Shipping deadlines to make sure your gifts make it in time
DURHAM N.C. (WTVD) -- The United States Postal Service expects Monday, December 14th to be the busiest day for shipping of year as people send out gifts for the holidays.
They estimate 612 million packages will processed today alone.
Shiren Tribedi, store manager of Pak Mail in Durham, a packing and shipping store, said it's their busiest time of year.
Tribedi said Pak Mail usually ships about 40 packages a day but expects that number to multiply significantly as Christmas draws near.
"I would say the third week of December is the busiest week," Tribedi said.
"On average I would say today would be... I would say at least 200 packages will go out for sure, so it's going to be around that volume."
If you still need to send holiday mail and you're trying to beat the lunchtime or after-work rush, Tribedi recommends shipping your items in the morning.
He also says folks who are shipping with any books, movies or other media through the US Postal Service could save pretty big with the Media Mail discount, but cautions that that offer doesn't make any promises on shipping time.
Here are all the deadlines the US Postal Services has for sending a package, or post card, to arrive before Christmas:
Dec. 15 - Standard Post
Dec. 19 - First Class Mail
Dec. 19 - Global Express Guaranteed
Dec. 21 - Priority Mail
Dec. 23 - Priority Mail Express
