Delivery services are setting records with millions of packages and cards expected to be delivered this holiday season.
The weeks between Black Friday and Christmas are the busiest times for services such as the United States Postal Service, UPS and FedEx.
Here’s what you need to know to ensure your online shopping or gift and card deliveries go smoothly.
Q: Does it seem like it is taking longer this year to receive items you’ve ordered?
A: Delivery services are shipping record-breaking numbers of packages this season, which means delivery may take longer than during a normal time of the year.
The Postal Service delivers approximately 200 million packages a week this holiday season and 900 million packages are expected to be delivered in the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Central Indiana is experiencing an uptick in these numbers as well, said Mary Dando, spokeswoman for the U.S. Postal Service.
UPS and FedEx will similarly deliver about 800 million packages within a few weeks, an increase from their deliveries last year. UPS expects to deliver up to 35 million packages each day the week before Christmas.
Q: How do I make sure my packages aren’t stolen if they arrive when no one is home?
A: The Postal Service recommends shipping to an alternate location. If you know you won’t be home and are expecting a package, send it to where you are or send it to a neighbor. If your location changes suddenly, USPS allows shipping addresses to be changed while in transit through USPS Package Intercept on the package delivery options.
If you know the person you are sending a package to won’t be home when it arrives, send it elsewhere. For example, if you know they will be at work, send it to their office instead of their house.
USPS, FedEx and UPS also offer the option to have all packages delivered to the closest store location, so you won’t have to worry about a package sitting on the porch for hours.
Q: When do I need to order an item or mail a gift or card if I want it to arrive by Christmas?
A: USPS, UPS and FedEx recommend to order gifts and ship packages as early as possible. Also, the earlier in the day you mail something, the faster it will go into the mail stream, USPS media specialist Mary Dando said.
The following dates are the last days packages can be sent in order to be delivered by Christmas. Depending on the type of mailing method used, extra fees may apply.
The Postal Service:
Thursday — First-class mail and packages and priority mail
Saturday — Priority Mail Express
UPS:
Tuesday — UPS three-day shipping
Thursday — UPS second-day air
Friday — UPS next day air
FedEx:
Monday — FedEx ground and home delivery
Wednesday — FedEx express
Thursday — FedEx two-day shipping
Friday — FedEx overnight
Q: What are the delivery services doing to ensure my packages are delivered within a timely manner?
A: FedEx has a team of 425,000 working this holiday season to meet the delivery records and UPS hired 100,000 additional workers. UPS is also using new technology such as artificial intelligence to improve driver productivity, prepare for large package volumes and organize deliveries faster.
