SALT LAKE CITY, UT — That knock at the door on Sunday just may be a postal carrier with a holiday package. Beginning Sunday, Dec. 7, Postal Service carriers will deliver packages 7 days a week through Christmas in 22 Utah cities from Logan to St. George (see list of cities below). Some Post Offices began limited Sunday package delivery as early as Nov. 30.
“The Postal Service ships more packages to more places than anyone else,” said Salt Lake City Postmaster Steve Chaus. “During the holidays, we’re raising the bar with enhanced tracking and Sunday delivery providing excellent service and reliability that only Santa can compete with.”
The Postal Service expects to deliver in 470 million packages this holiday season, an increase of 12 percent compared to last year. A similar increase is expected in Utah. Chaus cites growth in e-commerce and improvements to its Priority Mail product line, including improved tracking and free insurance, for the surge in packages.
“Every household in America relies on us to get their packages home for the holidays and we take great pride in taking on that responsibility,” said USPS District Manager Jimmy Wolf. “We’re prepared to do whatever it takes to deliver for our customers.”
In addition to Sunday package delivery, The Postal Service will extend Saturday retail hours at 36 Utah Post Offices the three Saturdays before Christmas with 8 opening the two Sundays before Christmas.
Most larger Post Offices between Logan and Provo, including 21 in the Salt Lake City area, will extend Saturday retail hours to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 6, 13 and 20.
On Sunday Dec. 14 and 21 the Murray Branch, Sugarhouse Station, West Valley Branch, and the Main Post Offices in Bountiful, Layton, Clearfield, Ogden and Sandy will open their retail windows from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Customers can go online to usps.com or call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) to find their nearest Post Office and retail hours.
“Extending retail hours and adding Sunday hours will help our customers get their packages in the mail at a time that is convenient for them,” said Salt Lake City Postmaster Steve Chaus. “It’s also a good time for customers who have been notified to pick up a package.”
While Saturday hours are being extended and Sunday hours added, Chaus reminds customers they likely already have a 24/7 Post Office inside their home or business. He encourages them to skip the trip to the Post Office and ship their packages from the comfort of their home or business at usps.com where this holiday season 75 million customers are expected to print shipping labels at a discount, order free Priority Mail boxes, purchase postage and even request free next-day Package Pickup.
The busiest mailing day of the holidays is expected to be Monday, Dec. 15, when more than 640 million pieces of mail will be processed; compared to 528 million on a typical day. The busiest delivery day for packages is expected to be Thursday, Dec. 18.
“This is truly our season at the Postal Service, it is crunch time,” said Chaus. “We have stepped up our game to assure America that USPS can be counted on to deliver their cards, gifts and letters in time for the holidays.”
Postal Service carriers will deliver packages the three Sundays before Christmas in the following Utah cities: American Fork, Cedar City, Centerville, Hurricane, Kaysville, Lehi, Logan, Midvale, Ogden, Orem, Pleasant Grove, Price, Provo, Roy, Salt Lake City, Sandy, South Jordan, Spanish Fork, Springville, St. George, Tooele, and West Jordan.
For expected delivery of holiday mail and packages by Christmas, the Postal Service recommends keeping the following mailing and shipping deadlines in mind:
- Dec. 2 – First-Class Mail International/Priority Mail International
- Dec. 10 – Priority Mail Express International
- Dec. 15 – Standard Post
- Dec. 17 – Global Express Guaranteed
- Dec. 20 – First-Class Mail/Priority Mail (domestic)
- Dec. 23 – Priority Mail Express (domestic)
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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