Every year around the holidays, there are shipping issues. The USPS gets so overwhelmed with the number of holiday cards and packages being sent it causes massive delays with deliveries. This means the last-minute gift you send will arrive even later.
This year is no exception. In fact, shipping issues are likely going to be worse than in years past since we’re all trying to keep our distance from others due to COVID. Add that to the fact that we’re all doing tons of online shopping and it’s a recipe for delivery disaster. Still looking for gifts? Try these 20 gifts around $25 for the person who has everything.
Major shipping delays have already begun. If you’re shipping packages to family or friends this holiday season or want to make sure your Christmas cards arrive on time, you need to know when the deadlines are.
Cutoff times for shipping this Christmas
The holiday season is going to be insane this year. We’re dealing with so many variables that we haven’t had in years past — and it’s going to cause some serious issues with shipping. If you’re trying to make sure that your gifts get to the kid who’s quarantined in another state or your elderly parents, who do not allow visitors right now, you need to time it right.
That can be difficult to estimate, considering there’s a huge influx of packages to be shipped in recent weeks. Luckily, the big shipping companies like UPS, USPS and FedEx have all made their cutoff dates clear. Let’s take a look at your final deadline for each.
USPS
If you’re trying to ship USPS retail ground service, we have bad news. You’ve already missed the deadline of Dec. 15. You can still get your package to its final destination on time, though, by opting for one of the following for delivery by Dec. 25:
- First Class Mail Service — Cutoff of Dec. 18 (excluding Hawaii and Alaska)
- Priority Mail Service — Cutoff of Dec. 19 (excluding Hawaii and Alaska)
- Priority Mail Express Service — Cutoff of Dec. 23 (excluding Hawaii and Alaska)
- If shipping to Alaska or Hawaii
- First Class Mail Service — Cutoff of Dec. 18
- Priority Mail Service — Cutoff of Dec. 19
- Priority Mail Express Service — Cutoff of Dec. 21
UPS
If you’re shipping through UPS and want your packages to reach their destination by Dec. 25, the cutoff dates are as follows:
- UPS 3 Day Select — Cutoff of Dec. 21
- UPS 2nd Day Air — Cutoff of Dec. 22
- UPS Next Day Air — Cutoff of Dec. 23
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