Postal service prepares for holiday mail
With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the bend, the employees of the United States Postal Service ready themselves for a busy season to accommodate closures.
Many who have family that live in other parts of the country as well as overseas know the strain that comes with holiday schedules and post office closures.
Postmaster Donna Denny reminds customers to mail early during the holiday season.
"Thanksgiving traditionally kicks off the busy holiday mailing season, " Denny said. "Remember to mail early and be sure to follow the recommended mailing dates for mail to military addresses."
Time is of the essence when it comes to shipping gifts, there is no shortage of options. But the faster you need items to get to their destination, the more it's going to cost. Ground service could take as much as five to eight days, and the package goes passes along several trucks, while flight delivery services can get goods to their destination as soon as overnight.
Although cost isn't the only thing to consider. With the busy schedules most endure during the holiday season, it may be worth a little extra money to save you some time. Pack-and-ship companies, such as The UPS Store and FedEx Office, give busy shoppers a respite by actually packing the boxes. Even if people have enough time to pack items, if the items are fragile, it might be worth the peace of mind of having a professional pack the items.
Another thing to consider is insurance. Chances are gifts will arrive at their destinations. Know the consequences, if they don't. If gifts get lost or arrive damaged, many mail services offer insurance or replacement warranties, if purchased before shipping.
Finally, address the gift properly. Not only should the address of the sender and the recipient be on the outside of the package, but the U.S. Postal Service suggests that contact information be placed on an index card inside the package in case the box is damaged or inadvertently opens during shipping.
Though there can be endless possibilities and outcomes when it comes to shipping packages, following just a few of these tips can lead to a more successful and happy holiday season.
The Harrisburg Post office would like to remind everyone that retail services, at the Harrisburg office, will be closed on Nov. 26 in observance of Thanksgiving. Regularly scheduled mail delivery, post office box and caller services will also be suspended for the holiday.