Ensure On-Time Arrival For Holiday Packages: Seasonal Shipping, Mailing Deadlines

If you want your holiday packages to be delivered on time to U.S. destinations, the U.S. Postal Service has announced the dates those packages must be in the mail.

So have FedEx and UPS.

Here's what you need to know to get your packages to their destinations from the Berkley and Huntington Woods area.

Postal Service Shipping Deadlines

Calculated for December 25, 2012.

Domestic Mail Class/Product

Dates

First-Class Mail® Service

Dec. 20

Priority Mail® Service

Dec. 21

Express Mail® Service

Dec. 22

Destination Network Distribution Center (DNDC) Drop Ship

Dec. 19

Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) Drop Ship

Dec. 21

The Berkley Post Office is located at 2886 12 Mile Road.

FedEx Deadlines

Packages sent by Dec. 22 using FedEx overnight services will get your holiday gifts there on time. And FedEx Same Day service will be operating on Christmas Day. 

There is a FedEx Office located at 311 S. Main St. Royal Oak and another at 24760 Greenfield Road in Oak Park.

UPS Deadlines

The UPS schedule notes that packages can be sent by air, international and ground by Dec. 20. UPS Next Day Air packages picked up on that day will arrive Friday, Dec. 21. UPS 2nd Day Air packages picked up that day will arrive on Dec. 24. 

There is a UPS Store located at 29488 Woodward Ave. in Royal Oak.

Tips on Sending Holiday Packages

Between shipping holiday packages, planning the family trip and baking cookies, the holidays can be anything but joyful. Fortunately, FedEx Office Manager Marie Rymiszewski is happy to help you with your packaging needs in Royal Oak.

"We take the stress out of shipping for the holidays," Rymiszewski said. "If you bring it to us, we'll guarantee it."

From a fragile crystal vase to a laptop computer to oversized artwork, FedEx has a box to fit your needs and experts to package it, Rymiszewski said. Meanwhile if you insist on doing it yourself, she has theses tips:

• Be careful reusing boxes. "A damaged box breaks down the integrity of boxing," Rymiszewski said.
• Styrofoam peanuts are not enough. It's essential to wrap everything in bubble plastic at least three inches all around. Use peanuts as filler only.
• Ship sturdy cookies. Gingerbread, biscoti and shortbread cookies are the safest to ship. Place cookies in a tin and use waxed paper as a filler.
• Seal and shake before you ship. "If you hear any movement at all, repack," Rymiszewski said.
• Tape all seams.

Missing something? "We carry all the supplies you need," Rymiszewski said.