With holidays fast approaching, rush to send out packages intensifies
The countdown to Christmas is in full swing with the holiday less than two weeks away.
As the big day creeps closer, the rush to ship out presents and packages only grows.
As of Monday, Dec. 12, you still have time to send off those gifts and have them arrive before Dec. 25, but depending where you go, you may begin running into trouble later this week.
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At the post office in Hickory, the line stretched outside of the door. Right now, the postmaster says 10,000 packages are being shipped everyday from the location.
Tammy Reakes was one of the many people waiting to send off her packages to friends in Pennsylvania and New York.
“My girlfriends know that they’ll get their gifts when they get there,” she said. “I’m actually ahead of the game for once. Usually I’m behind the eight ball.”
The U.S. Postal Service recommends sending first class and ground delivery items by this Saturday if you’d like to have your presents arrive before Santa.
Outside the FedEx office near Conover, the deadline date is written on the door: this Wednesday, Dec. 14, for all ground deliveries.
Mandy Olsen is shipping packages to England and Germany. She says it’ll cost more to mail the gifts than what she spent on them.
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“It’s a fortune, but they’re worth it,” she said. “I won’t see them until February.”
Lines were also long at the area UPS office. They can’t give you a money-back guarantee that ground delivery will make it in time for Christmas.
At UPS, FedEx and the post office there are other express options that allow you to ship just days before Christmas, although expect to pay extra.
No matter where you go, the earlier you ship, the better.
“I started getting ready in November,” Dusty Thompson told Channel 9. “I think if you would like to get things done on time, start in November.”
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