Chicago Post Office Ready for Holiday Push

CHICAGO, IL — Whether your letters and packages are going across town, across the country, or around the world, the Chicago Post Office is ready to deliver holiday mailings in time for Christmas Day.

“Even though the days are rapidly ticking down, there’s still plenty of time to send your holiday gifts and greetings,” Chicago Postmaster Gloria Tyson said.

Monday, December 15, will be the busiest mailing day of the holiday season with more than 1.8 million cards and letters - more than twice the typical daily volume - mailed in Chicago alone.

Even with the additional mail entering the system, Tyson assures customers that they can rely on the U.S. Postal Service.

“We know that many people wait until the last few days to finish their shopping and shipping,” Tyson said.  “No matter when you mail it, we’ve got a service that will deliver the goods on time.”

Cards and packages sent via First-Class Mail or Priority Mail should be mailed by Sat., Dec. 20 to arrive by Christmas Day.  After that, through Tuesday, Dec. 23, customers should use Express Mail, which is delivered overnight to major metropolitan areas – even on Christmas Day.

“Only Santa and the Postal Service will cheerfully deliver those last-minute, must-have packages to family, friends and acquaintances on Christmas Day,” said Tyson.  In addition to regular zoned pricing, there is an additional charge for Sunday and holiday delivery of $12.50.

Chicago District stations and branches are ready to help make shipping holiday packages quick, easy and convenient.  The Cardiss Collins Postal Store, 433 W. Harrison St., is open 24 hours a day.  16 stations are open until 7 p.m. weeknights. In addition to Cardiss Collins, the Graceland Postal Store, 3024 N. Ashland Avenue, and Fort Dearborn Station, 540 N. Dearborn St., are open Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  (Visit usps.com for a complete list of locations and hours.)

The Postal Service offers free, environmentally friendly Priority Mail and Express Mail boxes and envelopes. These supplies can be ordered at usps.com or picked up at a local Post Office.

“The best shipping value may be our Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes,” says Tyson. “No calculating of postage or weighing is needed. If it fits, it ships.”

The Postal Service also offers pre-packaged shipping products, READY POST, sold at local Post Offices for customers needing sturdy, secure boxes and envelopes.

“Save money on Priority and Express Mail prices when you mail online with Click-N-Ship,” adds Tyson. “The more you ship, the more you save. And when a package is ready to be shipped, log on to usps.com/pickup to schedule free package pickup from home or office. Skip the trip and do all of your shipping online.”

Postal-themed products also make great last-minute gifts.  Framed art featuring stamp images, available at many Chicago stations and at usps.com, are unique gift items, while students away at school, senior citizens and many others will appreciate finding a book of stamps in their stockings.

Due to security requirements, packages bearing postage stamps that weigh more than 13 ounces must be presented to a letter carrier or retail associate at the Post Office and cannot be dropped in blue collection boxes.

Find more holiday tips and information at http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2008/holiday/hpr.htm.