CCB MEDIA PHOTO Nantucket Post Office
HYANNIS – Expect a lot of company at post offices across the Cape and Islands today.
The United States Postal Service says Dec. 14 marks their busiest mailing day of the year with more than 640 million cards, letters and packages expected to be processed.
Last year, 607 million pieces of mail were processed on the busiest day, reflecting an increase due to growth in advertising and mail package volume.
There was a steady flow of foot traffic at the Hyannis Post Office on Main St. Monday morning, as people stopped by with their holiday deliveries.
Daryl Acker of Hyannis was sending a gift to his brother in Hyannis. “It’s filled with stuff like t-shirts and little Cape Cod coozies, stuff to remind him of home,” Acker said about the package he was shipping west.
He also said he wished his brother lived a little closer to home during the holiday season.
Customers still have the option to skip the trip to the Post Office altogether and ship online using the Postal Service’s website, usps.com. Using Click-N-Ship, customers can print shipping labels for postage.
Postal officials say the Priority Mail Flat Rate Holiday Boxes virtually eliminate the need to weigh packages.
“We are ready for the rush and ready to deliver,” said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. “This isn’t just our busiest time of year — it’s our season.”
Back at the Hyannis Post Office, Sue LaVallee of Hyannis was mailing a package to her sister-in-law in California that included tea and some locally harvested beach plum jam. Lavallee was also trying to get the rest of her holiday shopping completed.
“I’m not worried about it! We don’t have to do too much, I guess,” she said.”
The Postal Service is delivering seven days a week in major cities and high volume areas including Christmas Day.
Dec. 20 is the deadline to send greeting cards, packages and letters to ensure delivery in time for Christmas. For the last-minute shoppers, Dec. 23 is the deadline for sending packages using Priority Mail Express.
“Customers can count on the Postal Service to deliver their holiday gifts in time for Christmas as we have for the past 239 years,” said Donahoe.
Customers can also request free package pickup online, The Postal Service will pick up packages as part of regular mail delivery the next business day and, unlike with other shipping companies, there is no fee for this service.
Monday, December 21, is expected to be the busiest delivery day for holiday packages, cards and letters. The Postal Service anticipates that more than 30 million packages will be delivered on the peak delivery day alone.
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