Mail Early and Conveniently for Holidays

Mailing Easy with Flat Rate Boxes, usps.com, Free Package Pickup

‘Tis the holiday mailing season and the Wichita Post Office is encouraging customers to mail early and conveniently using usps.com, Priority Mail flat rate boxes, free Package Pickup, and their Automated Postal Centers.

Most of the services found at a Post Office are available from the comfort of home at usps.com. Nearly a million customers per day go to the award-winning website to find ZIP Codes, buy stamps, mail packages and more.

Two of the more popular features on usps.com are Click-N-Ship and Free Package Pickup, where customers can print mailing labels with postage for Priority Mail, Express Mail, and international packages using their debit or credit card. Customers can then request a free pickup of those packages by their letter carrier the next day.

Priority Mail flat rate boxes take the weight out of mailing. Ship anything that fits, up to 70 pounds, to any destination in the U.S., including military addresses, for just $8.95. Just ensure the items fit without altering the box. Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are free. They are available at Post Offices, online at usps.com/shippingsupplies, or by telephone at 1-800-527-1950. The boxes are shipped at no charge.

Automated Postal Centers (APC’s) are located at Munger Station - 1314 N. Oliver St., Corporate Hills Station - 9350 E. Corporate Hills Dr., Downtown Station - 330 W. 2nd St., and the General Mail Facility at 7117 W. Harry St. APC’s make buying stamps and mailing holiday packages convenient, and they have 24/7 access. The self-service kiosks are easy to use and accept credit and debit cards.

Don’t have access to the internet? Buy stamps by phone at 1-800-Stamp-24 (1-800-782-6724), or by mail — ask a clerk or letter carrier for a Stamps By Mail form. Don’t forget that rural carriers are Post Offices on Wheels and provide virtually all of the services of a Post Office.

“We know time is scarce during the holidays, so we’re working hard to make our products and services convenient for our customers,” said Wichita Postmaster Mark Talbott.

Customers are encouraged to use Priority Mail through Dec. 20, and Express Mail through Dec. 22. Last-minute packages can be delivered Christmas Eve and Christmas Day — via Express Mail.

The last date for military mail going to the war zone is Dec. 4, and Dec. 18 for all other military addresses. International mail deadlines are Dec. 4 for First-Class Mail and Priority Mail going to Africa and Central and South America, and Dec. 11 for all other countries. International mail can be sent as late as Dec. 19, using Global Express Guaranteed Service.

Visit the Holiday Press Room at usps.com

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Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at www.usps.com/news.

An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits every address in the nation, 146 million homes and businesses, six days a week. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products, and services to pay for operating expenses, not tax dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.