Attention Procrastinators! Today Is The Last Day To Send Christmas Gifts Via Ground Shipping
NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Santa flies in next week for Christmas and menorahs are already lit for Hanukkah.
Yes, the holidays are upon us... but despite the crazy upheaval of 2020, some traditions remain intact.
One of those is the rush to ship Christmas gifts in time for them reach their destinations by the 25th.
The deadlines are fast-approaching.
One of them is actually already here:
Today -- Dec. 15 is the deadline for USPS retail ground service for expected delivery by Dec. 25.
It's also the last day to get FedEx home delivery and FedEx ground.
For USPS first class service for mail and packages, you need to get it to post by Friday.
Monday is the deadline for FedEx express saver and three-day freight, as well as UPS three-day select.
"Mail early! Mail as soon as you can!" said Albert Ruiz, the Strategic Communications Specialist for USPS.
With Christmas just next week, this is USPS's busiest week. They say from pandemic online ordering, and shipping gifts home for the holiday's, this is the first year they can't predict how much mail volume they'll see.
"All we can say right now is that we are expecting a significant volume increase," said Ruiz.
To help, they've hired more staff and are working overtime to get Christmas deliveries out.
"We will be out delivering Christmas day," Ruiz said.
Of course they say your best chance to ensuring your packages on time arrival, is to ship as soon as possible.
Folks we spoke to who were dropping off mail today had different levels of trust in the system to deliver their things on time this year.
"It is scary—because I have different things I am waiting for in the mail, and like I got a notice it was going to be delivered—and it wasn't delivered. So I am not sure what's going on," said Maria Powers, a Fort Worth Resident.
"Honestly—have never had any issues. And I figure by Friday it's probably going to be really bad. But no, I have faith it will get there," said Kim Parrish, a Watauga Resident.
Either way, USPS says as long as you do your part, they'll do theirs.
"We are going to do what we can," Ruiz said.
For the Postal Service their key dates are below:
Dec. 15- USPS Retail Ground Service
Dec. 18- First-Class Mail Service (including greeting cards)
Dec. 18- First-Class packages (up to 15.99 ounces)
Dec. 19- Priority Mail Service
Dec. 23- Priority Mail Express Service
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