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Postal News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2002
Contact: (202) 268-2155
Release No. 02-089
Many Offices To Open Sundays To Stay Ahead Of 20 Billion Pieces Of Holiday Mail
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Postal Service announced that many post offices will stay open late and open Sundays to handle the blizzard of 20 billion pieces of mail this holiday season. It also announced customer convenience and operational initiatives to prepare for the busiest time of the year.
"A billion minutes ago Christianity celebrated the first Christmas," noted Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, Pat Donahoe. "A billion seconds ago the Apollo 15 astronauts were exploring the moon's surface," he added. "Our customers count on us more than ever this time of year and they should feel confident that their delivery option of choice will get it home in time for the Holidays. A billion letters was less than two days ago to us."
While this year's holiday shopping window between Thanksgiving and Christmas is six days shorter than last year, Donahoe said this year's volume is expected to remain about the same as last year's. He said most Americans spend the weekend prior to Christmas week addressing their greeting cards. This year's busiest mailing day is projected to be Monday, December 16 with 850 million pieces of mail entering the system. Two days later, Wednesday 18, will be the busiest delivery day.
Annual Volume Exceeds 200 Billion
Throughout the year, the Postal Service's 750,000 career workforce staffs 38,000 facilities that are linked by 210,000 vehicles -- the nation's largest civilian fleet. To move mail by air it uses 15,000 of the 56,000 available commercial passenger flights daily in addition to utilizing FedEx's air cargo network. The mail also moves by rail and truck and among more than six thousand trucking firms that operate anywhere from a handful to hundreds of trucks each.
Holiday Gear-Up
During the two weeks prior to Christmas, the National and Area Operations Center network operates around the clock. The network shares information on operations and mail flow between mail processing and distribution centers and with major mailing customers.
To move the large Holiday volumes, the Postal Service has printed 2.85 billion holiday stamps. It also expanded retail and logistical operations.
- Many post offices will stay open late and be open for business on Sundays.
- Outside of its 38,000 post offices, stamps are now available at more than 60,000 drug stores and supermarkets. These locations are identified by a "Buy Stamps Here" decal. Stamps can also be purchased among 17,000 ATMs.
- Millions of pieces of extra equipment will go into service.
- Two weeks prior to Christmas, a Holiday Network Hub in Indianapolis will utilize 44 additional cargo airplanes dedicated entirely to moving the mail.
- Hundreds of additional trucks will be added.
Mailing Guidelines
While there are no mailing deadlines, the Postal Service recommends that customers mailing packages should switch to Priority Mail on Saturday, December 14 and then use Express Mail beginning Saturday, December 21.
Express Mail offers guaranteed delivery service 365 days a year, including all weekends and holidays. The overnight delivery money-back guarantee typically applies to local area delivery and for delivery to major metropolitan areas where timely air transportation connections are available. Express Mail Service to all other areas is offered with a two-day guarantee.
The Postal Service will accept items for Express Mail delivery on Christmas Day. Customers are asked to check with their local post office for details.
Whenever possible, customers who receive door delivery are welcome to give their holiday and other mail they are sending to their letter carrier, rather than placing it in a collection box or making a special trip to the post office.
Holiday Mailing Tips
Addressing Tips
- Write, type, or print the complete address neatly.
- Always use a complete return address.
- Make sure you're using the ZIP Code. If you don't know it, don't guess. Go to USPS.COM to find ZIP Codes and locate post offices – and any other place that sells stamps in your area, like grocery stores or ATMs!
- Our web site even provides a map to any of these places – now that is convenience!
- And speaking of convenient, don't forget to use our web site — usps.com — for postage calculations, or buying stamps, greeting cards and unique gifts.
- Avoid waiting in line for stamps by using Stamps by Phone (800-STAMP-24), Stamps by Mail, postal vending machines, or go online to the Postal Store at www.usps.com/shop.
- Select a box that's strong enough to protect the contents. Leave space for cushioning inside the carton.
- Cushion the contents of the package.
- The only addresses on packages for mailing should be the delivery and return addresses.
- Tip: Place a return address label inside the package.
- Remove batteries from toys. Wrap and place them next to the toys in the mailing box.
- Packages that weigh at least 1 pound must be taken into the Post Office for mailing – or you can use CLICK-N-SHIP to purchase postage online and have the postman pick up the package at your door!
- Save time by purchasing packaging materials, including boxes and padding materials at your local Post Office. Express Mail and Priority Mail boxes, envelopes, and tubes are free.
- Still have questions on Express Mail or Priority Mail, call 1-800-222-1811. For all other Postal information, please call 1-800-275-8777.
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Since 1775, the U.S. Postal Service has connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses by mail. It is an independent federal agency that makes deliveries to 137 million addresses every day and is the only service provider to deliver to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual revenues of more than $65 billion, it is the world's leading provider of mail and delivery services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. The U.S. Postal Service delivers more than 43 percent of the world's mail volume - some 207 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year - and serves 7 million customers each day at its 38,000 retail locations nationwide.
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