The U.S. Postal Service has announced retail service at Post Offices nationwide, including those in California, will be open for business Christmas Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 24, and New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 31; however, many will shorten their hours and close at noon.

Mail delivery on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 will not be affected. Blue mail collection boxes having final collection times before noon, and all boxes located outside Post Offices, will not be affected. However, collection boxes with final collection times scheduled later than noon may be collected early. Therefore, mail should be deposited into these collection boxes by noon for early pickup by the Postal Service on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31.

Revised hours are posted at each Post Office. Commercial customers should check with their Business Mail Entry Units for information regarding holiday hours. Customers can go to usps.com, under Quick Tools, Post Office Location, and key in their City and State to see if their local Post Office will close early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

All Post Offices will be closed Thursday, Dec. 25 and Thursday, Jan. 1. Only Priority Mail Express will be delivered on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day in most major metropolitan areas. Post Offices will resume regular retail hours on Dec. 26, 2014 and Jan. 2, 2015.

Postal Service customers have other options when it comes to transacting Postal Service business. Self-Service Kiosks (SSK) are located inside lobbies of many larger Post Offices with 24-hour access. SSKs handle basic Postal Service transactions and offer postage stamps. For quick and easy transactions, the SSK accepts debit and credit cards but not cash. The touch-screen machines are easy to use and are available 24 hours a day.

Other options that customers have to conduct Postal Service business are Contract Postal Units (CPUs) and Village Post Offices (VPOs) inside local businesses or at shopping malls, whose location information can be found at usps.com. In addition, postages stamps are available at most grocery and drug stores where people shop.

Customers not wanting to leave home can order postage through Stamps By Mail, online in the Postal Service at usps.com, and by calling 1-800-STAMP24. With a computer and Internet access, customers have a virtual Post Office at their fingertips by logging onto usps.com and using Click-N-Ship to print postage-paid shipping labels and schedule a free Package Pickup by their regular carrier. They also can manage their packages and get text or email alerts through the MyUSPS.com tool.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at about.usps.com/news/welcome.htm. A complete list of the holiday shipping deadlines can be found at usps.com/holidaynews.

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For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and usps.com/postalfacts.