GREATER BUFFALO — The Postal Service offers the following tips and deadlines to make the shipping season merry and bright:

Extended Saturday Hours:
The following Post Offices will have extended hours on Saturday: Dec.10 & 17 as follows:

• Amherst Branch, 5500 North Bailey Avenue – open until 5 p.m.
• Buffalo Main Post Office, 1200 William Street – open until 5 p.m.
• Hamburg Post Office, 500 Camp Road – open until 3 p.m.
• Niagara Falls LaSalle Station, 9860 Niagara Falls Boulevard – open until 4 p.m.

The Cayuga Branch, 285 Cayuga Road has full retail service available from 12:30 to 8:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.

Deadlines:

The Postal Service is suggesting these mail-by dates and tips to help customers mail and ship conveniently for the holidays:

Delivering Holiday Cheer to Service Members

Shipping Deadlines - For a full list of domestic, military and international deadlines please go to http://about.usps.com/holidaynews/


Shipping Deadlines - For a full list of domestic, military and international deadlines please go to http://about.usps.com/holidaynews/


Stamps

• There are a number of Forever holiday stamps for customers to choose from, including Holiday Windows (pictured at top), Diwali, Eid, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Madonna and Child, and Nativity.

• Holiday stamps can be delivered to any address when ordered through usps.com, by calling       1-800-STAMP-24 or by completing a Stamps-By-Mail form (available from mail carriers).

Convenience Options and Services
Self-service kiosks can be found at the following locations and are available 24/7. Don’t wait in line during the busy holiday mailing season!  At a kiosk, you can mail packages, purchase stamps, and more:

BUFFALO:

• Amherst Branch, 5500 N Bailey Avenue         
• Cayuga Branch, 285 Cayuga Road                
• Cheektowaga Branch, 125 Galleria Drive       
• Northside Station, 725 Hertel Avenue            
• West Seneca Branch, 4300 Seneca Street     
• Williamsville Branch, 5423 Sheridan Drive
• East Amherst Post Office, 9630 Transit Road
• Getzville Post Office, 2655 Millersport Highway       
• Grand Island Post Office, 2391 Baseline Road
• Hamburg Post Office, 5501 Camp Road          
• Lockport Post Office, 138 East Avenue      
• Niagara Falls/LaSalle Branch, 9860 Niagara Falls Boulevard
• Orchard Park Post Office, 60 School Street

Visit usps.com to ship and send in just a few clicks:

• Analyze prices, shipping options and delivery times by using the Calculate a Price tool.
• Receive a discount at checkout on select products when you print, prepare and pay for shipping labels with Click-N-Ship®.
• Schedule a next day Package Pickup for no extra charge.
• Order stamps via usps.com for delivery to your home.

Visit local retailers to purchase holiday stamps and mail packages:
1.   Many grocery stores, pharmacies and national retailers sell holiday stamps.
2.   Several local retailers offer postal shipping services in the evening and on weekends.
3.   To find the closest ones and their hours, go to usps.com and under Quick Tool click on Find USPS Locations.

Packaging Tips

How to pack a gift like a pro:

• Pick a strong and sturdy box, and tape it closed tightly.
• Cushion contents to protect them during transportation, and wrap glass and other fragile items with extra newspaper or packing material.
• Place wrapped gift boxes inside a plain larger box.
• Remove all batteries from electronics.
• Remember to place an extra shipping label inside the box, so the item can be returned in case the box or label gets damaged.

Successful shipping tips:

• Print addresses clearly and in CAPS.
• Include complete ‘to’ and ‘from’ info.
• Check usps.comfor the correct ZIP Code — never guess.
• Be sure to label a box as ‘FRAGILE’ if it needs to be handled with extra care.
• Visit usps.comto pay and print postage and schedule a pickup, or drop off your gift for delivery at the Post Office™.

Ship gifts across the globe without leaving home:

• Use the Postage Calculator tool on usps.comto check prices and compare options.
• Visit usps.comto complete a customs form and pay the postage.
• Print your shipping label.
• Schedule a free next day Package Pickup, or drop off your gift at your local Post Office.

For letters and cards:

• Use sturdy envelopes, especially when inserting gift cards inside.
• If sending a gift card, consider sticking an address label on the gift card; if item is separated from envelope it can be recovered for delivery.
• Never send cash.

Postal facts:

• USPS will handle approximately 16 billion letters, cards and packages during holiday season.
• Of those, approximately 750 million will be packages – up 12% from last holiday.
• In many areas, delivery of packages will occur 7 days per week (adding Sunday) to facilitate extra volume.
• The Buffalo and Rochester Processing & Distribution Centers is projected to handle, in total, about 75 million letters and cards this holiday season; the North West Rochester and Rochester Processing & Distribution Centers approximately 10 million packages. These facilities process all letters, cards and packages mailed from and delivered to western New York customers.

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

Be sure to follow us on Facebook (US Postal Service) and Twitter (@USPS) for holiday help throughout the season!

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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.

More USPS holiday news, including shipping deadlines and Santa mail, can be found at usps.com/holidaynews.

For reporters interested in speaking with a regional Postal Service public relations professional, please go to about.usps.com/news/media-contacts/usps-local-media-contacts.pdf. Follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/usps), Instagram (instagram.com/uspostalservice), Pinterest (pinterest.com/uspsstamps), LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/usps), subscribe to our channel on YouTube (youtube.com/usps), like us on Facebook (facebook.com/usps) and view our Postal Postsblog (uspsblog.com).

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