Postal Service Tips For A Less-Stressed Holiday

(NAPSI)—The U.S. Postal Service plans for its peak season all year long. With more than 240 years of experience delivering the holidays, the Postal Service is uniquely qualified to make this magical season the best one yet. Here are some tips to help everyone have a happier, less-stressed holiday by getting greeting cards and packages delivered on time and intact.

For the complete list of mailing and shipping deadlines, go to usps.com/holidaynews.

Sneak a Peek in Your Mailbox

Informed Delivery notifications make it possible for customers to receive an e-mail every morning with images of incoming mail and packages. To sign up, go to informeddelivery.com, where customers can:

• Receive text messages or e-mail alerts notifying that a package is en route and additional notifications when the package has been delivered.

• Provide delivery instructions online and authorize the carrier to leave the package in a specific location.

• Request the package be held at the Post Office, by choosing the Hold for Pickup option.

• Redirect packages when you won't be home to receive it, by choosing the USPS Package Intercept option for an additional fee.

Skip the Trip and Ship Online

The Postal Service offers solutions designed specifically to make shipping holiday packages easy and convenient. Customers can avoid holiday hassles by:

• Ordering free Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express boxes and envelopes at usps.com/freeboxes, or pick them up at a local Post Office.

• Using Click-N-Ship at usps.com/ship to create shipping labels with USPS Tracking and pay for postage-with free flat-rate boxes, there's no need to weigh.

• Getting packages picked up for free at home or office with Package Pickup. Just hand the package to the mail carrier on his or her regular delivery route. Pickups can be scheduled at usps.com/pickup.

How to Avoid a Holiday Glitch

Here are some additional tips to help avoid a glitch-free holiday: