – Priority Mail Express–Fastest domestic service guaranteed overnight scheduled delivery to most locations. Some restrictions and exceptions apply. Please note, Priority Mail Express postage refund eligibility is adjusted for shipments mailed between Tuesday, Dec. 22 and Thursday, Dec. 25.
Complete details on Mailing and Shipping services can be found on usps.com.
International Services Mail-by Dates – Customers mailing internationally during the holidays are advised to review the chart below for specific deadlines based on the locations they are mailing to and the service they are using. When mailing and shipping internationally, customers must also follow necessary customs guidelines. Visit the International Shipping page on usps.com for more information.
Military Mail-by Dates
The Postal Service is committed to ensuring those serving in the nation’s armed forces and diplomatic service receive their presents, care packages and cards in time for the holidays. Complete military mailing deadlines to APO/FPO/DPO (Air/Army Post Office, Fleet Post Office, and Diplomatic Post Office) destinations worldwide, as well as tips and guidelines can be found at this link.
Postal Service Shipping Supplies
As an added convenience, the Postal Service offers a wide variety of shipping supplies in multiple sizes at local Post Offices and online at usps.com. Some supplies, such as Priority Mail products, can also be delivered to the sender free of charge by going to http://usps.com/freeboxes.
Customers may also ship using their own materials. As a reminder, all packages weighing more than 13 ounces and bearing only stamps as postage cannot be deposited in collection boxes or given to letter carriers. These packages must be presented to a Postal Service employee at a retail window counter.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
Shipping Packages Using United Parcel Service (UPS)
Shipping instructions and comprehensive information can be found online by putting in starting and ending zip codes.
Depending on where you are shipping from and to, the UPS gives you several options. Same Day, Next Business, 2-day Business, 1-5 days Business, Air, Ground, Freight, and more. Go to http://www.ups.com to learn more.
Calculating options for shipping is easy. Go to the section on U.S. Shipping and if a user account is created it allows tracking of packages, starting a returning or scheduling a pickup.
Happy holidays and good luck with your shipping.
Contact Shertina Mack at s.mack@TheBayNet.com.
