LODI, CA — Once again, the United States Postal Service delivers the holidays. As in Christmas’ past, the Post Office comes to you this holiday season. More and more holiday shippers have discovered the convenience of shipping from home in their PJs. Just a quick click to usps.com and everything from free package pickup, mailing labels, postage, packaging supplies, and personalized stamps and greeting cards are available. For Snow Birds, customers can also request a vacation hold for their mail online.

And what better way to make your shipping easier than choosing from an array of four sizes of flat-rate Priority Mail boxes. If it fits, it ships. One low, flat rate to any state.

However, if you must come to the Post Office, hours have been added on the two Saturdays before Christmas, Sat., Dec. 12 and Dec. 19. from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m at the Lodi Post Office, 120 S School St

Lodi, CA 95240.

The Postal Service offers these helpful packing and mailing tips for customers:

• Choose a box with enough room for cushioning around the contents. If you’re reusing a box, cover all the old labels and markings with a heavy black marker or adhesive labels.
• Place the cushioning all around your items, then close and shake the box. If you hear things shifting around in there, add more newspaper, Styrofoam, or bubble wrap.
• Tape the opening of your box and reinforce all seams with two-inch-wide tape.
• Use clear or brown packaging tape, reinforced packing tape, or paper tape. Don’t use cord, string, or twine – they can get caught in our mail processing equipment.
• Using a complete and correct address is the best way to get it there fast. Use ZIP Code TM + 4 when you can (look up ZIP Codes TM at usps.com)

Click-N-Ship

You can do all of your holiday mailing online at usps.com without leaving the comfort of home. You can print postage and mailing labels from your computer using Click-N-Ship. Price reductions are available on Priority Mail and Express Mail when you ship online. The more you ship, the more you save, and free Delivery Confirmation is included. Plus, we offer free carrier pickup, so you can save on time and money.

Automated Postal Centers (APCs)

APCs are self-service kiosks in most Post Office lobbies that provide 80 percent of the transactions available at the window counter. APCs are bilingual, transacting business in English or Spanish and accept major credit and debit cards.

APCs dispense First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Post, and Express Mail postage in any denomination; provide mailing information, including ZIP Code lookup; weigh and price envelopes and parcels up to 70 pounds; prepare Express Mail forms and Certified Mail return receipts; and offer Delivery Confirmation service.

Stamps by Mail

Order forms to receive stamps by mail are available in Post Office lobbies or through your letter carrier. Orders are fulfilled within three to five business days.

Stamps by Phone

Order stamps with a credit card by calling 1-800 STAMP-24. Orders are fulfilled within three to five business days.

The Postal Store

The Postal Store at usps.com is open 24 hours a day. At The Postal Store, you can buy stamps and stationery, philatelic collectibles and other gift items, order free shipping supplies, print mailing labels with or without postage, and design and mail cards and letters without ever leaving your home.

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Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at www.usps.com/news.

A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars. With 36,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, the Postal Service relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $68 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 26th in the 2008 Fortune 500.