Dashing through the postal crowd
By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer
The volume of holiday mail so far this year is slightly down, but the lines are already getting longer at Hawai'i post offices.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
The U.S. Postal Service suggests that letters, cards and priority mail destined for any foreign country, with the exception of Japan, go out this week to ensure they make it in time for the holidays.
To mail her packages yesterday, Christy Cowser of Kuli'ou'ou went to the Ala Moana Center post office because "the postal clerks here are really experienced" and that helps to move the line "really fast."
"I didn't know what the deadline was, but I decided I'd better send it now," said Lena Takei of Manoa, who waited 10 minutes in line at the Ala Moana Center post office yesterday to ship 60 pounds of Gloria Jean Caramel Nut Coffee to relatives in Japan.
"These lines aren't bad for this time of year," said Christy Cowser of Kuli'ou'ou, sending a gift to a friend in Australia. "And the line moves really fast because the postal clerks here are really experienced."
To spread the joy of Christmas mailing and avoid suggesting last-chance dates for getting mail out, the Postal Service this year is suggesting weeklong timetables for various types of holiday mail.
"Otherwise, people tend to wait until the exact day we give as a deadline," said Nancy Wong, postal system retail specialist.
All of next week is the suggested final mailing time for first-class letters and cards and priority mail to the Mainland, and for express mail to Micronesia and American Samoa, and all mail to Japan.
The week of Dec. 17 is the suggested mailing time for first-class, priority and express mail within Hawai'i, and for express mail to the Mainland.
For serious procrastinators, Federal Express will provide two-day air delivery of a 1-pound parcel for $13.71, overnight for $22.13 and priority overnight for $27.99.
United Parcel Service will deliver a 1-pound parcel to the door for $14.28 by Christmas if sent no later than Dec. 20.
But the obvious way to save time and money is to mail early, said Wes Kitamura, a postal consumer affairs representative.
For example, a half-pound express mail parcel from Hawai'i can be sent as late as Dec. 22 and the Postal Service will refund your $12.45 if it doesn't get to the Mainland in two days.
But Kitamura says that's probably cutting it too close. And if you take that package to the post office just three or four days earlier, you can get it out for Christmas by priority mail for just $3.50, he said.
Several post offices will extend their business hours as the holidays approach. Schedules are available at all stations.
