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Did you know that the oldest federal agency in the United States is the post office? Technically speaking, the post office was conceptualized by the Founding Fathers in 1775. However, the United States Post Office Department was not legally founded until February 1792. Since the U.S. Marshals Service was founded in September 1789, the USPS is really the second oldest federal office. The USPS is poorly managed and bureaucratically flawed, but we depend on it. So, is the post office open on Christmas Day?
Well, the answer is a firm no.
Is The Post Office Open on Christmas Day 2022?
Christmas falls on a Sunday this year. However, according to the agency’s rules, the holiday is officially recognized on the following Monday in such a case.
And the post office is closed on Sunday under most circumstances. So, the USPS will be closed on Sunday, December 25, and Monday, December 26, 2022. The USPS won’t be delivering packages on Christmas Day or the day after.
If you want your Christmas packages to arrive on time, then you should be sending them now. Start sending them out now so that they will arrive by Christmas Eve at the earliest or Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at the latest.
Your local post office may be open on Christmas Eve. But remember that it may be open on a shorter and modified schedule for the day. It may open later or close earlier than usual. Check your local post office’s schedule for Christmas Eve before heading out.
It must be stressed again that you should take care of your shipping needs before Christmas Eve. The post office gets slammed with packages to process during the holidays. Waiting until the last minute, like Christmas Eve, to mail a package is a recipe for disappointment.
And instead of wondering, “Is the post office open on Christmas Day?” you should be considering your options.
Let’s consider your other mail and courier options for Christmas Day 2022. We will also list some money-saving strategies and shipping hacks for whenever you visit your local post office.
USPS Alternatives for Christmas
The post office is always closed on Sundays. However, the lobby of your local post office be open to allow for some simple self-service tasks. This is a courtesy that is usually available in most major cities.
First of all, call ahead or check online to see if your local post office’s lobby is open on Sundays.
Even if your local post office is open on Sunday, your self-service options will be limited.
You should be able to check your post office box. There should be multiple post office drop slots for you to drop mail or packages. And there should be postage stamp vending machines and weighing machines for packages. You should be able to weigh a package and calculate the shipping and postage stamp costs.
There won’t be any USPS staff on-site to help you. Even if you see a USPS employee there, don’t count on them to help you. And remember – any mail you deposit in a drop slot won’t be processed until the next business day.
So, even if your local post office’s lobby is open on Sunday, December 25, 2022, it won’t be processed until Tuesday, December 27, 2022.
Keep in mind that your local mall or strip mall may have a small USPS office or shop as well.
Instead of worrying if the post office is open on Christmas Day, you could try using FedEx. However, your options are still limited. Many of FedEx’s services will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
On Christmas Eve, FedEx will offer modified or full services for services like:
- FedEx Express
- FedEx Home Delivery
- FedEx Office
- FedEx Same Day City
- FedEx Custom Critical
- FedEx Trade Networks
On Christmas Day, FedEx will offer modified or full services for services like:
- FedEx Same Day City
- FedEx Custom Critical
DHL should be open on Christmas Eve but closed on Christmas Day.
Never make assumptions. Contact your local FedEx or DHL office before heading out. Your local office or branch may have modified hours or be closed.
USPS Shipping Hacks
Now that we know the answer to the question, “Is the post office open on Christmas Day?” here are some shipping hacks to help you save money.
Save Money with USPS Parcel Select Ground
USPS Parcel Select Ground is one of the cheapest ways to send large and heavy packages through the post office. However, there are a few catches.
One tradeoff for savings is that it is essentially the slowest USPS shipping service. If you use the USPS Parcel Select Ground service, it could take at least 8 days or longer for a delivery to arrive.
And you can’t order USPS Parcel Select Ground at any USPS office. You must order the service through Stamps.com or an official online USPS affiliate service.
USPS Parcel Select Ground services are delivered to designated areas called “zones.” Zone 1 is the closest delivery area to the sender. Zone 9 is the further delivery area from the sender.
Rates vary. But you could potentially ship a 70-pound package for prices ranging from $40 to $142 depending on the zone. Packages weighing a lot more than 70 pounds can be shipped for prices ranging from $80 to $210 depending on the zone.
Use the USPS Domestic Zone Chart to find your designated zone.
Cheapest USPS International Rates
USPS First-Class Package International Service is the cheapest way to send a small package to an international destination.
Your package must weigh no more than four pounds and have a monetary value no greater than $400.
Shipping prices vary according to country but start at about $15. You can ship packages to over 180 countries with USPS First-Class Package International Service.
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Image and article originally from www.savingadvice.com. Read the original article here.