Deadlines loom to get Christmas packages to destinations

MOSES LAKE — Lisa Castro, owner of The UPS Store on South Pioneer Way, had some advice for people who are still planning to mail Christmas presents and actually get them to their destination by Christmas.

“The sooner you get it (the package) here, the better,” Castro said Wednesdsay.

In fact, in some cases it’s already too late. The deadline for some U.S. Postal Service options has passed, according to a USPS press release.

It’s also too late for some East Coast destinations for The UPS Store customers, Castro said, and for international delivery. But for most of the U.S., there’s still a little time to get the package to its destination.

But not much.

The USPS said first class packages, letters and Christmas cards should be mailed by Friday to have a better chance of getting there on time. Friday is also the deadline for priority mail express to most military post offices. The USPS deadline for priority mail is Saturday.

Castro said packages sent to the Pacific Northwest can be mailed from The UPS Store through Tuesday and still have a good chance of reaching their destination.

“Dates are for estimated delivery,” the USPS press release said.

Some post offices are staying open later to help customers get those packages in the mail. The Moses Lake post office will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, one hour later than normal.

The Othello post office will be open for package pickup from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, but not for sending mail.

Additionally, online shopping has increased in 2020, and that has complicated Christmas season delivery.

“You’re trying to add heavy Christmas (deliveries) into an already large volume of mail right now,” Castro said.

As a result, deliveries aren’t guaranteed in most cases.

It’s been a busy season at The UPS Store.

“We have lines out the door,” Castro said. “I have never seen this before.”

But she hasn’t received complaints from customers, she said.

“We have awesome customers.”