USPS offers tips on how to ship holiday gifts

The calendar has turned to December, and the United States Postal Service is encouraging customers to follow a few basic rules to ensure their holiday gifts arrive at their destination intact and on time.

Rehoboth Beach Post Office postal clerk Zac Webb said it’s definitely the busiest time of year. Webb was selected by USPS to review the dos and don’ts of shipping packages this holiday season. It’s even busier than at the height of summer, because there are local customers who stock up on their stamps and other mailing supplies in May and don’t come back until September or October, he said.

“This time of year, it’s everyone,” he said.

It’s not just locally. It’s the busiest time of year everywhere.

Paul Smith, a USPS communications manager out of Philadelphia, said USPS delivered 1.9 billion packages between Thanksgiving and New Year’s last year. It’s close to 2 billion already, he said during the interview Dec. 3.

“Ever since COVID, the package business has been off the charts,” said Smith.

As for shipping, Webb said it’s best to find a box that’s as close in size to what’s being shipped as possible. If it’s too tight, the package could open up during transit, and if it’s too loose, the box may not provide the needed support, he said.

It’s not required, but Webb recommends reinforcing the packages with tape, and securing items in the boxes with foam peanuts or wads of paper.

As for addresses, Webb said write them in the traditional three-line fashion – full name on top and full address second, with the city, state and ZIP code third.

“You don’t have to, but it might be helpful to fully write out the words in the address,” said Webb, using street and road as examples, instead of St. and Rd.

Smith also recommends addressing gifts inside the package too. That way, he said, if for some reason the box opens, there’s a possibility that items could still make it, he said.

Webb said the USPS offers three levels of service for shipping, each with a different deadline and cost for delivery by Dec. 25.

The basic is Ground Advantage, which has a shipping deadline of Wednesday, Dec. 18; then there’s Priority, with a deadline of Thursday, Dec. 19; finally, there’s Mail Express, which has a deadline of Saturday, Dec. 21. These are not the deadlines of USPS competitors.

If customers have questions or need help, Webb encourages them to stop by. Mistakes are pretty common, and it’s easy to forget the simple things in all the commotion, he said.

Webb said the busiest day of the season for the Rehoboth branch is the Monday before Christmas, which is Monday, Dec. 16, this year. People are out running their last-minute holiday errands and they know they have to get it done or the gifts won’t get there in time, he said.

A decade into being a postal clerk, Webb said he’s gotten used to the hustle and bustle the holiday season brings.

“It’s not as precarious as it used to be. Now, I can actually enjoy it,” he said.