Christmas Shipping Deadline Quickly Approaching
With mail rooms busy and high volumes of packages being shipped, the USPS is encouraging senders to get their packages out soon if they want them to arrive by Christmas. Alpena postmaster, Kim Kanarr reflects on this holiday rush, “The holiday season has been really challenging again this year like usual. But, our carriers work very hard to make sure we get everyone the holiday they deserve to have.”
The postal employees are putting in long hours to transport holiday presents ahead of this week’s upcoming deadlines. “December 20th would be the last day to mail priority mail,” said Kanarr, “and December 12st, we’d be looking at priority or priority express so overnight or two day services and those would be the last two days to mail things.”
With cutoffs looming just days away, lines are building at the post office. Customers can help the process run smoothly by packing properly and having correct recipient addresses ready to go. Just a small error can result in major difficulties for the carrier. “If this zip code isn’t correct, I’m sure most people don’t realize, but the zip code effects the bar code that the machines read and it redirects things,” said Kanarr. “If the bar code is not correct with the correct zip code, it will send the package to the wrong facility.”
Yet despite the holiday rush and cold conditions postal service workers are travelling in, they’ve managed to keep in high spirits with help from the community. “The community has been awesome, they support us very well,” said Kanarr. “People have been very patient in line if they’re waiting in line for any length of time. We’ve actually had some customers buy us lunch and so that’s very nice, we’ve very appreciated that.”
