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You probably still have some holiday shopping to do if the holiday season crept up on you without warning (wasn’t it August like yesterday?). And with the pandemic still raging plus a spike in online holiday sales this year we should anticipate shipping slowdowns comparable to what we saw in March and April.
Luckily, by working around the clock to make sure the orders arrive before Christmas morning, retailers are making things simpler. But there are deadlines for holiday delivery, and they’re sooner than ever in 2020. Read on to find out when is the last possible day you can place an order for holiday gift shipping at all your favorite stores to guarantee delivery before Christmas Day.
What is the Deadline for Holiday Gift Shipping 2020?
This depends on who you’re asking. December 11 would typically be the last day for cheaper shipping based on patterns in previous years, according to Adobe, but they say things may not as efficient this year. That said according to major delivery services, here are the domestic holiday shipping deadline.
USPS
December 15: Last date to send packages using the retail ground service.
December 18: Deadline to send packages via First-Class Mail.
December 19: Deadline to send for Priority Mail, and by December 23 for Priority Mail Express.
UPS:
*Note that UPS has shipping limits on certain retailers.
December 15: Ship packages by this date for UPS Ground.
December 21: Last date to ship via UPS 3 Day Select.
December 22: Last date to ship via UPS 2nd Day Air.
December 23: Deadline to send packages using UPS Next Day Air.
Fedex:
December 15: Deadline to send packages via FedEx Home Delivery or FedEx Ground.
December 21: Last date to send packages via FedEx express Saver or 3 Day Freight.
December 22: Last date to send packages via FedEX 2Day A.M., 2 Day Freight, or 2 Day.
December 23: Deadline to send packages via FedEx Standard Overnight, Priority Overnight, or First Overnight.
December 25: Packages can be sent via Same Day City Priority or City Direct.
What About Amazon?
As regular Amazon shoppers know even their near legendary shipping speeds have slowed during the pandemic, with two day Prime Shipping becoming closer to a week in many areas. For most items ordered using Amazon Prime the last day for guaranteed holiday shipping is December 15th, although shoppers living in some areas, including many parts of Houston, may still be able to get their packages to local recipients on time using two-hour delivery up until December 24 at 9:45 p.m. local time.
What If I Miss Holiday Gift Shipping Deadlines?
If you miss these deadlines, don’t panic! As I discussed at length in a blog post earlier this week intangible, non-physical holiday gifts may be the better way to go this holiday season, especially if you don’t want to add stressful clutter to your family and friends homes.
Not sure what to send if you send a holiday gift certificate? Try opting for a gift card from Visa or Mastercard. These are essentially prepaid debit cards that you set the limit on, and many are being offered in some adorable holiday themes.
Lots of local retailers offer them – even some gas stations – if you want to give a physical card or are available online at anytime. That means if it’s 11.50pm on December 24th and you are still missing a few gifts you can still get one of these delivered on time for Christmas morning!
Speaking of holiday organization if you could use some last minute holiday organization help the team at Just Organized by Taya is just a phone call or email away. Get in touch here or call 832-271-7608 to discuss how we can help you enjoy a more organized holiday season!
Working with Taya and her team is easy. You can book an appointment easily on her website, or contact her directly at 832-271-7608
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