Mail early for the holidays
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
Ensuring loved ones, including those serving in the nation’s armed forces, receive their present and care packages in time for the holidays is a priority, especially for friends and family members of military personnel serving around the world.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
GOIN’ POSTAL on North Street in Presque Isle can handle all your holiday shipping needs, whether you’re mailing just a card or have a large package to send to a loved one far away. Here, owner Tamia Glidden gets help welcoming customers from her “resident package inspection cat” G.P. (short for Goin’ Postal).
Goin’ Postal, located on North Street in Presque Isle, offers a one-stop shop for all your shipping needs this holiday season.
“I handle all forms of shipping, including Fed Ex, United Parcel Service (UPS) and the United States Postal Service (USPS). Customers can buy materials from me. I have the largest box selection in town. Or you can bring items in and we’ll package them for you. If you prefer, you can bring them in already packaged,” said Tamia Glidden, owner.
Glidden said ground service is the most economical way to ship. Dec. 13 is good deadline to follow for all methods of shipping.
“Anything going overseas and to military addresses, the deadline’s Dec. 17. It’s more economical the earlier you can get items shipped,” said Glidden, noting, “There are guaranteed last-minute services but they come at a premium. You save money by mailing early.”
Glidden explained price is based on destination, size, weight and any additional services desired.
“If you want it overnighted, certified or it’s irregularly shaped, it will cost extra,” she said.
Perishables, according to Glidden, are best mailed earlier in the week.
“If you’re shipping baked goods or perishable items, aim for earlier in the week. Your package will be less likely to sit in a holding facility for a weekend, sitting in transit,” said Glidden.
Glidden said gone are the days when you could wrap your package in anything, using twine to keep it sealed shut.
“Packages used to be wrapped in brown paper and twine. Because everything’s so mechanized now, officials prefer you don’t do that. Twine’s a no-no. If you must use paper, use either brown or wrapping paper. And it must be covered in tape, so it doesn’t snag in a machine,” said Glidden.
She gave some shipping tips to ensure your parcel gets delivered in the shape it’s intended.
“It’s a good idea to include both a return and mailing address on the inside, should the package get damaged and the address ruined. As a general rule, carriers recommend using two to four inches of protection all the way around items, especially if they’re fragile,” Glidden said.
Glidden said all methods of delivery “provide good service.”
“The key is shipping early to ensure packages arrive on time,” said Glidden. “I’m a free drop-off site for packages with pre-paid labels for all carriers. Save yourself any possible pick-up fees and drop them off here.”
She said typically folks don’t start thinking about Christmas until Thanksgiving, but this year that leaves gift-givers even less time to ship things.
“This year with Thanksgiving falling on the 28th, we only have a little over three weeks until Christmas, so it’s even more important to mail early,” said Glidden.
Goin’ Postal also has mailboxes for rent. Business hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 760-8080.
“We also sell stamps. Their price will be going up January 2014, so buy your Forever stamps early,” said Glidden.
Helping get those packages on their way, the U.S. Postal Service offers a discount for Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes, with the price including a $2 per box discount for military mail being sent to APO/FPO/DPO (Air/Army Post Office, Fleet Post Office, Diplomatic Post Office) destinations worldwide.
Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes are available at no cost at local post offices, or they can be ordered online at shop.usps.com. Postage, labels and customs forms can be printed online anytime using Click-N-Ship.
“To ensure timely delivery of holiday wishes by Dec. 25, send cards and packages to military addresses overseas no later than these mailing dates,” said Tom Rizzo, USPS corporate communications. Rizzo provided the following mailing list, with the first date indicating priority mail express military service (PMEMS), next being first-class mail letters and cards, then priority mail, parcel airlift mail (PAL), space available mail (SAM), and standard post:
• To mail to and from APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090-092, the deadlines are: Dec. 17, Dec. 10, Dec. 10, Dec. 3, Nov. 26 and Nov. 12;
• To mail to and from APO/FPO AE Zip 093, the deadlines are: N/A, Dec. 3, Dec. 3, Dec. 3, Nov. 26, and Nov. 12;
• To mail to and from APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098, the deadlines are: Dec. 17, Dec. 10, Dec. 10, Dec. 3, Nov. 26, and Nov. 12;
• To mail to and from APO/FPO AA Zip 340, the deadlines are: Dec. 17, Dec. 10, Dec. 10, Dec. 3, Nov. 26, and Nov. 12; and
• To mail to and from APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966, the deadlines are: Dec. 17, Dec. 10, Dec. 10, Dec. 3, Nov. 26, and Nov. 12.
“PMEMS is available to selected military/diplomatic post offices. Check with your local post office to determine if this service is available to an APO/FPO/DPO address,” said Rizzo.
Rizzo continued to explain mailing options.
“PAL is a service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. PAL is available for standard post items not exceeding 30 pounds in weight or 60 inches in length and girth combined. The applicable PAL fee must be paid in addition to the regular surface price for each addressed piece sent by PAL service,” he said.
“SAM parcels are paid at standard post prices with maximum weight and size limits of 15 pounds and 60 inches length and girth combined. SAM parcels are first transported domestically by surface and then to overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis,” said Rizzo.
Rizzo said the USPS has a Military Care Kit designed for sending presents and/or care packages.
“With Priority Mail supplies as the packaging choice for families preparing care packages for service members overseas, the Postal Service created a free Military Care Kit based on the items most frequently requested by military families. The kit contains two Priority Mail APO/FPO flat-rate boxes, two Priority Mail medium flat-rate boxes, tape, address labels and the appropriate customs forms,” said Rizzzo. “To order the kit, call 800-610-8734.”
