Post office preps for holiday crunch time

Monday was expected to be the busiest mailing day for the Sedalia U.S. Postal Service as people send holiday cards and packages to loved ones across the United States and beyond.

Leanne Cox, postmaster for the Sedalia office, said Wednesday will be the busiest shipping day for them.
Cox said the recommended mail-by date for parcel post is Wednesday, first-class mail is Dec. 21, priority mail is Dec. 21 and express mail is Dec. 23.

Cox said customers have already been lining up to ship holiday items, but she expects even more people today.
The U.S. Postal Service has been delivering mail for 234 years and today, 839 million pieces of mail will be processed throughout the U.S.

According to a news release from the U.S. Postal Service, 97 million customers visit the post office during the holidays.

The post office also provides free package pick up when people visit usps.com/pickup. This holiday season, 41 million people are expected to use online shipping.

The Sedalia office is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. The office will close at 3 p.m. Dec. 24.

The UPS Store in Sedalia also will be assisting customers during the holiday season. The store can wrap and package gifts for customers during the holidays.

The store is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

Tips for shipping with the United States Postal Service:

• Packages can weigh up to 70 pounds and measure up to 130 inches in combined length and width.

• When re-using a box, make sure previous labels and markings are covered before mailing.

• Mark fragile and perishable packages with large print on the outside of the box.

• Place an extra address label with the delivery and return address inside the package in case the outside label is damaged.

• White envelopes with black text are easier to process. Colored envelopes with unclear text may slow down the shipping process.

• Do not use string, cellophane, masking tape or duct tape on packages.

For more shipping information with UPS, visit theupsstore.com.