As the holiday season draws near, shipping deadlines are just around the corner! To help you out, we've made a list of key shipping dates and thrown in some handy tips to help make this busy shopping season go off without a hitch and help you stress less.
Here's a sneak peek at what's we'll be covering:
- USPS holiday deadlines for delivery before December 25
- USPS Christmas deadlines for shipping to military destinations
- FedEx holiday deadlines for delivery before December 25
- UPS holiday deadlines for delivery before December 25
- Shipping deadlines for Hanukkah and Kwanzaa
- Tips to help you this holiday season
2024 holiday season: carrier deadlines
No matter which holiday your customers are celebrating, whether it's Hanukkah (December 25 to January 2, 2025), Christmas (December 25), Kwanzaa (December 26 to January 2, 2025), or any other special occasion, being aware of the shipping deadlines for this year can help ensure that their gifts arrive in time for the festivities.
It is also important to note that while Hanukkah and Kwanzaa span over multiple days, Christmas is a one-day event. This means that even the slightest delay in delivery could have a significant impact on your customer's Christmas celebration, and could potentially affect your reviews as well.
USPS holiday deadlines for delivery before December 25
- USPS Ground Advantage: Dec. 18 (Dec. 16 for AK / Dec. 16 for HI)
- USPS First-Class Mail: Dec. 18 (Dec. 18 for AK / Dec. 18 for HI)
- USPS Priority Mail: Dec. 19 (Dec. 19 for AK / Dec. 19 for HI)
- USPS Priority Mail Express: Dec. 21 (Dec. 20 for AK / Dec. 20 for HI)
Full list of the cutoff dates for December 25 via USPS
USPS Christmas deadlines for shipping to military destinations
As a veteran-owned company, we also want to ensure you know the delivery deadlines for military destinations. Therefore, for those who are sending holiday packages to Air or Army Post Offices, Fleet Post Offices, or Diplomatic Post Offices, here are the shipping deadlines to ensure those packages arrive in time:
- USPS Ground Advantage: Nov. 4
- USPS First-Class Mail: Dec. 9
- USPS Priority Mail: Dec. 9
- Priority Mail Express Military Service: Dec. 16
Quick note about Priority Mail Express Military Service: it is not available for APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 093.
FedEx holiday deadlines for delivery before December 25
U.S. Domestic:- FedEx Ground Economy: Dec. 13
- FedEx Express Saver: Dec. 19
- FedEx Express 2Day: Dec. 20
- FedEx SameDay: Dec. 24
U.S. to Canada:
- FedEx International Connect Plus: Dec. 17
- FedEx International Economy: Dec. 18
- FedEx International Priority: Dec. 19
- FedEx International First: Dec. 20
- FedEx International Next Flight: Dec. 23
U.S. to Mexico:
- FedEx International Economy: Dec. 19
- FedEx International Priority: Dec. 20
- FedEx International Next Flight: Dec. 23
Full list of shipping deadlines for holiday packages via FedEx
UPS holiday deadlines for delivery before December 25
UPS Ground & Standard: Check the website - http://ups.com/ctc - for deadlines
U.S. Domestic:
- UPS 3 Day Select: Dec. 19
- UPS 2nd Day Air: Dec. 20
- UPS Next Day Air: Dec. 23
U.S. to Canada:
- UPS Worldwide Expedited: Dec. 20
- UPS Worldwide Express: Dec. 23
U.S. to Mexico:
- UPS Worldwide Expedited: Dec. 19
- UPS Worldwide Express: Dec. 20
Full list of recommended last days to ship for December 24 delivery via UPS
Shipping deadlines for Hanukkah &
Kwanzaa in 2024
Hanukkah
Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, will take place December 25 to January 2, 2025 this year. To ensure that the shipments are delivered in time for the first day of the festival of lights, you can follow the same shipping deadlines above.
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa this year starts on December 26 and ends on January 2, 2025. Because the day before Kwanzaa is a national holiday, if you want your package to be delivered before the first day of Kwanzaa, you can use the shipping deadlines above. Or, if you don't mind your gifts arriving on December 26 or later, you can use the expected delivery dates to pick the perfect shipping option for you.
Tips to help you this season
The holiday season is not only a lucrative time for businesses, but it is also a period where things can easily go wrong, resulting in negative reviews. It is crucial to prioritize customer satisfaction and ensure that orders are delivered on time, so that no one is left without their gift. To assist you in this endeavor, we have compiled a list of tips to make this season merry and bright.
Add a buffer
To reduce unnecessary stress and headaches during the holiday season, it's wise to include a buffer when communicating shipping deadlines to your customers. By incorporating a buffer, you can guarantee that the promised packages will arrive on time, bringing joy to your customers' holiday celebrations.
Evaluate last year to plan for this year
To ensure that you don't underestimate delivery times, it's important to consider past trends and anticipate the level of order fulfillment activity your team will experience in the days leading up to December 25. Doing so lets you determine the optimal expected delivery date to share with your customers and avoid any potential delays.
Mark the cutoff date and time for holiday delivery
To effectively plan for this holiday season, it's valuable to consider the previous years' warehouse and team activity. This will allow you to calculate the time it takes to fulfill an order and determine when you should notify customers that their package might not arrive in time. Additionally, running corresponding promotions can inform potential customers of the expected timeframe for delivery. For example, sending out engaging email campaigns like "Only 2 Days Left to Receive Your Holiday Gift" can prompt action and gently remind individuals who may be overwhelmed by the holiday season and end-of-year activities.
Pivot to gift cards or run a "treat yourself" promotion after holiday shipping deadlines
Even though packages will no longer arrive in time for the holidays, there are still opportunities to boost sales before the festivities begin. Take advantage of the post-deadline period by running two enticing promotions:
1. Promote digital gift cards to your email subscribers and website visitors, offering a convenient solution for last-minute shoppers to find the perfect gift just in time for the holiday.
2. Run a promotion that encourages customers to treat themselves instead of buying gifts for others. Pair this with a tempting sale to entice individuals to indulge in some well-deserved self-care.
Remember, there are always creative ways to keep the holiday sales momentum going, even if shipping deadlines have passed.
Streamline & simplify your shipping with Zenventory
During the busiest time of the year, you have enough on your plate without having to stress about small details like batch printing labels, searching for the most cost-effective shipping option, or handling returns. That's where Zenventory comes in – it can assist you with all of these tasks, while also optimizing your inventory and streamlining order management across all your platforms and marketplaces.
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Remember: Nothing is guaranteed
The deadlines in this blog are the carriers' recommendations and do not account for storms and other challenges that might arise during peak season. By shipping out earlier, you can avoid any potential mishaps.
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