Ship gifts this week for delivery by Christmas
DAYTON, Ohio — Some suggested deadlines for shipping packages so they arrive in time for Christmas are this week.
FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service have all released the last days they recommend you ship gifts and still have them delivered by Dec. 25.
However, shoppers should still plan ahead.
There have been shipping problems even pre-holiday. Getting your package is about more than whether the carrier delivers your package on schedule. It can be also about whether the manufacturer is experiencing any global disruptions from COVID-19, whether the ports are backed up, whether the retailer is fully stocked and staffed, and more.
Esther Price Candies each year ships its Dayton-made goods all over the U.S. for holiday orders and is encouraging customers to place their holiday orders as soon as possible because of shipping delays, labor shortages and supply chain concerns.
However, this year they are unable to hold orders to ship for future dates, and are shipping out when the order is processed.
“This is to ensure items are available and your order is fulfilled,” the company said.
Liane Wagner, the owner of Dayton-based sewing business Fairy Godmother Creations, each year gets orders from around the country to repurpose wedding gowns and more into new items like Christmas tree angels.
“Right now is my extreme busy season,” Wagner said.
Wagner said this year she changed the deadline from her usual Dec. 18 for the date the last of the Christmas packages have to be in the mail in order to be in someone’s hands in California by Christmas. This year she is also switching carriers from USPS to UPS and her “drop-dead shipping date” is Dec. 16.
“These are highly emotional gifts, and to not have them arrive on Christmas would be devastating for some of these families,” Wagner said.
The U.S. Postal Service in October started slowing some mail deliveries as part of a larger plan to cut costs. There are also temporary price increases in effect until Dec. 25.
UPS CEO Carol Tome had said she expects demand will outpace capacity, and that UPS will limit how much holiday package volume it handles to “control chaos costs” when necessary after enforcing limits last year.
FedEx is also anticipating a high-volume shipping season and has said it is adding some surcharges for peak season, similar to UPS.
The major carriers have all released their holiday calendars, which includes the following: United States Postal Service
Recommended send-by dates for expected delivery before Dec. 25, for the contiguous 48 states:
Dec. 15: USPS Retail Ground Service
Dec. 17: First-Class Mail Service Dec. 18: Priority Mail Service Dec. 23: Priority Mail Express Service
UPS
Recommended last days to ship for a Dec. 24 delivery for domestic packages:
Check ups.com/ctc for details on UPS Ground shipping
Dec. 21: UPS 3 Day Select Dec. 22: UPS 2nd Day Air services
Dec. 23: UPS Next Day Air services
FedEx
Last day to ship for Dec. 25 Dec. 15: FedEx Ground
Dec. 21: FedEx Express Saver Dec. 22: 2Day & 2Day AM Dec. 23: FO, PO, SO, Extra Hours
Dec. 24: FedEx Same Day