The "Packing 411" Gives Holiday Shoppers the Upper Hand on Sending Gifts

When

it comes to handling gifts, Santa has the advantage over everyone, but with a

little preparation and know-how, consumers still have some tricks up their own

sleeves. It may not include a flying sleigh or eight reindeer, but there’s no

need to panic when it comes to shipping and receiving holiday packages.

 

"We’ve

seen some wild packages come through the door over the years," said Audrey

Jones, The UPS Store franchisee. "All that work to find the perfect gift

can be wasted if the package isn’t properly prepared for shipping…"

 

To ensure packages are delivered in perfect condition, she

suggests using a new box specifically designed for shipping, instead of moving

boxes. The old boxes in the basement left over from the last move or catalog order

are not the best choices. Also, choose packing materials that provide bubble

cushioning. Old clothes and newspapers don't offer the right amount of

protection for that "perfect gift." For perishable foods, place foods

in an airtight container or plastic bag before placing them in a gift box. Fill

gapes in the container with squares of bubble cushioning to soften the

vibration.

 

Before closing the box, place an extra mailing label

inside, just in case the outside label is damaged. Seal the outside of the box

with clear, professional-grade packaging tape. Duct tape, making tape and

cellophane tape, as well as packages wrapped in paper or tied with string are

no-no's. The proper shipping supplies are available at local shipping companies

such as UPS.

 

For those

who are seeking a more "green" alternative to standard shipping,

companies such as the UPS Store are introducing earth-friendly packaging that

eliminates the need for bubble cushioning and packaging peanuts for many items.

Biodegradable peanuts are also being produced and are available at select UPS

stores. Still, customers can be earth-friendly with the use of recycled boxes

for their shipping supplies.. And even though those packing peanuts are not a

favorite "green" item, it's a great idea to reuse them in packages

rather than throwing them away. Overall, customers who choose carefully just in

the size of the box they send, rather than grabbing whatever seems easiest,

will help to reduce the use of fuel during delivery, which can have a great

impact on the environment.

 

For

do-it-yourselfers, Internet shipping options enable customers to indicate their

service preferences, pay by credit card, print shipping labels and track

packages. Once the label has been placed on the package, customers can choose

to drop their package off at the local shipping company, arrange for a pick up,

or drop off at a UPS drop box.

 

With

only 21 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, the week before Christmas

week is expected to be the busiest shipping week. Since Monday is usually the

busiest shipping day of the week, consider mailing packages Tuesday through

Saturday. Customers should plan on five days for most ground shipping and make

sure to consult their shipping company to determine the best dates for on-time

delivery when shipping internationally or to military personnel. Most of these

shipping businesses also offer extended holiday hours for customers'

convenience.

 

UPS's

mail rooms will be bursting as they expect to deliver 5.6 million air packages

on Friday, December 21 – more than two-and-a-half times the normal daily

volume. It is also geared up to handle more than 150 million online package

tracking requests during the week of December 19. To handle this immense

volume, the company serves as one of the holiday season's top employers, adding

roughly 60,000 seasonal employees. Its ground fleet of more than 94,000 package

cars, vans, and tractors has expanded by approximately 7,000 vehicles. For procrastinators,

UPS accepts Next Day Air packages on Friday, Dec. 21 for delivery on Monday,

Dec. 24, just in time for the big day.