VALLEY — The U.S. Postal Service has been busy making sure every sleigh is ready to go this holiday season! USPS is ready to deliver special gifts this season and this information can help the holidays come off without a snag.
 
Tips on How to Box a Package
Select a sturdy box that is strong enough to protect the contents. If you are reusing a box, totally remove or obliterate all previous labels and markings with heavy black marker. The Post Office provides free Priority Mail boxes in a variety of sizes.

If you mail heavy items, make sure to use a sturdy box with heavy packing tape and no content shifting.

Place cushioning all around your item until you cannot hear the item move inside when you shake it. Use newspaper to stuff glass and fragile, hollow items, like vases to avoid damage. When mailing framed photographs, take the glass out of the frame and wrap it separately.

Remove batteries from toys. Wrap and place them next to the toys in the mailing box. Keep new batteries in the original packaging

Use the proper address. Don’t guess. To find the correct spelling of a city name and state abbreviation or to find a ZIP Code visit www.usps.com.

Print addresses clearly and include all address elements, such as apartment numbers and directional information (ex: 123 S Main St. Apt. 2B)

Include both “to” and “from” information on packages – and only on one side.

Place a card inside the package that contains the delivery and return  address. This ensures the package can be delivered or returned should the mailing label become damaged or fall off.

Mark your packages "Fragile" if they can break. Mark food items as "Perishable."

Don’t use twine around your box. Use high quality 2-inch packaging tape.

Pay for your postage and print your postage at home using Click N Ship at www.usps.com

Drop off at a Post Office or leave for your carrier

Customers planning to ship packages are encouraged to visit a local Post Office no later than the below dates for expected delivery by Dec. 25 to Air/Army Post Office/Fleet Post Office/Diplomatic Post Office and domestic addresses:

• Dec. 11 – Military Priority Mail and First-Class Mail
• Dec. 14 – USPS Retail Ground
• Dec. 19 – First-Class cards and letters
• Dec. 20 – Priority Mail
• Dec. 22 – Priority Mail Express

To send packages to loved ones serving in the military and diplomatic posts abroad, the Postal Service offers a discounted price of $17.35 on its largest Priority Mail Flat Rate Box. The price includes a $1.50 per-box discount for mail sent to APO/FPO/DPO destinations worldwide.

Busiest Week
Customer mailing and shipping traffic is expected to increase beginning Dec. 11, with the week of Dec. 18 to 24 predicted to be the busiest mailing, shipping and delivery week, when nearly 3 billion pieces of First-Class Mail, including greeting cards, will be processed and delivered. The Postal Service expects to deliver nearly 200 million packages per week from Dec. 11 to 24.
 
Ship Online from Home
The Postal Service’s busiest day online is predicted to be Dec. 18 when more than 7 million customers avoid holiday hassles and visit usps.com for help sending special gifts. Millions of customers will take advantage of convenient online services, like Click-N-Ship, to order free Priority Mail boxes, print shipping labels, purchase postage and request free next-day Package Pickup. And usps.com is always open.
 
Additional Tips
The Postal Service’s new feature, Informed Delivery, makes tracking packages easy. The tool allows eligible customers to view incoming mail, track packages and reschedule deliveries. Customers can sign-up for free at www.usps.com/informeddelivery.

The Postal Service offers shipping tips in 10 video “how to” guides. Each video is less than three minutes long and shows customers how to address packages, ship packages and pack a box so items arrive safely.

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