WACO, TX — While we battle a global pandemic, mail delivery services are warning people to expect even greater delays this year and to prepare accordingly.
Christmas is just 31 days away, and many people have already starting decorating and shopping.
“Normally when I do it online, Amazon Prime usually takes two days, so that’s not that big of a deal. But obviously this year with all the delays and stuff, that is more than a problem,” said online shopper Katherine Marquadt.
Due to COVID-19, retail stores and mail carriers are preparing for an even greater online shopping surge this holiday season. According to Adobe Analytics, online sales during the months of November and December are expected to increase 33% year over year to a record $189 billion.
“We want you to get those items in the mail as quick as possible, We know that you are out there shopping, and a lot of our customers are going online shopping, so making sure that you package those and making sure you address them properly plays a vital role in getting them where they need to go,” said USPS Strategic Communications Specialist Kanickewa Nikki Johnson.
Because of this, many holiday mail carriers are already calling for extra time to get those packages sent. Some holiday shipping deadlines could be as early as December 9 .
“We suggest that if you are sending it by retail ground, December 15. Our first class mail, December 18. Our priority mail, December 19, as well as December 23 is our drop dead day for our guarantee priority mail express,” said Johnson.
While we rush to make sure Santa’s gifts are under the tree by Christmas Day, it's important to remember the real reason for the season.
“I definitely wait until the last moment. I mean that’s just a constant for me. I don’t really know how it's going to look this year with COVID and all that, but I mean if it comes in late we know why. You know it's all about being together and not if the gift comes in on time,” said online shopper Sarah Allen.
It is important to remember to check with each individual mail carrier to find out their estimated holiday shipping deadlines to make sure those packages get in on time.
