Local UPS Store Offers Shipping Options in Time for Christmas

Now that you've survived Black Friday, made your contribution to Small Business Saturday and are considering how to finish up Cyber Monday, what are you going to do with all those gifts?

The local UPS stores believes they have the answer. Between shipping holiday packages, planning the family trip and baking cookies, the holidays can be anything but happy. However, staff at The UPS Store   located at 4132 Atlanta Highway, Ste. 110 in Loganville say they can help keep the holidays happy and hassle-free.

“Whether it’s helping you personalize and send out your holiday greetings, packing and shipping your gifts so they arrive safely or having someone sign for all your holiday packages, we’re a convenient one-stop shop that can handle many of our customers’ holiday logistics,” said Chris Cooper, manager at the Loganville UPS store

With extended holiday and weekend hours to accommodate customers’ busy holiday schedules, Cooper said the UPS store gives customers more time to get their packages out the door.

"Customers lacking the time, expertise or proper packaging supplies to prepare their gifts for shipment can bring them to The UPS Store Certified Packing Experts, who offer The UPS Store Pack & Ship Promise," Cooper said, adding the promise is to reimburses customers the cost of packaging materials and service as well as shipping costs in the event a center-packed item shipped via UPS is lost or damaged." Certain conditions do apply according to the UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service). Visit www.theupsstore.com/psp for details.

For customers who prefer to do it themselves, Cooper offers the following tips:

• Begin with the proper materials: a new cardboard box designed for shipping, professional-grade packaging tape and packaging material like foam packaging peanuts or bubble cushioning (at least two inches all around).
• Include a label on the inside of the package with the destination and return addresses.
• Use a shipping option, like UPS, that provides a package tracking number.
• Take batteries out of toys, electronics, etc., before shipping and wrap them separately to avoid contact with metal.Seal home-made holiday treats in an interior airtight container or plastic bag before packing them. 
• Use an expedited air service, such as UPS Next Day Air.
• Ship wrapped gifts and luggage ahead to your destination, especially if traveling by air.

With only 20 shipping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, good timing is critical. Mondays are typically the busiest shipping days and Dec. 12-16 is expected to be the busiest week of the year. 

“Despite our best intentions, many of us still find ourselves scurrying around at the last minute,” Cooper said. “But procrastinators need not fear. You can ship as late as Dec. 22 for delivery on Dec. 23. Of course, shipping early provides more affordable options.”

Most ground packages require five days or less to reach their destination, but if you’re shipping coast-to-coast, it may take longer. Bad weather can also create unexpected delays. If you wait until the week of Christmas, you’ll have to select a premium service for delivery on Friday, Dec. 23:

• Tuesday, Dec. 20 – Ship UPS 3 Day Select 
• Wednesday, Dec. 21 – Ship UPS 2nd Day Air 
• Thursday, Dec. 22 – Ship UPS Next Day Air 

This year, Christmas falls on a Sunday. For time-critical shipments, UPS offers the convenience of Saturday Delivery; however, Saturday Delivery commitment times depend on the shipping service you choose.

If you are shipping internationally the local UPS store can advise you on the best shipping date to ensure on-time delivery. 

“In addition to taking more time, shipping internationally or to military personnel often includes certain restrictions as well as customs and duty charges,” Cooper said. “We can help customers avoid any surprise charges or unexpected delays.”

The U.S. Postal Service says packages to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan should be mailed by Dec. 3 in order to arrive in time for Christmas; mail going to other military overseas APO/FPO locations needs to be sent by Dec. 18.