The winter holidays are right around the corner and shipping deadlines are looming. You may not feel ready for it, but one way or another, it’s time to finish (or start!) your holiday shopping and get those parcels shipped. Good news—there are a variety of methods you can use to ensure these gifts and goodies arrive on time.
What shipping method should you use?
Which method you should use depends on the item(s) you are shipping, the size and weight, and how quickly you need it to arrive. You will typically have two options: parcel shipping services like USPS, UPS, or FedEx, or consolidated freight and white glove shipping from a freight shipping specialist.
| USPS, UPS, or FedEx is ideal for: | Consolidated freight & white glove shipping is ideal for: | White glove shipping is ideal for: |
|---|---|---|
| Cards Small parcels Small boxes of gifts |
Boxes that are too large for USPS, UPS, or FedEx Car parts |
Furniture Antiques Artwork Family heirlooms Bulky or oddly-shaped items, like golf clubs |
HOLIDAY HINT: If you are shipping furniture, heirlooms, large pieces of art, or other oversized gift items using a white glove shipping solution, prepare them for shipment and organize their pickup as soon as possible.
The very thing that makes this shipping method so cost effective—sharing space on a truck with other items going in the same direction—also means that it will take longer than other traditional shipping methods while the truck waits to be filled and then delivered to multiple destinations.
TSI TIP: If you’re shipping boxes of gifts to loved ones, check out our new flat rate box shipping service. With this service, you tell us how many boxes you’ll need to ship and select a level of service that works for you. We’ll deliver the boxes right to your door, typically within 4 business days of your order and payment. Pack your boxes, give us a call, and we’ll come pick them up. Learn more about our box-and-ship solutions. This is a great way to consolidate presents for grandkids, cousins, friends, etc. and get them all sent out on time for your holiday celebrations!
Avoiding delays
There is nothing worse than getting your packages ready and shipped ahead of the deadline, only to have them unexpectedly held up or even returned. Thankfully, some of these delays are easy to avoid if you take a few simple precautions:
- Confirm the address - Before your shipment is picked up by its carrier, triple check the ZIP code and make sure everything is spelled and numbered correctly. Incorrectly written ZIP codes have thwarted more than their fair share of deliveries!
HOLIDAY HINT: If you are shipping multiple boxes or pieces of disassembled furniture, label each piece with its destination and delivery contact phone number just in case they unexpectedly get separated in transit.
- Write legibly - If you are hand writing your shipping labels, make sure all relevant information is clearly written, including the names of your recipients and their full address. Take care to make your 1s and 7s, 3s and 5s, and 4s and 9s easy to identify—save decorative fonts and flourishes for the inside of your parcels.
- Confirm shipping documentation is correct - Make sure that your bill of lading is correctly filled out, and that there are no typos or spelling errors on any of your shipping documentation. While they may seem like minor mistakes, even small errors like these can cause significant delays, or even result in additional fees.
- Ship early - The simplest method for ensuring your items arrive on time is to ship them early with a “Do not open until” note included to dissuade impatient gift-getters. When it comes to shipping gifts, last-minute shoppers should try to plan out their shipments well in advance in order to have them arrive on time—save the desperate Christmas Eve trip to the mall for local loved ones instead.
HOLIDAY HINT: Sending valuable items during one of the busiest times of the year for the shipping industry is not without its risks. Purchasing additional shipping insurance for especially valuable or sentimental furniture or gifts in the event that they are lost or damaged may be a wise course of action. Learn more about shipping insurance.
Sticking to shipping deadlines
With so much to buy, organize, decorate, plan, and pack, it can be difficult to ensure your gifts arrive at their intended destinations on time—especially when you don’t know the shipping deadlines. Make sure your family and friends get the gifts and goodies intended for them by December 24 by shipping smaller packages out before these dates:
USPS
| Service | Shipping Cutoff Date | Shipping Cutoff Date for Alaska | Shipping Cutoff Date for Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Ground™ | Saturday, December 14 | N/A | N/A |
| First Class Mail® | Friday, December 20 | Wednesday, December 18 | Thursday, December 19 |
| Priority Mail® | Saturday, December 21 | Thursday, December 19 | Thursday, December 19 |
| Monday, December 23 | Thursday, December 19 | Saturday, December 21 | Saturday, December 21 |
Source: USPS
FedEx
| Service | Shipping Cutoff Date |
|---|---|
| FedEx SmartPost® | Monday, December 9 |
| FedEx Ground® | Monday, December 16 |
| Home Delivery® | Monday, December 16 |
| Express Saver® | Thursday, December 19 |
| FedEx 2Day® | Friday, December 20 |
| FedEx Overnight® Services | Monday, December 23 |
| FedEx SameDay® Services | Wednesday, December 25 |
Source: FedEx
UPS
| Service | Shipping Cutoff Date |
|---|---|
| Ground® | Friday, December 13 |
| 3 Day Select® | Thursday, December 19 |
| 2nd Day Air® Services | Friday, December 20 |
| Next Day Air® Services | Monday, December 23 |
Source: UPS
What about consolidated freight or white glove shipping?
If you are shipping large boxes, furniture, or other household items using consolidated freight or white glove shipping, we recommend shipping them as soon as possible. It’s hard to guarantee shipping timelines and arrival dates when shipping items using these methods, so the earlier you can get them on the road, the better your chances of having them arrive on time for the holidays.
Typically, Economy shipments sent via freight trucks can pick up within 1-3 business days, with delivery within 3-5 business days from pick up. White Glove shipments take longer—up to 15 business days for pick up and up to 20 business days after that for delivery.
When you call a reputable provider, be sure to ask lots of questions about the timing of your pickup and delivery. Certain locations and routes are much shorter than these estimates, whereas more remote and less-traveled areas may take a bit longer.
Conclusion
A little preparation and an abundance of precaution will help ensure your holiday parcels and presents arrive at their destination on time. Remember:
- For cards, small parcels, and boxes, consider USPS, UPS, or FedEx.
- For larger, bulkier items or pieces that are valuable or fragile to ship using these services, opt for consolidated freight and specialty shipping companies.
And to save yourself avoidable shipping delays, make sure:
- The address is correct
- Shipping and address labels are legible and clear
- The bill of lading and other documentation are all correctly and fully filled out
- You send your shipment early enough
The easy way to ship holiday gifts
Get your holiday gifts where they need to go, with flat-rate pricing and supplies delivered right to your door.
About the author: Stephanie Rosenlund is the Director of Strategic Solutions at TSI, the long distance move and shipment provider for thousands of businesses, families, and individuals every year. Stephanie knows all the tips and tricks to make your move or shipment simple and specializes in freight shipping and interstate relocations. In her free time, she loves exploring the world with her husband and two kids.
