Lines Grow Longer At North Texas Postal Centers
NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The countdown is on. There are only a few days left before Christmas and time is running out to get your cards and gifts in the mail.
Gift givers all have their reasons. "It gets busy during the holidays," one person said. "I was making a present for my sister-in-law and it took longer than I thought," explained another.
Despite all the good intentions, most of the folks at one post office admitted to CBS 11 News that they just waited until the last minute.
"We're the king of procrastinators," said postal customer Joe Panther.
Monday and Tuesday are expected to be the busiest days of the year for the U.S. Postal Service.
With Christmas falling on a Sunday customers are now rushing to try and get their presents delivered by the holiday.
"Gifts to Atlanta… and I have no idea if they're going to make it," said hopeful mailer Sam Abel.
Apparently the rush is nothing new for Abel who said waiting until the last minute is his holiday tradition. "I'm usually a day before anyway. This is kind of early for me.
Given the extra cost that comes along with procrastination; Abel was asked if it was worth it.
"Ask me earlier in the year, no. Ask me today, yes!" he said laughing.
At this point, using first class mail won't get your packages delivered in time for Christmas. Your best bet is to use express or priority mail, but you'll have to pay a little extra.
Monday was just the beginning of the post office "push". "We expect the lines to be going out the door," said USPS spokesperson
Mckinney Boyd.
Postal customer Mike Casillas came prepared. He brought a good book to keep him company.
"Might as well get more reading done while I'm waiting," he said.
Monday is the deadline for mailing cards and letters if you want them received in time for Christmas.
On a normal day the U.S. Postal Service processes some 551 million pieces of mail. That number jumps to 589 million during the holiday season.
