Regular shippers report business as usual despite the holiday rush – though there are still express options remain for last-minute senders
WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — The deadline for shipping Christmas gifts by standard mail has arrived, with many Central Georgia residents making last-minute trips to their local post offices Wednesday.
For those still hoping to get packages delivered by Christmas, Tuesday marks the cutoff for USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail. Priority Mail shipments must be sent by Thursday, while Priority Mail Express will be accepted until Dec. 21.
FedEx and UPS are operating on similar timelines. FedEx Ground’s deadline passed Tuesday, but customers can still use Express Saver until Thursday or opt for more expensive services like FedEx 2Day until Dec. 20. UPS offers 3 Day Select through Thursday and 2nd Day Air through Friday.
Here is a chart summarizing the shipping deadlines:
“I received something in the mail with the dates that you need to ship by for it to get there before Christmas,” said Ya-Kyra Spells, who was shipping a surprise package to her in-laws in Virginia.
Spells chose Priority Mail for added security.
“I’m pretty confident just because, you know, I am doing priority, so just the extra security and the benefits that come with that,” she said.
Regular postal customers say delivery times have remained consistent despite the holiday rush. Jan Klimas, who ships multiple packages weekly through online marketplaces, reports typical delivery times of two to five days.
“Everyone that I’ve sent, they’ve gotten them within two days, two days tops,” said Klimas, referring to his recent shipments to Texas, Washington state, Illinois and Pennsylvania. “That’s basic ground shipping. So you know the postal service, they’re doing good.”
Some customers noted varying delivery experiences. Priscilla Romano, who was mailing Christmas cards, shared her recent experience.
“I have a cousin that lives in California, and his date on his card, it only took 5 days from California to Warner Robins, yet my sister that lives in Michigan, it took over 10 days for her card to get to us,” Romano said. “So it’s like you never know how long it’s going to take.”
Local business owners are adapting to the tight timeline. Michele Crowell, a massage therapist mailing gift cards to clients, has contingency plans in place.
“I can send them a digital card if they don’t get it by the time,” Crowell said.
She also reflected on changes in shipping patterns, noting that postal workers’ workload “has tripled with Amazon.”
For those who haven’t shipped their packages yet, express shipping options remain available at higher costs. FedEx offers First Overnight and Priority Overnight through Dec. 23, with same-day delivery available on Christmas Eve. UPS Next Day Air shipments will be accepted until Dec. 23.
Postal companies recommend checking specific zip code delivery times and considering weather conditions when estimating delivery dates. They also suggest proper packaging and clear labeling to prevent delays during this peak shipping period.
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