The holiday rush brings a welcome surge in sales, but it also brings a surge in shipping costs that can eat into your profits. Between peak season surcharges, the need for expedited services, and the financial hit from service failures, your logistics budget is under serious pressure. So, does holidays effect shipping expenses? Absolutely, and it can significantly impact your bottom line if you aren’t prepared. Think of this guide as your financial co-pilot for the peak season. We’ll detail the temporary rate increases from USPS, compare carrier costs, and provide strategies for optimizing your spend without sacrificing on-time delivery performance.
With the holidays approaching, many retailers are making plans on what items to feature during sales and how to get those products to their destination before the holidays. However, the holiday season is the busiest time of year for all carriers, including USPS. In fact, last year the postal service shipped an estimated 850 million packages between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. With the popularity of online shopping growing and USPS being a cost-effective option for retailers mailing packages, the carrier is under intense pressure to get packages delivered fast and on time. Spikes in demand resulted in USPS hiring an estimated 35,000 to 40,000 additional employees to handle volume increases during the holidays. But what does this mean for retailers? Retailers who want to deliver on their promises during the holiday season and plan to use USPS should understand shipping requirements and dates to watch, and they should track any new changes to ensure a seamless process for their customers and to secure more business in the new year.
Understanding USPS Holiday Shipping Dates
One of the most important things to know when shipping with USPS during the holiday season is cutoff dates. With these dates in hand, you can start communicating with your customers and setting expectations. For example, some retailers post clear messages on their website, such as “Get it before Christmas by ordering before XYZ date.” Not only does this message help customers understand the amount of time they have to get packages in time for the holidays, but it also creates a sense of urgency in ordering. The 2018 USPS cutoff dates are as follows: USPS Retail Ground: Dec. 14 First-Class Package Service® (up to 15.99 ounces): Dec 14 First-Class Mail® (including greeting cards): Dec. 20 Priority Mail®: Dec. 20 Alaska to Mainland Priority Mail® and First-Class Mail®: Dec 20 Hawaii to Mainland Priority Mail® and First-Class Mail®: Dec 20 Priority Mail Express®: Dec. 22 (Same for Hawaii and Alaska to Mainland) Are you shipping to a different part of the world? If so, check out more information on shipping at USPS’ holiday shipping section.
2025 Domestic Shipping Deadlines for Christmas Delivery
Meeting customer expectations during the holidays hinges on one simple thing: getting their packages delivered on time. Knowing the domestic shipping deadlines isn’t just about circling dates on a calendar; it’s about building a reliable fulfillment strategy that protects your brand’s reputation. For high-volume shippers, selecting the right service levels across multiple carriers is a delicate balance between speed and cost. This is where having clear visibility into your shipping data becomes essential, allowing you to make informed decisions that keep customers happy without destroying your profit margins. A well-negotiated carrier agreement can also provide significant savings, especially on the expedited services that become critical as Christmas gets closer. Let’s look at the key dates you need to know for the major domestic carriers.
USPS
The United States Postal Service is often a go-to for its reach and cost-effective options. To ensure your customers’ gifts arrive before December 25th, you’ll need to ship by these dates. Keep in mind that these are the final days to ship, so building in a buffer is always a smart move during the unpredictable peak season.
- December 17: USPS Ground Advantage™ & First-Class Mail®
- December 18: Priority Mail®
- December 20: Priority Mail Express®
UPS
UPS offers a range of reliable services that many businesses depend on for holiday deliveries. Their deadlines are tiered, giving you options as the holiday approaches. For shippers managing large volumes, understanding the cost implications of shifting to faster services like 2nd Day Air® is crucial. Analyzing your shipping patterns can help you reduce high-volume shipping costs by optimizing which service you use up until the last minute.
- December 19: UPS 3 Day Select®
- December 22: UPS 2nd Day Air®
- December 23: UPS Next Day Air®
FedEx
FedEx provides a comprehensive suite of services, from economy ground to overnight options. Their deadlines are spread out, offering flexibility for your fulfillment operations. As you plan, remember that services like FedEx Ground® Economy have earlier cutoffs. Having a diverse carrier mix can be a lifesaver, allowing you to pivot if one network experiences delays. Proactively managing your carrier diversification strategy is key to navigating the holiday rush successfully.
- December 15: FedEx Ground® Economy
- December 20: FedEx Express Saver®
- December 23: FedEx First Overnight®, Priority Overnight®, & Standard Overnight®
2025 International Shipping Deadlines from the U.S.
Shipping internationally adds another layer of complexity, with customs, duties, and longer transit times to consider. The holiday season amplifies these challenges, making it absolutely critical to ship early and communicate transparently with your global customers. These deadlines are guidelines, and actual delivery times can be affected by the destination country’s local postal service and customs clearance processes. Ensuring your paperwork is accurate is the first step, but it’s also wise to regularly audit your carrier invoices for international shipments, as billing errors can be more common and costly on these more complex routes.
USPS (to Canada, Europe, Mexico)
When using USPS for international shipments to key markets like Canada, Europe, and Mexico, the deadlines are significantly earlier than domestic ones. Plan to have your packages ready to go in the first half of December to ensure they have enough time to clear customs and reach their final destination before the holiday.
- December 9: First-Class Package International Service® & Priority Mail International®
- December 16: Priority Mail Express International®
DHL Express Worldwide
DHL is a leader in international express shipping, and their network is built for speed and reliability across borders. While they often provide faster transit times, the holiday volume surge still impacts their operations. Their deadline for Express Worldwide service provides a solid option for last-minute international orders, but it comes at a premium price point that you’ll need to factor into your overall shipping budget.
- December 18: DHL Express Worldwide
Services Available During the Holidays
When using USPS during the holidays, it helps to understand what the different services are best used for and expected dates of delivery so you can select the most cost-effective one while still meeting customer expectations. Check out a few of the more popular options. USPS Ground USPS Ground Retail service is Primarily used when the items being sent are not allowed to fly. Pricing is similar to Priority Mail (PM) so unless the items contain Hazardous materials, it would be better to choose the premium PM service. There are also other ground services specifically for Media, Books, Bound Printed Matter and when sending to or from a Library. Pricing is based on the distance the parcel must travel and the weight of the parcel. First-Class Mail First-Class Mail is the most popular service, and it’s an inexpensive way to send items through USPS. You can send large envelopes and small packages up to 15.99 ounces using this service. Currently First Class Package Service (FCPS) is based only upon the weight in ounces and not the distance. The USPS has proposed to change this to zoned pricing on January 27, 2019. Priority Mail Priority Mail is the most popular option for items weighing over a pound. Commercial and E-Commerce shippers who purchase the postage online are eligible for discounted rates. It is a non guaranteed service with defined delivery windows of 1, 2 or 3 days depending on origin and destination pairings. Insurance of either $50 or $100 per flat package is included (CPP, high volume contract users get $100). Free premium packaging is available. There are 4 ways to use PM, including Flat Rate (If it fits it ships), Regional Flat Rate and Cubic for CPP Customers. If you wish to see how much of the country is served in 2 days from your location, check out this interactive delivery map. Priority Mail Express (PME) Priority Mail Express is a good option for retailers who need items to arrive fast. USPS offers overnight delivery guarantees, and the service is available 365 days a year with a money-back guarantee and delivery to most U.S. addresses, including P.O. boxes. The cost starts at $24.70 and increases based on package size and specifications. PME also offers Flat Rate Envelope options, and no longer includes a flat rate package option.
How Mail Moves on Holidays
It’s a common misconception that everything grinds to a halt on holidays. While post offices and retail locations might be closed, the logistics networks of major carriers are often still buzzing with activity, especially during the peak season. Mail and packages are frequently sorted and transported even on holidays to keep up with the massive volume. However, the level of service, delivery schedules, and operational capacity vary significantly between carriers. Understanding these nuances is key to managing customer expectations and controlling your shipping costs. For high-volume shippers, knowing which services are active and when can make all the difference in maintaining a smooth supply chain and avoiding unnecessary delays or surcharges.
USPS Holiday Operations
The United States Postal Service observes federal holidays, which means you won’t see mail carriers making their usual rounds on days like Christmas or New Year’s Day. However, behind the scenes, mail is often still moving through the system. To handle the holiday surge, USPS frequently expands its operations, sometimes running sorting facilities 24/7 and adding extra transportation. They often have modified services available, especially for their premium Priority Mail Express service. The key takeaway is that while deliveries pause on major holidays, the logistics network doesn’t completely shut down. Planning your shipments around these dates and communicating clearly with customers is essential to prevent fulfillment issues.
UPS Holiday Operations
UPS also observes major holidays with limited to no regular delivery services. However, their express and critical services often remain operational. It’s crucial to check the official UPS holiday schedule, as they provide detailed information on which services are running and what the pickup and delivery modifications are for specific dates. For businesses relying on UPS for both parcel and LTL shipments, this foresight is non-negotiable. Proactively adjusting your shipping calendar and exploring all available service options can help you avoid bottlenecks. This is also a great time to review your carrier agreements to ensure you’re not overpaying for services during a time when delays are more common.
FedEx Holiday Operations
FedEx is known for its extensive network and often provides modified services on holidays, especially for its time-sensitive Express shipments. During the busiest times of the year, like the period between Black Friday and Christmas, FedEx may even offer expanded weekend deliveries to keep packages moving. That said, even with these efforts, the sheer volume of packages and potential for weather delays can still impact delivery times. For shippers, this means building in a buffer for your transit time estimates. It also highlights the importance of having visibility into your shipping data to track performance and hold carriers accountable, especially for guaranteed delivery services that don’t arrive on time, which is where an invoice audit can recover significant costs.
Does USPS Charge Holiday Surcharges?
Some carriers, such as UPS, charge a holiday surcharge during the busiest season of the year. This adds up to extra expenses for retailers. For example, UPS announced its plans for peak surcharges that are applicable during defined periods during the holiday season, which includes packages shipped after Nov. 19. Although these fees are small, with retailers shipping so many packages, they add up. One benefit of shipping with USPS is they do not charge holiday surcharges. Additionally, they do not use dimensional weight pricing for packages under a cubic foot, and they don’t tack on additional charges for residential delivery, address correction or for fuel. This translates into a cost-effective shipping solution during the holiday season.
USPS Temporary Price Increases for the 2025 Holiday Season
While USPS was once the go-to carrier for avoiding peak season surcharges, that strategy has shifted. To keep up with the immense demand and operational costs of the holiday rush, USPS now implements temporary rate adjustments. This approach aligns them more closely with private carriers like UPS and FedEx, who have long used seasonal surcharges to manage the surge in volume. For high-volume shippers, this change means that planning your holiday logistics requires a close look at how these temporary price hikes will affect your overall shipping spend. Understanding these new costs is the first step toward building a resilient and cost-effective fulfillment strategy for your busiest time of year.
Why USPS Implements Holiday Surcharges
The reason behind the holiday price hikes is straightforward: it costs more to deliver the massive volume of packages that flood the network between October and January. These temporary rate increases help USPS cover the significant extra expenses incurred during this peak period. This includes the cost of hiring tens of thousands of seasonal workers, running additional truck routes, and expanding sorting capacity to prevent backlogs and delays. Essentially, the surcharges are a way for the Postal Service to fund the expanded infrastructure needed to handle the holiday shopping season without service disruptions, ensuring your packages still arrive on time.
Affected Services and Rate Details
These temporary price increases typically apply to the most popular shipping services used by ecommerce businesses. For the 2025 season, you can expect to see adjustments on services like Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and USPS Ground Advantage. The exact increase will vary based on the package’s weight and the distance it’s traveling, with hikes generally ranging from $0.40 to as much as $7.00 per piece. It’s also important to note that USPS applies different rate structures for retail customers versus commercial customers. While commercial rates are still subject to increases, they often differ from the prices you’d pay at the post office counter, making it crucial to analyze your specific rate card. This is where a thorough invoice audit can reveal the true impact on your bottom line.
Comparing USPS with Other Carriers During the Holidays
Retailers have many options during the holidays, including FedEx, UPS, Parcel Consolidators (ie: PB Negistics and DHL E-Commerce), Regional Carriers and the USPS. Each carrier offers several different levels of service, which can make it difficult to know which option is best. When considering USPS for packages during the holidays, it helps to understand the benefits and the disadvantages. USPS is less expensive for lightweight holiday packages. Retailers often want to know which option is cheapest – USPS, FedEx or UPS. Retailers who want a lower-cost shipping option should consider USPS, especially for smaller items going to the home. Comparing Flat-rate shipping options, along with free packaging and no “Accessorial” charges make using the USPS easy and affordable. In 2016, USPS delivered 62% of all residential deliveries. Reliability and Tracking greatly improved. In the past, some retailers complained about USPS’ reliability and lack of complete tracking, which is critical during the holiday season. However, Tracking is now on par with the national carriers and performance has improved. USPS delivers to mailboxes and P.O. boxes. Another benefit of using USPS for holiday shipping is that unlike FedEx and UPS, it delivers to P.O. Boxes, US Territories and the Military . In fact, they are the only major shipping service that delivers to P.O. boxes and there is no extra charge for far away US territories like Guam and Puerto Rico. USPS may not be the perfect solution for every situation, but it does excel at keeping costs low and delivering with reasonable reliability during the holiday season. Weighing the pros and cons can help you manage expectations during this busy time.
Common Causes of Holiday Shipping Delays
Even with the best planning, the holiday season can throw a wrench in your logistics. Understanding the common culprits behind shipping delays helps you set realistic expectations for your customers and build contingency plans. The entire shipping network operates under immense pressure during this time, and a small issue in one area can create a ripple effect across the board. From staffing to weather, several factors are working against a perfectly smooth delivery season. Let’s break down the main reasons you might see extended transit times and what’s happening behind the scenes when your packages are on the move.
Labor Shortages
The massive spike in online shopping during the holidays puts a huge strain on warehouses and shipping companies. It’s a simple matter of volume versus manpower. Fulfillment centers and carrier hubs struggle to hire and train enough staff to process, pack, and ship every order at the speed customers have come to expect. This labor crunch means it can take longer for packages to even leave the warehouse, creating a bottleneck before the parcel is even in the carrier’s hands. For high-volume shippers, this can significantly impact the ability to meet promised delivery windows and maintain customer satisfaction during the most critical sales period of the year.
Supply Chain and Inventory Issues
Your shipping operation is only as strong as its weakest link. During the holidays, the entire supply chain is stretched thin, making it vulnerable to disruptions. A single supplier running out of a key component or a customs delay on an international shipment can halt your entire fulfillment process. These seemingly small hiccups have a much larger impact when there’s no slack in the system. When inventory doesn’t arrive at the fulfillment center on time, orders get backlogged, and delivery promises are broken. This makes end-to-end supply chain visibility and proactive inventory management more important than ever.
Carrier Overload
During peak season, major delivery services like UPS, FedEx, and USPS are inundated with an overwhelming number of packages. Their networks, from sorting facilities to delivery trucks, operate at or even beyond maximum capacity. This overload can result in carriers being unable to make scheduled pickups from your warehouse or experiencing delays at their own sorting hubs. When every shipper is competing for limited space, it underscores the importance of a flexible shipping strategy. Relying on a single provider is risky, which is why many businesses explore carrier diversification to spread their volume and mitigate the risk of delays with any one company.
Weather Disruptions
Winter weather is one of the most unpredictable variables in holiday logistics. A major snowstorm, blizzard, or icy road conditions can bring transportation to a standstill in entire regions of the country. These events can ground flights at major air hubs and make roads impassable for delivery trucks, stopping packages in their tracks for days at a time. Unlike other delays, weather disruptions are completely out of anyone’s control, affecting all carriers equally. Building a few extra days into your delivery estimates for customers, especially for shipments crossing through known winter storm corridors, is a smart way to manage expectations.
How USPS is Preparing for the Holiday Rush
While the challenges of peak season are significant, carriers aren’t sitting back and letting delays happen. The United States Postal Service, in particular, has been making substantial investments and strategic changes to handle the holiday surge more effectively. Recognizing its critical role in ecommerce fulfillment, USPS has focused on expanding its capacity, modernizing its fleet, and ensuring it has the workforce needed to keep packages moving. These proactive measures are designed to improve reliability and provide shippers with a more consistent service level during the busiest time of the year.
Increased Processing Capacity
To combat bottlenecks at its sorting facilities, USPS has made a massive investment in its infrastructure. The postal service has significantly increased its daily package processing capability, now able to handle up to 88 million packages every single day. This is a substantial jump from its previous capacity of 60 million. By installing new, high-speed sorting equipment and optimizing workflows in its facilities, USPS aims to move parcels through its network faster. This enhancement is crucial for preventing the backlogs that have caused major delays in past holiday seasons and helps ensure packages keep moving toward their final destination.
Fleet Modernization and Expansion
Getting packages to their final destination requires a reliable and extensive delivery fleet. USPS is actively modernizing its ground transportation by rolling out thousands of new vehicles. This year alone, the service has received nearly 29,000 new delivery vehicles as part of a larger plan to acquire over 106,000 next-generation models. A significant portion of this new fleet, around 66,000 vehicles, will be electric, supporting both sustainability and operational efficiency. A newer, more dependable fleet means fewer breakdowns and more consistent service, which is essential for making on-time deliveries during the high-stakes holiday rush.
Seasonal Workforce Growth
Technology and equipment can only do so much; you still need people to handle the packages. To address the labor shortages that plague the logistics industry during peak season, USPS has been actively hiring. This year, the postal service brought on 14,000 temporary employees specifically to help manage the holiday rush. This seasonal workforce increase provides the extra hands needed in sorting facilities and on delivery routes to manage the surge in mail and packages. By scaling its team, USPS is better positioned to keep up with demand and ensure your customers’ orders don’t get stuck in a backlog.
Understanding USPS Mailing Regulations
Every carrier has rules about what can and can’t be mailed, and USPS is no exception. For example, some types of aerosols may be restricted, in addition to other malleable gases. The USPS will not mail cigarettes or other tobacco products, some types of glues, nail polishes, perfumes containing alcohol, lithium batteries, perishable items, and many others. Fragile items are accepted but should be packed with good cushioning and marked clearly with the word “fragile” on all sides of the box. Additionally, Registered Mail™ can be added to the delivery to ensure that valuable items have additional protection in case of loss or breakage. View a complete list of USPS mailing regulations here.
Tips for Using USPS with Greater Success
Preparing for peak holiday season is a large task, one that involves carefully evaluating your existing routing policies. What carrier/service should you use? At what point is the decision made on routing: point of sale or at time of shipping? Does your existing shipping methods allow you rate shop based upon your specific carrier programs including known weight, size and destination? If you are using a “Free” carrier provided shipping solution it may be limiting your choices. Evaluate box sizes. Many packages are shipped during the holiday season, and preventing damage is key. However, extra packaging may cost you more in freight. The best practice is to use the smallest amount needed to protect the product. Using boxes that are in pristine condition can also drastically reduce the risk of damage. The postal service estimates that a single crease in a box can reduce a box’s strength by as much as 70 percent. Use flat-rate boxes to minimize shipping costs. If the product you are sending is dense and under ½ cubic foot, consider Cubic or one of the other Flat Rate PM options. Understand USPS’ insurance guidelines. The worst-case scenario during the holiday season is a package that disappears and doesn’t arrive at its final destination. USPS includes $50 – $100 of insurance free for PM and PME, with additional insurance available at an extra fee based upon value. Know the risk for damage. Packages that arrive damaged aren’t always considered the fault of USPS. If the postal service determines that the package wasn’t packed properly, they may deny your claim. As a result, it’s critical to fine-tune packing procedures. As a rule of thumb, the box should be able to sustain a 4’ drop on its corner and not sustain product damage.
Manage Customer Expectations Proactively
Managing customer expectations isn’t just good service; it’s a critical part of your holiday strategy. When shipping volumes surge and carriers face inevitable delays, clear communication becomes your most valuable tool for maintaining customer loyalty and protecting your brand’s reputation. Here’s how to get proactive and keep your customers happy.
Communicate Clearly About Holiday Delays
Your customers are accustomed to the fast shipping standards set by major online retailers, and they often don’t consider the logistical hurdles of the holiday season. Many people, for instance, don’t realize that national holidays mean post offices are closed, which can lead to frustration when a package doesn’t ship out immediately. Getting ahead of these issues with clear, proactive communication is your best strategy for preventing customer service headaches and negative reviews. You can set expectations by placing banners on your website, sending out email updates about potential delays, and creating a dedicated FAQ page for holiday shipping questions. Being transparent about the realities of peak season shipping builds trust and shows customers you’re on their side.
Provide Specific Shipping Dates
Vague warnings about delays aren’t nearly as effective as providing concrete dates. Take a cue from carriers like USPS, who publish specific “order-by” deadlines for holiday delivery. Displaying these cutoff dates prominently on your homepage, product pages, and throughout the checkout process does two things: it gives customers a clear timeline to plan their purchases and creates a natural sense of urgency to complete their orders. This is also where having a flexible shipping strategy pays off. By working with multiple carriers, you can offer more options to meet different deadlines and price points, which is a key part of effective carrier diversification. When customers know exactly what to expect, they feel more confident in their purchase and are far more likely to be satisfied with their experience.
Moving Forward with Greater Efficiency
Online shopping hit record-breaking levels in 2017. Sales jumped to $108 billion, a sharp 14 percent spike over the previous year. Total sales from November and December were $691 billion, which is a 5.5 percent jump from the previous year. This shows that online retailers and brick-and-mortar stores are seeing gains in sales. For shippers, however, this means that more packages are on the road, and they must keep up with the demands of online shopping. The stakes for meeting expectations have never been higher for shippers and retailers alike. USPS is usually the least cost method for shipping to residential customers, which is why they are the hands down leader here. Delivery to every door 6 days a week. The key to optimizing your Carrier and Service mix, including the USPS, is to continually measure progress and work around any inefficiencies. For example, innovative technology such as invoice audit software that includes detailed reporting allows you to see where you’re overspending in areas such as shipping and figure out more effective ways to maximize efficiency and save during the holiday season. Generating healthy revenue in the future starts with striking the right balance between meeting customer expectations and generating sales. Accomplish this and your retail business will continually thrive in the future.
About Shipware
Shipware delivers volume parcel and less-than-truckload shippers intelligent and innovative distribution solutions and strategies. Whether you ship with FedEx, UPS, USPS or regional carriers, our invoice audit and negotiation services are guaranteed to reduce your parcel and LTL shipping costs by 10 to 30 percent, with no disruption of current operations. Our team of experts has more than 200 years of carrier pricing experience. We have negotiated thousands of FedEx, UPS and LTL contracts – saving our clients an average of 19 percent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the holiday shipping deadlines a hard guarantee? Think of the published deadlines as the “last call” for shipping, not a firm guarantee. While carriers do everything they can to meet these dates, factors like severe weather, unexpected labor shortages, or a sudden surge in volume in a specific region can still cause delays. The best strategy is to treat these dates as your final safety net and build a buffer of a few extra days into your own shipping schedule, especially for your most important deliveries.
With the new temporary rate hikes, is USPS still the best choice for saving money? USPS can still be a very cost-effective option, particularly for smaller, lightweight packages that don’t need to travel across the entire country. However, the temporary price increases mean you can’t assume it will always be the cheapest. The best choice really depends on the specific package’s weight, dimensions, and destination. This is why it’s so important to rate shop for your specific shipments and analyze your carrier data to see how the seasonal rates truly impact your overall spend.
Is it risky to rely solely on one carrier, like USPS, during the peak season? Yes, putting all your packages in one basket during the holidays is a risky move. When one carrier’s network gets overloaded, which is common during peak season, you have no alternative. Spreading your volume across multiple carriers, a strategy known as carrier diversification, gives you flexibility. If one provider experiences significant delays or stops accepting new volume, you can pivot to another to keep your orders moving and your customers happy.
My packages are leaving my warehouse on time, but customers are still getting them late. What’s going on? This is a common and frustrating holiday challenge. Once a package leaves your facility, it enters a logistics network that is under immense strain. Delays are often caused by factors completely outside your control, such as a carrier’s sorting hub reaching maximum capacity, a shortage of delivery drivers in a certain area, or a winter storm grounding flights. This is why proactive communication with your customers about potential delays is so critical for managing their expectations.
Besides shipping early, what’s the most effective way to protect my profit margins during the holidays? Beyond getting packages out the door early, focus on controlling what you can inside your warehouse. Take a hard look at your packaging; using the smallest box necessary to safely ship your product can save you from dimensional weight charges. It’s also crucial to regularly audit your carrier invoices. Service failures and billing errors happen more frequently during the chaotic holiday season, and recovering those funds through an audit can have a significant positive impact on your bottom line.
Key Takeaways
- Plan for holiday rate hikes and deadlines: USPS now implements temporary surcharges, so you need to budget for these additional costs. To protect your margins and keep customers happy, ship packages well ahead of the mid-December cutoff dates to avoid paying for expensive, last-minute express services.
- Manage customer expectations with clear communication: Prevent customer service issues by being transparent about potential holiday delays. Post specific “order-by” deadlines on your website and in your checkout process to create urgency and give shoppers a clear timeline.
- Diversify your carrier mix to reduce risk: Relying on a single carrier during peak season can lead to major disruptions if their network gets overloaded. Spreading your volume across multiple carriers, including USPS for its residential delivery strengths, gives you the flexibility to bypass delays and keep your packages moving.
