(StatePoint) Unlike Santa, most of us don’t have elves to take care of properly packing up holiday packages. With shipping deadlines coming up quickly, it’s time to start thinking about getting those presents in the mail. If you don’t know where to begin with sending gifts across town or around the world, read on for the most common holiday headaches and solutions to help you “get your ship(ping) together” early!
1. Packages arriving after the First Noel
![photo](https://feeds.statepoint.net/images/articles/9696/125759f4.jpg)
No one wants to be the person whose gifts arrive after the holidays. That’s probably why over a third of respondents to a recent survey conducted by Shurtape Technologies said that the biggest aggravation when it comes to holiday shipping is packages arriving at their destination in a timely manner. Avoid this issue by taking note of shipping deadlines. This year’s USPS shipping deadline for standard ground shipping for arrival by Christmas Day is December 17.
![photo](https://feeds.statepoint.net/images/articles/9696/125759f4.jpg)
No one wants to be the person whose gifts arrive after the holidays. That’s probably why over a third of respondents to a recent survey conducted by Shurtape Technologies said that the biggest aggravation when it comes to holiday shipping is packages arriving at their destination in a timely manner. Avoid this issue by taking note of shipping deadlines. This year’s USPS shipping deadline for standard ground shipping for arrival by Christmas Day is December 17.
2. Festive fragile items being damaged
![photo](https://feeds.statepoint.net/images/articles/9696/26ac6d77.jpg)
Leg lamps aren’t the only “fra-gee-lay” items being delivered during the holidays! Duck brand Original Bubble Wrap Brand Cushioning is the key to items arriving in one piece. Air Lock Technology maintains consistent cushioning and long-lasting protection to keep objects intact. And of course, you’ll want to mark the box as fragile.
![photo](https://feeds.statepoint.net/images/articles/9696/26ac6d77.jpg)
Leg lamps aren’t the only “fra-gee-lay” items being delivered during the holidays! Duck brand Original Bubble Wrap Brand Cushioning is the key to items arriving in one piece. Air Lock Technology maintains consistent cushioning and long-lasting protection to keep objects intact. And of course, you’ll want to mark the box as fragile.
3. Costs so high, you think you’re on the naughty list
![photo](https://feeds.statepoint.net/images/articles/9696/1f9dbd00.jpg)
Between purchasing materials and paying postage fees, shipping costs can feel sky-high. Prepare to mail presents by factoring these expenses into your holiday budget. To start, create a list of how many gifts you’ll need to send, the anticipated size of each and what materials you already have on hand. However, when using what you already have, you’ll want to ensure that these items are the proper size for the gift being shipped so you don’t overpay for box size or weight.
![photo](https://feeds.statepoint.net/images/articles/9696/1f9dbd00.jpg)
Between purchasing materials and paying postage fees, shipping costs can feel sky-high. Prepare to mail presents by factoring these expenses into your holiday budget. To start, create a list of how many gifts you’ll need to send, the anticipated size of each and what materials you already have on hand. However, when using what you already have, you’ll want to ensure that these items are the proper size for the gift being shipped so you don’t overpay for box size or weight.
4. Too much time away from the tree
![photo](https://feeds.statepoint.net/images/articles/9696/465afe6d.jpg)
Mailing gifts to their destination isn’t just pricey – it’s downright time consuming. Spend less time transporting and more time merrymaking by planning ahead to avoid last-minute rushes to the post office – the closer to the holidays you mail, the longer those lines will be.
![photo](https://feeds.statepoint.net/images/articles/9696/465afe6d.jpg)
Mailing gifts to their destination isn’t just pricey – it’s downright time consuming. Spend less time transporting and more time merrymaking by planning ahead to avoid last-minute rushes to the post office – the closer to the holidays you mail, the longer those lines will be.
5. Materials you can’t find under the mistletoe
![photo](https://feeds.statepoint.net/images/articles/9696/79d8883f.jpg)
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the store, not a shipping supply was found, not even one box more. Last-minute shoppers should get ahead of the game and purchase necessary tools as soon as possible to ensure they can secure their preferred products. Stock up on your shipping supplies early.
![photo](https://feeds.statepoint.net/images/articles/9696/79d8883f.jpg)
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the store, not a shipping supply was found, not even one box more. Last-minute shoppers should get ahead of the game and purchase necessary tools as soon as possible to ensure they can secure their preferred products. Stock up on your shipping supplies early.
6. Poor packing tape that would never make it out of the North Pole
![photo](https://feeds.statepoint.net/images/articles/9696/5ad4779e.jpg)
Don’t let packing tape that rips and tears make you a Scrooge this holiday season! Duck brand EZ Start Packing Tape is made with Frustration-Free technology, so it always unrolls smoothly, easily and quietly. Its strong adhesion provides a long-lasting hold, and its unique design eliminates the annoyance of losing the tape end, so you can pack up your gifts and leave the stress behind.
For more holiday shipping tips and supplies, visit duckbrand.com/products/mailing-shipping.
Don’t let shipping be a source of stress this holiday season. Use these tips to pack and mail your gifts like a North Pole pro.
![photo](https://feeds.statepoint.net/images/articles/9696/5ad4779e.jpg)
Don’t let packing tape that rips and tears make you a Scrooge this holiday season! Duck brand EZ Start Packing Tape is made with Frustration-Free technology, so it always unrolls smoothly, easily and quietly. Its strong adhesion provides a long-lasting hold, and its unique design eliminates the annoyance of losing the tape end, so you can pack up your gifts and leave the stress behind.
For more holiday shipping tips and supplies, visit duckbrand.com/products/mailing-shipping.
Don’t let shipping be a source of stress this holiday season. Use these tips to pack and mail your gifts like a North Pole pro.
Photo 1 Credit: (c) krblokhin / iStock via Getty Images Plus
Photo 4 Credit: (c) Povozniuk / iStock via Getty Images Plus