the boxes. the bubble wrap. packing peanuts. the uncooperative roll of tape. Sending gifts this time of year can be a colossal headache, not to mention a pocket pain.
Are there any tricks to sending the fruitcake to your aunt louise, the lego set to little jimmy, the books to your uncle john, and the heavy kitchen utensils to your mom? you bet there is.
The following tips will help you send vacation packages safely and affordably, depending on your needs.
1. don’t waste time. If you happily put off shipping your gifts, you may be spending a lot more money on costly (and in many cases, totally avoidable) overnight air freight for shipments to other parts of the country.
2. shop online. Online retailers will pack and ship gifts for you so you don’t have to worry at all. many will even wrap gifts and allow you to include personalized notes and gift receipts.
3. choose the right box. If you forgo the online route and need to ship gifts yourself, be sure to pack them in sturdy corrugated boxes. check bottom of box for weight limit. do not wrap the outer box in any type of paper; it could break and your gift could be lost or delayed. (us postal service, ups, dhl and some fedex boxes are free).
4. use the correct packaging materials. Invest in some packing peanuts and bubble cushioning, especially if you’re shipping something fragile. leave enough space between items in the box and double-padded individual items if necessary.
5. Ship perishable items right. Ship baked goods, meats, cheeses, and fruits on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, ideally with overnight delivery. if you ship on a Thursday or Friday, make sure the food can withstand extremely high or low temperatures for up to four days. this may require the use of frozen gel packs.
6. know how to ship expensive items. ship expensive jewelry and other valuables via overnight delivery in a box no smaller than 7 x 4 x 2 inches. Consider insuring the item through your insurance company, as most shipping companies have limits on claim amounts. do not attach anything to the outside of the box that might reveal the value of the item.
7. shop around. To get an idea of how much it will cost to ship a package somewhere, call these numbers and use the automated rate services: u.s. postal service, (800) ask-usps (275-8777); fedex, (800) go fedex (463-3339); Vans, (800) Vans (742-5877); dhl, (800) call-dhl (225-5345). you’ll need the postal codes, the weight of the package, and the basic form of the gift (so you can choose to send it in a box, envelope, or tube, for example).
8. Learn the basic differences in shipping costs. Here’s what it costs to ship a 10-pound box from Seattle to Tampa using these specific services: UPS Second Day Air Service, $47.72; fedex two-day service, $45.38; dhl second day service, $44.32; U.S. US Postal Service Express Mail Service (guaranteed overnight delivery, even on Christmas), $39.50; U.S. USPS Priority Mail Service (arrives in two to three business days), $20.25. You can also ask all of these carriers about slower and less expensive ground delivery services.
9. consider a flat rate box from the post office. It costs $8.10 to ship a priority mail flat rate box anywhere in the country, and the box can hold up to 70 pounds. (the largest flat rate box measures approximately 13.6 x 11.9 x 3.4 inches). Do not use this box if your package weighs less than 2 pounds; in that case, a normal priority mailbox would be cheaper.
10. understand when to pay more. if you’re facing a tough deadline or need to be able to track a package, consider spending more to ship via fedex, ups, dhl, or express mail. UPS stores, FedEx Kinko locations, and authorized DHL shipping centers can be convenient when you don’t have the time or desire to package gifts properly; there they will do it for you.
fonts: