Deliveries on Holidays

When to Start Planning for End of Year Holiday Mailing

Mailing Shipping Deadlines:

Every year main shipping carriers announce their holiday shipping deadlines dates (along with shipping tips and guidelines) to ensure proper and timely delivery. Because those deadlines dates vary slightly year by year, depending of volume anticipation, and/or depending whether or not the Holidays themselves fall on a weekend, it is better to find out from each carrier what theirspecific recommendations for that year are. Below are links to a few shipping carriers:

• United States Post Offices News Press:
  http://www.usps.com/communications/news/press/
• Canada Post Office:
  http://www.canadapost.ca/personal/rates/default-e.asp
• Federal Express Press Releases:
  http://www.fedex.com/us/about/news/pressreleases/
• UPS Press Releases:
  http://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/frontpage/
• DHL Press Releases:
  http://www.dhl-usa.com/company/pressroom.asp?nav=PressRoom

As a personal rule of thumb, when shipping items for the end of year holidays, I find it best to have every thing ready to be shipped at the VERYlatest by the 1st of December for USA delivery and by the 10th of November for international delivery. And if ordering customized or special items (for example personalized stationery) to ship out, it’s better to have them delivered 4 weeks in advance (in case you need to return and/or exchange them). When ordering these special items, you should ask the company their terms about delivery time, return/exchange, and express/rushed delivery availability.

In short, if delivery by Christmas is important then start in October to be ready to ship in November. Better be safe than sorry.