The Postal Service is extending delivery services to seven days a week to make sure people receive their holiday packages on time. Starting November 17 through Christmas Day, deliveries will be made every single day. "During the holidays, no carrier makes more deliveries to more places than the Postal Service, and this year, we're raising the bar with enhanced tracking and Sunday delivery," said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe in a press release. Last year, USPS delivery rivals UPS and FedEx drew criticism for failing to deliver packages on time during the holidays.
As more customers order items from online retailers, demand for shipping has jumped. The Postal Service predicts double digit package growth during the holiday season, in the range of 450 to 470 million packages. The company also anticipates higher demand driven by cheaper shipping prices via their Priority Mail option. To make sure mail and packages arrive by Christmas, the Postal Service provided the following deadlines:
- Dec. 2 - First-Class Mail International/Priority Mail International
- Dec. 10 – Priority Mail Express International
- Dec. 15 – Standard Post
- Dec. 17 – Global Express Guaranteed
- Dec. 20 – First-Class Mail/Priority Mail (domestic)
- Dec. 23 – Priority Mail Express (domestic)
IN-DEPTH
-- Hailey Lee, CNBC