BOISE, ID — It’s not too late to mail those holiday cards and packages, but hurry you must.

The busiest week of the holiday mailing and shipping season is upon us with an expected 3 billion pieces of mail and packages forecast to be delivered nationwide, including more than 200 million packages.

In Southern Idaho alone a record 3 million packages have already been delivered during the holidays – a 10 percent increase over last year.

For customer convenience, 8 Southern Idaho Post Offices will extend retail hours again this Saturday (see list below). The same locations will also offer dutch-door package pick up service from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Sunday for customers wanting to pick up notified mail/packages.

The Postal Service, which delivers more online orders to residences than anyone, is expanding delivery hours in Idaho to handle the peak season's volume, with packages delivered early in the morning, evening and on Sundays.

Suggested mail-by dates for cards and packages destined for U.S. addresses are:

• Dec. 20 – First-Class Mail
• Dec. 20 – Priority Mail
• Dec. 22 – Priority Mail Express.

Suggested mail-by dates for International destinations

• Dec. 18 to 20 – Global Express Guaranteed depending on country

The Postal Service anticipates delivering more than 16 billion pieces of mail this holiday season, including a record breaking 900 million packages, which is a 5 percent increase compared to the same time last year. USPS expects to deliver more than 8 million packages each Sunday in December. Mail carriers will also deliver Priority Mail Express packages on Christmas Day in select locations.

Mailing and Shipping DO’s and DON’TS

• DO use the 24/7 Post Office in Your Home – Go online to usps.com/holiday to print postage-paid shipping labels and schedule a free pick up of your packages by your postal carrier the next day.
• DO use 24/7Self Service Kiosks – As easy to use as ATMs, the Kiosks make shipping 24/7, using debit or credit cards. Kiosks are located in the lobby of 9 Southern Idaho Post Offices, six in the Boise area:  Boise Main Post Office, Boise Cole Village Station, Boise Five Mile Station, Caldwell Main, Meridian and Nampa. Kiosks are also in Twin Falls, Idaho Falls and Pocatello.
• DO NOT wrap packages in brown or any color paper, and don’t place string around the package as it can get caught in automated package processing equipment
• DO select a durable box to protect the contents. Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express boxes are free at local Post Offices
• DO properly address packages. Include both “to” and “from” information and only on one side
• DO Print addresses clearly and include all address elements, such as apartment numbers and directional information (ex: 123 S Main St. Apt. 2B)
• DO NOT guess a ZIP Code. Look up a ZIP Code at usps.com under Quick Tools.  NO ZIP is better than a WRONG ZIP
• DO place a card inside the package with delivery and return addresses. This helps postal employees deliver the item should the mailing label become damaged or fall off

Extended Saturday Retail Hours

The following 8 Southern Idaho Post Offices offer extended retail hours every Saturday Before Christmas (The same locations will also open a dutch door from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday before Christmas for customers wanting to pick up notified mail or packages which couldn’t be delivered on the first attempt. The only exception is in Nampa, where Dutch-door Sunday packages will be available at the Nampa Carrier Annex at 820 N. Park Centre Way and not the Nampa Post Office.)

• Boise Main 770 S. 13th St. – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Boise Five Mile 1350 S. Five Mile Rd.. – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Boise Overland 1650 W. Targee St. – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Normally not open on Saturdays)
• Caldwell 832 Arthur St. – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Meridian 1200 N. Main St. – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Nampa 123 11th Ave. South – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Sunday Dutch-door service at carrier annex)
• Pocatello Main 730 E. Clark St. – 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Twin Falls Pioneer 1376 Fillmore St. – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Additional news and information, including all domestic, international and military mailing and shipping deadlines, can be found at the Postal Service Holiday Newsroom at usps.com/holidaynews

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

###