Cover Story

Holiday Season 2016 — Delivering Cheer

This year, the Postal Service™ is reminding employees and customers that the holidays are our time to deliver. We have prepared all year for this season, and are ready to deliver across the country.

Key Dates

n Kwanzaa stamps FDOI, October 1, 2016.

n Diwali stamps FDOI, October 5, 2016.

n Holiday Windows stamps FDOI, October 6, 2016.

n Florentine Madonna and Child stamps FDOI, October 18, 2016.

n Hanukkah stamps FDOI, November 1, 2016.

n Nativity stamps FDOI, November 3, 2016.

n First Holiday Ad Premiers, November 14, 2016.

n National Cancellation begins, November 26, 2016.

Holiday Mail-By Dates

Domestic Services

The Postal Service recommends customers in the U.S. observe the following mailing and shipping deadlines to ensure that deliveries are made in time for Christmas:

December 15 — USPS Retail Ground™

December 20 — First-Class Mail®

December 21 — Priority Mail®

December 23 — Priority Mail Express®

 

International Services

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. For more information, visit the International Shipping page at https://www.usps.com/international/preparing-international-shipments.htm?.

 

International Mail Addressed To

Global Express Guaranteed (GXG)***

Priority Mail Express International (PMEI)

Priority Mail International (PMI)

First-Class Package International Service (FCPIS)

Africa

Dec. 20

Dec. 8

Dec. 1

Dec. 1

Asia/Pacific Rim

Dec. 20

Dec. 15

Dec. 8

Dec. 8

Australia/

New Zealand

Dec. 20

Dec. 15

Dec. 8

Dec. 8

Canada

Dec. 22

Dec. 17

Dec. 10

Dec. 8

Caribbean

Dec. 22

Dec. 15

Dec. 10

Dec. 8

Central/

South America

Dec. 21

Dec. 10

Dec. 1

Dec. 1

Mexico

Dec. 21

Dec. 15

Dec. 8

Dec. 8

Europe

Dec. 21

Dec. 15

Dec. 10

Dec. 8

Middle East

Dec. 19

Dec. 15

Dec. 10

Dec. 8

***GXG Notes:

1. Cut-off date does not take into account time needed for customs clearance.

2. Should allocate extra transit day(s) for delivery outside major cities.

Military Mail

To send packages to loved ones serving in the military abroad, the Postal Service offers a discounted price of $16.75 on its largest Priority Mail Flat Rate Box. The price includes a $2 per box discount for mail sent to APO/FPO/DPO (Air/Army Post Office/Fleet Post Office/Diplomatic Post Office) destinations worldwide.

Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes are available at no cost at local Post Offices™ and online at http://shop.usps.com. Postage, labels, and customs forms can be printed online anytime using Click-N-Ship® at http://www.usps.com/ship.

To ensure timely delivery of holiday wishes by December 25, 2016, the Postal Service recommends that cards and packages be sent to military APO/FPO/DPO addresses overseas no later than the mailing dates listed below:

 

Military Mail Addressed
To and From

Priority Mail Express Military Service (PMEMS)1

First-Class Mail Letters and Cards

Priority Mail

Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL)2

Space Available Mail (SAM)3

USPS Retail Ground

APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 090-092

Dec. 16

Dec. 9

Dec. 9

Dec. 2

Nov. 25

Nov. 7

APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIP 093

N/A

Dec. 2

Dec. 2

Dec. 2

Nov. 25

Nov. 7

APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 094-098

Dec. 16

Dec. 9

Dec. 9

Dec. 2

Nov. 25

Nov. 7

APO/FPO/DPO AA ZIP 340

Dec. 16

Dec. 9

Dec. 9

Dec. 2

Nov. 25

Nov. 7

APO/FPO/DPO AP ZIPs 962-966

Dec. 16

Dec. 9

Dec. 9

Dec. 2

Nov. 25

Nov. 7

1. PMEMS is available to selected military/diplomatic Post Offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to an APO/FPO/DPO address.

2. PAL is a service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. PAL is available for Standard Post items not exceeding 30 pounds in weight or 60 inches in length and girth combined. The applicable PAL fee must be paid in addition to the regular surface price for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.

3. SAM parcels are paid at Standard Post prices with maximum weight and size limits of 15 pounds and 60 inches in length and girth combined. SAM parcels are first transported domestically by surface and then to overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis.

 

Military Care Kit

The Postal Service has created a free Military Care Kit based on the items most frequently requested by military families. The kit contains:

1. Two Priority Mail APO/FPO/DPO Flat Rate Boxes;

2. Two Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Boxes;

3. Priority Mail tape;

4. Priority Mail address labels; and

5. Appropriate customs forms.

To order the kit, call 800-610-8734. Guidelines for packing, addressing, and shipping items to U.S. troops can be found at https://www.usps.com/ship/apo-fpo-dpo.htm.

Addressing the Package

1. Write out the service member’s full name.

2. Include the unit and APO/FPO/DPO address with the 9-digit ZIP Code™ (if one is assigned).

For example:

Army/Air Post Office (APO)

PFC JOHN DOE
PSC 3 BOX 4120
APO AE 09021

3. Do not write the country name where the service member is stationed in the address;

4. Include a return address; and

5. Inside the box, include the service member’s name and address as well as the sender’s name and address on an index card in case the shipping label gets damaged in transit.

Domestic Mailing Deadlines

 

USPS Retail Ground

First-Class Mail

Priority Mail

Priority Mail Express

Dec. 15

Dec. 20

Dec. 21

Dec. 23

Holiday Facts and Figures

n Busiest MAILING day for greeting cards and packages: Monday, Dec. 19.

n Busiest DELIVERY day for greeting cards and packages: Thursday, Dec 22.

n The Postal Service is projecting a double-digit increase in package volume this holiday season.

n More than 3 million customers will skip the trip to the Post Office this year and use Click-N-Ship to mail packages.

Products and Services

Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express are great options for shipping holiday gifts:

n Boxes available at no extra charge.

n Day-specific delivery.

n Improved tracking.

n Insurance included.

Save time and money this holiday with valuable services on http://usps.com:

n Skip the trip with Click-N-Ship — create mailing labels and pay postage online at https://www.usps.com/ship and leave the packages for the mail carrier to pick up. No trip to the Post Office needed!

n Schedule a Package Pickup online for free, no matter how many packages are being sent.

n Order supplies, including Priority Mail packaging, online and have them delivered for free.

n Free Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are available at local Post Offices or online at https://www.usps.com/ship/apo-fpo-dpo.htm.

Retail Gifts

Whether customers forget to add someone to their holiday lists or need to find a gift for that special someone, the Postal Service has them covered. In select Post Offices this holiday season, customers can buy greeting cards, gift cards, and postage, and mail their gifts all in one place — the local Post Office. Check out online and retail options to make gift giving easy this season:

Words of Love

n Approximately 9,800 select Post Offices nationwide will feature holiday greeting card selections this holiday.

Gifts Galore

n Assorted gift cards are available in 5,000 Post Offices nationwide. The decorative gift cards are from a wide range of vendors and available in a variety of amounts to fit any budget.

n Feeling artsy? USPS® now offers on-demand framed stamp art at its new eBay store. Visit http://ebay.com/stamps for more details.

Wrapping Style

n For a limited time at retail locations, the new medium and large Priority Mail Flat Rate® boxes will feature a printed design. These boxes are available at no extra charge and can add a special touch to your wrapping style. Quantities are limited, so get yours today.

n Skip the late-night wrapping session. Use decorative ReadyPost® holiday boxes and bubble mailers to simplify your gift wrapping needs. ReadyPost shipping products are available in Post Offices in various sizes and designs.

Help Customers Avoid a Shipping Glitch

There are a number of things that customers can do to ensure their holiday mail gets delivered safely and correctly:

n Print addresses clearly and include all address elements, such as apartment numbers and directional information (ex: 123 S. Main St. Apt. 2B).

n Remove batteries from toys. Wrap and place them next to the toys in the mailing box. Customers should include the new batteries in the original packaging.

n Place a card inside the package that contains the delivery and return address. This ensures the package can be delivered or returned should the mailing label become damaged or fall off.

n Never guess a ZIP Code. NO ZIP is better than a WRONG ZIP. Look up a ZIP Code at http://usps.com under Quick Tools.

n Include both “to” and “from” information on packages and only on one side.

n Do NOT reuse mailing boxes — they weaken in the shipping process.

n Select a box that is strong enough to protect the contents. Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express boxes are free at the local Post Office.

n Leave space for cushioning inside.

n Stuff glass and fragile, hollow items, like vases, with newspaper or packing material to avoid damage. When mailing framed photographs, take the glass out of the frame and wrap it separately.