Only a week or so more shipping days till Christmas.
To get your holiday packages where they need to be on time you'll have to meet some deadlines. While you're getting your packages ready, Shopping and Shipping Expert Kerry Sherin has some tips for getting your gifts there safely as well as on time.
- "If you’re concerned about a fragile item becoming broken during transit, then be sure to use high-quality wrapping tap and substantial cushioning material. Bubble wrap is definitely going to be your best friend this holiday season!”
And then there's porch snatching .
- "If you’re worried about any package being stolen from your front porch – think about using Amazon Locker. Both FedEx and UPS will let you ship to one of their stores where they will hold it for you."
Here's Sherin's a great idea how to NOT slow down the process
- "With the holiday weather including rain and snow, your shipping label could become illegible. This year include another shipping label inside your package. Both FedEx and UPS will go ahead and open the box and look for that label and go forward to get your package there on time.”
Key Holiday Shipping Dates
Amazon
Dec. 18 - Standard shipping for non-Prime members. Items ship in 3-5 business days.
Dec. 22 - Free shipping on tens of millions of items for Prime members. No minimum purchase.
Dec. 23 - Free one-day delivery on over ten million items. No minimum purchase.
Dec. 24 - Free same-day delivery on qualifying orders of $35 or more.
FedEx
Dec. 16 - FedEx Home Delivery® in the contiguous U.S. and last day to ship via FedEx Ground®
Dec. 20 - FedEx 2Day® A.M. and FedEx 2Day®.
Dec. 23 - FedEx First Overnight®, FedEx Priority Overnight®, FedEx Standard Overnight and FedEx 1Day® Freight.
Dec. 25 - FedEx SameDay® City Direct, FedEx SameDay® City Priority and FedEx SameDay®.
UPS
Dec. 19 - UPS 3 Day Select® packages scheduled for delivery on Tuesday, Dec. 24.
Dec. 20 - UPS 2nd Day Air® packages scheduled for delivery on Tuesday, Dec. 24.
Dec. 23 - UPS Next Day Air® packages scheduled for delivery on Tuesday, December 24 with a UPS On-Call, or scheduled, Pickup, or by visiting a The UPS Store location or a UPS Authorized Service Location.
U S Postal Service
Dec. 18 - First-Class Mail® Service to Alaska.
Dec. 19 - Priority Mail® Service to Alaska and Hawaii and last day for First-Class Mail® Service to Hawaii.
Dec. 20 - First-Class Mail® Service (excluding Alaska and Hawaii).
Dec. 21 - Priority Mail® Service for U.S (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) and Priority Mail Express® Service to Alaska and Hawaii.
Dec. 23 - Last day for Priority Mail Express® Service (excluding Alaska and Hawaii)