Posted on: Friday, November 22, 2002

Holiday mailing deadlines fast approaching

• Postal Service tips for getting your packages there safely

By Chris Oliver
Advertiser Staff Writer

You've braved the crowds, done the shopping, spent more than you should and it's not over ... you have to mail the gifts.

Every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, stress levels rise for families sending holiday packages to friends and relatives on the Mainland — and you can raise that a notch or two for those with families in other countries.

Mailing gifts can cost ... lots, and if you miss the "last posting dates" issued by the Postal Service and still want those mac nuts or koa bowls to get there on time, you will face the higher costs of priority or express mail.

Here are tips for getting goodies from here to there in time.

Postal Service

The most common problem postal workers face is an incomplete address, said Lynne Moore, Postal Service manager here for consumer affairs and claims. "A common error is leaving off the apartment number," she said.

Though the postal rush begins in early December and peaks at midmonth, Moore urges folks to mail earlier for peace of mind. She emphasizes paying attention to how you address and package items.

"People don't realize how much mechanization is involved in sorting mail," she said. "Packaging delicate items in flimsy cardboard boxes won't protect the contents. Use a sturdy box with plenty of material to cushion the contents, and seal it well.

"... and don't forget the return address," Moore added. "If we can't deliver the parcel, we do like to get it back to the sender."

The standard postal rate for a square box weighing 10 pounds, measuring 12 inches on a side, from Hawai'i to the East Coast is $18 by surface mail (transit time is four to six weeks — the deadline was Nov. 6 to ship for Christmas); $19.20 by priority mail (4 to 5 days); $37.50 by express mail (2 days).

To mail internationally, postal global priority rates for a box up to 4 pounds begin at $4 (four to seven working days); global express mail rates begin at $20 (two to four working days).

Extended hours begin Dec. 9 at some Hawai'i post offices. Find more information on services, rates and hours at www.usps.com.

Federal Express

In the film "Castaway," Tom Hanks plays a FedEx employee with an unshakable commitment to delivering packages. After a plane crash strands him on a desolate island, he sits on the beach ... sorting packages, a scene FedEx workers cheered at a special screening.

"Purple FedEx blood flowed through his veins," said Steve Barber, spokesman at the company's Memphis hub. "The plane going down was horrific ... but all things considered, (the movie) was good for the company."

Barber says FedEx can deliver — and has delivered — just about anything, including a rhinoceros, 17 vintage Ferraris and a Boeing 727 filled with Vermont teddy bears.

You'll find FedEx drops at post offices and special pickup locations. For a $4 surcharge, the company will pick up parcels at homes.

Rates vary depending on package size and weight, and the service required. The standard rate for sending a 10-pound parcel overnight priority from Hawai'i to the East Coast is $38; international three-day economy service to Tokyo is $94.

"Global mail is delivered in 24 to 48 hours, and customers can use a tracking number for their parcel, online 24 hours. We also offer a money-back guarantee on our services," Barber said.

For home pickup, information on services and rates, call (800) 463-3339, or see www.fedex.com.

United Parcel Service

UPS is the biggest package carrier worldwide and throughout the United States. UPS offers delivery to the Mainland in two business days. International packages take one to four days. Home pickup costs $4 more. Parcel are trackable online.

The standard rate for a 10-pound parcel to New York is $30: the international economy rate to Tokyo is $98 (five business days).

For information and home pickup, call 839-1907. Information and rates are at www.ups.com.