With Christmas less than two weeks away, local post office officials are warning customers if they don’t ship their gifts now, they may not make it in time.
Post offices and other shipping services are under more pressure than ever this year as the holiday season nears its end and shipping deadlines approach.
The United States Postal Service is handling an unforeseen number of packages this year due to an increase in online shopping because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, said Harriett Sheppard, postmaster at the Greenwood Post Office on Smith Valley Road. The Greenwood Post Office alone is experiencing an estimated 40% increase from the same time last year, she said.Â
"It’s astronomical the amount of volume we’ve had," Sheppard said.
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Despite the high volumes, Sheppard wants people to know postal workers are working long hours to ensure packages make it to their destinations by Christmas Day, she said.Â
The deadline for all standard shipments through USPS, UPS and FedEx is Tuesday. And the last day to send packages through a next day shipping service is Dec. 23.Â
But to guarantee packages arrive by Christmas, people should ship as soon as possible, Sheppard said.
A record $34.6 billion was spent on online shopping this year, between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday Nov. 30, surpassing last year’s record of $28.5 billion, according to Adobe Analytics data.
The postal service is overwhelmed by the increase. Delays are expected and online package tracking is not as accurate at the moment, Sheppard said.
Post offices in central Indiana are seeking assistance from other states to offload the high volumes of mail, she said.Â
"Our infrastructure is only so big. We can only hold so much, and we can only get so much through as quickly as we can," Sheppard said. "But we’re committed to getting everything home this Christmas season."
If a package needs to arrive in two or three days, she asked people use USPS Priority Mail Express until the system catches up with the increased volume, she said.Â
There are 125 employees at the Greenwood Post Office, and Sheppard said each person is doing a great job. But like any workplace, the post office has had a few bouts with COVID-19 that inevitably affected staffing. Still, they’ve managed, she said.
"Our employees, where they generally wouldn’t be required to do that extra overtime, they have not complained and they’ve gotten it done," Sheppard said.
The post office has taken extra measures to keep its employees and customers safe. Employees wear masks, and customers must wear masks inside. Social distancing markers are placed on the floor for people waiting in line, and hand sanitizer is available throughout the building, she said.
"That’s the other biggest difference this year. Not only the increase in volume, but the actions we have to take to keep each other safe," Sheppard said.Â
Postal staff recognize they are a part of a larger mission to make sure the holidays go smoothly, even during a pandemic.Â
"They are overwhelmed by the long hours, but we keep coming back because we know that Johnny will probably be sitting on Christmas morning waiting for a package from Grandma who is in Florida, and we have no intention of failing Johnny this year," Sheppard said.Â
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Here is a look at approaching shipping deadlines to ensure your packages arrive by Christmas Day.
United States Postal Service
Retail Ground Shipping: Tuesday
First Class Mail: Friday
Priority Mail: Saturday
Priority Mail Express: Dec. 23
UPS
Ground: Tuesday
3 Day Select: Dec. 21
2nd Day Air: Dec. 22
Next Day Air: Dec. 23
Closed Christmas Day
FedEx
Ground: Tuesday
Express: Dec. 21
FedEx 2Day: Dec. 22
Standard Overnight, Priority Overnight and First Overnight: Dec. 23
Same Day (additional holiday fee applied): Dec. 25
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