Early Packages

From News Nation:

“The Postal Service wants you to send your packages early this holiday season”

The U.S. Postal Service is preparing for an increased number of gifts being mailed this holiday season because of the pandemic. Sunday delivery will be expanded beginning Nov. 29 to locations with high package volumes. USPS already delivers packages on Sundays in most major cities. Post office leaders say the mail season usually peaks two weeks before Christmas, as procrastinators complete their last-minute shopping. They’ve announced the shipping deadlines to get your presents to their destination in time for Christmas day.

2020 Holiday Shipping Deadlines

The Postal Service recommends the following mailing and shipping deadlines for expected delivery by Dec. 25 to Air/Army Post Office/Fleet Post Office/Diplomatic Post Office and domestic addresses*:

Dec. 9   — APO/FPO/DPO (ZIP Code 093 only) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail

Dec. 11 — APO/FPO/DPO (all other ZIP Codes) Priority Mail and First-Class Mail services

Dec. 15 — USPS Retail Ground service

Dec. 18 — APO/FPO/DPO (except ZIP Code 093) USPS Priority Mail Express 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

Alaska and Hawaii residents should check usps.com for their deadlines.

The Postal Service says consumers concerned about COVID-19 exposure don’t have to leave home to ship their packages. They can simply visit usps.com or use the Click-N-Ship feature for help shipping that holiday gift, ordering free Priority Mail boxes, printing shipping labels, purchasing postage and even requesting free next-day Package Pickup.

^ Even in a non-Covid year the USPS was treading-on-water to survive (because of lower volume and policies they created.) After my recent incident with the USPS I am glad I mailed all my gifts using other non-USPS means. Of course the exception is with the Christmas, Chanukah and New Year's cards.

So, if you are mailing to an APO, an FPO or a foreign destination be prepared to mail early and be prepared for hassles at your local Post Office and long shipping delays (my Priority Box took 6 days to get to Colorado.)

Don't let your family and friends suffer (ie. not receive packages and cards) because the USPS is so horrible. ^

https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/the-postal-service-wants-you-to-send-your-packages-early-this-holiday-season/