Youngsters have barely digested their Halloween stash, and shoppers already have set their sights on Christmas, Diona Joy noted.
As Iola’s postmaster, Joy and her crew of employees are tasked with ensuring packages and Christmas gifts are delivered in a timely manner.
To that end, Joy offered up several nuggets of information at Friday’s See, Hear Iola session to make the holiday shipping season a smooth one.
Joy, a 25-year postmaster — the last three in Iola — spoke about four shipping options to ensure packages reach their destinations in time to be placed under the tree.
— Standard post, ground service for less-than-urgent deliveries and oversized packages should be mailed by Dec. 15.
— First class mail, service for standard-sized, single-piece envelopes and small packages weighing 13 ounces and less. Delivery should be within three days or less. Joy recommended those parcels be mailed by Dec. 19.
— Priority Mail, domestic services available in one, two or three days (depending on where the packages originate and are being shipped), with a variety of flat rate options. Those should be shipped by Dec. 21.
— Priority Mail Express, the fastest domestic shipping service USPS offers, with overnight delivery available at most locations. Those must be mailed by Dec. 23.
JOY spoke extensively about the latter two options, noting the Postal Service has set up flat rates for priority and priority express shipments.
Priority Mail is available with boxes in three sizes, the smallest of which ships for $5.95, regardless of how much it weighs.
Medium size priority mail boxes ship for $12.65, and are popular for parents sending care packages to their children.
Large priority mail boxes, meanwhile, are the venue of choice for folks to send packages to military servicemen overseas, because of a $2 discount from the regular $17.90 shipping rate.
All three priority mail options carry automatic insurance coverage of up to $50.
Priority mail express ships for $44.95 and guarantees delivery within one or two days, and carries with it $100 worth of insurance coverage.
Both Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express packages also contain tracking information so progress can be monitored along the way.
In recent months, the Iola post office also has set up parcel lockers so post office box users can retrieve packages at any time of the day. Keys for specific boxes are left in each P.O. box holder’s window.
“It’s really worked out well,” Joy said. “People don’t have to wait in line or make sure they come in during business hours.”
JOY DELIVERED several tips for sending packages through USPS.
If you’re reusing packaging, wrap it in butcher’s paper, or other plain packaging, to ensure all old bar codes are concealed.
“We use a lot of automated equipment that reads bar codes,” she explained. “If you want your box to go to New York, there may be an old bar code sending it to Oregon.”
Senders also must be mindful of the boxes they use for shipping. Used alcohol boxes, for example, are forbidden.
“There may not be alcohol in there, but we don’t know that,” she said.
Joy also discouraged using boxes that previously contained flammable or hazardous materials.
When addressing labels, use all-block, capital letters, and write neatly.
“We see packages with really pretty calligraphy, but we have so much machinery that we may not be able to read it very well.”
She also suggested putting a second slip inside the package with the destination and return addresses.
“In the event we cannot read the address, there’s a department in the Postal Service that tries to match contents with a recipient. If they can’t read it here, and there’s the address inside, they can repackage it and get it on its way.”
“Always use a return address,” she stressed. “If you use your own packaging, by all means, take the time to come in and verify your package’s weight. Nobody wants a postage-due article, or to have it sitting on the shelf, waiting for somebody to come and pay for it.”
She urged customers to visit the Postal Service’s website, usps.com, to learn about other shipping recommendations. “It’s really a virtual post office,” she said.
Those who print off their own postage also may receive a discounted cost for some deliveries, Joy said.
Cell phone users also can download a USPS app to notify them of certain deliveries.
IN RESPONSE to questions from the audience, Joy noted the Postal Service has begun working in league with former “competitors,” such as UPS or Federal Express, through the USPS “Last Mile” program.
“They’ve found it’s cheaper to pay us, since we’re going to every door every day,” Joy said.
Starting Nov. 22, and running through Christmas, the Postal Service also will offer up Sunday deliveries for Amazon Prime subscribers, Joy said, as part of the “Amazon Drop Ship” campaign.
“We’re excited to get those packages to you on Sundays,” she said.
Joy welcomed Iolans to pay her a visit.
“We’re very customer driven,” she said. “I want to hear feedback. If you have concerns, I’d love to hear them.”
