WPBN: It is now time to wrap and send those gifts after shopping for the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. It’s crucial to avoid waiting too long, though, as shipping costs have increased more than ever this year.
General manager Mason McCarty of shipping companies like Safe Ship is advising his clients to ship those presents as soon as feasible.
“We want to see you soon rather than being late,” he stated. “It is going to cost a lot more to ship the week of the 23rd than it is to ship the week of the 18th.”
According to McCarty, consumers who arrive late are frequently taken aback by the amount they must pay just a few days before Christmas and wind up paying twice as much as they did a week earlier.
“I’ve seen a package going from $25 to $150 on an overnight,” he stated.
Know the shipping deadlines
In order to guarantee that gifts reach on Christmas Eve, the following are some important shipping deadlines:
- FedEx Ground Economy shipping is due on December 13.
- The deadline for USPS Ground Advantage Service is December 18.
- The USPS Priority Mail service ends on December 19.
- UPS 3-day Select also expires on December 19.
- Use your location to check online for UPS ground.
Final opportunity to receive free shipping
Samantha Gordon, Deals editor at Consumer Reports, says there’s also a chance to save a little cash and ensure that holiday items are shipped on time.
It’s December 14 and is known as Free Shipping Day.
“This is when a lot of retailers will offer free shipping with a guarantee of the products getting there by Christmas Eve,” Gordon stated. “After that, you run the risk of things not showing up on time.”
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Of course, you can avoid the additional shipping cost by ordering gifts from a variety of merchants and having them delivered straight to family members.
Additionally, Ashley Volbrecht, owner of TruckShop, a mobile fashion business, advises clients to get those presents mailed right away.
Lastly, this time of year, use caution while using regular mail. To avoid wasting your money, be sure the business you choose offers tracking at every stage.
