Expanded USPS® Holiday Shipping Options – and other helpful holiday hints!
Did you know that you can find postal-approved locations alternate to local Post Office™ facilities, many of which are accessible after 5 pm weekdays and on weekends? These resources can be found simply by going to www.usps.com/holiday on your computer and, in most cases, your mobile device.
The website will provide you information about options at various hours of the day to make it easier for you to ship and mail what you want closer to the days and times more convenient to you – USPS’ shipping options have been expanded for the holiday season. In addition, select Post Offices around the country will extend its hours on the Saturdays in December leading up to Christmas.
Please follow this path to locate an option near you. Once on the Holiday webpage, go to the Mail & Ship tab then scroll down to Find USPS Locations. Under Location Types, select the location you need from the Post Offices and Approved Postal Providers™ drop down (such as Self-Service Kiosks. For additional providers, select the Refine search to find Alternate locations to Buy Stamps, Contract Postal Units and National Retailers).
The Postal Service offers a one-stop shopping site for all holiday-related issues, including shipping deadlines, most recent stamps, Santa-mail and more at the USPS Holiday Newsroom.
Here is a look at alternate options, many with non-traditional hours, which are available around the country this holiday season:
The Self-Service Kiosk (SSK) is a free-standing kiosk placed in retail lobbies of selected Post Office lobbies to enable customers to ship packages (of certain sizes), mail letters and buy stamps. The majority of SSKs are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, placing simple transactions in the control of customers.
SSKs accept credit and debit cards, enable customers to weigh and mail letters and parcels, and purchase stamps. It also dispenses postage for Priority Mail Express®, Priority Mail®, First-Class Mail®, Parcel Post® and Delivery Confirmation™ services.
The Contract Postal Unit (CPU) is a postal retail office housed within an existing, non-postal business or building that offers virtually all postal services under contract with the Postal Service™. It helps to increase convenience and access to postal services for customers unable to travel to other Post Office locations. A full line of postal products and services are available at the CPU including postage stamps, Priority Mail Express service, Priority Mail service, special services, packaging products, and much more.
Under National Retailers are locations offering stamps, shipping and mailing services during their normal business hours.
Customers will also find many traditional services needed for the holidays mailing season by going online to www.usps.com/holiday, including recommended ship-by dates for Domestic, International and Military mail and packages, mailing tips, links to tracking and Informed Delivery®, seasonal supplies (such as stamps and Priority Mail® boxes), Click-N-Ship®, ZIP Code™ lookup and more.
You can also find additional holiday information on the Holiday Newsroom. In addition to the fun banner which can be colored with a sweep of the mouse, quick links lead to news stories, recommended mail-by dates, holiday resources, holiday stamps and Santa mail.
Shop for your favorite holiday stamps and postal related gifts at The Postal Store®
USPS TV on YouTube also offers our latest holiday ads (in English and Spanish), helpful video tips for shipping for the holidays, and videos of stamp presentations.