{"id":812,"date":"2013-12-04T13:16:12","date_gmt":"2013-12-04T21:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thepurplestore.com\/purpleblog\/?p=812"},"modified":"2013-12-06T17:59:26","modified_gmt":"2013-12-07T01:59:26","slug":"holiday-shipping-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thepurplestore.com\/purpleblog\/holiday-shipping-advice\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday Shipping Advice"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"PurplePost\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The shopping season is shorter than you expect this year!<\/p>\n

The Purple Store has been shipping for nine years (nine years!) now, and we’ve learned a few things about shipping around the holidays that we thought we’d pass on. Some of this you know, some you might not.<\/p>\n

1. Don’t wait! (No kidding.) As the shipping load gets bigger, the chances of your package getting delayed (or, rarely, lost) get higher. We’ve found that each day you wait to ship a package within about 17 days of Christmas can add more than a day to deliver. \u00a0Within about 14 days it adds a day, then within about 10 days a day’s delay adds two days, then within the last week a day’s delay can add up to four days to delivery time.<\/p>\n

2. Write legibly and check addresses! Even better, print a label created online. Mail to addresses the postal machines can read moves faster than mail to addresses a human has to double-check and read.<\/p>\n

3. Standard Mail can be slow. Choose Expedited options for packages over a pound.<\/p>\n

For lighter packages under a pound, many online retailers like The Purple Store use First Class Mail. \u00a0It’s not quite as zippy as usual during the holidays, but it still moves pretty quickly. \u00a0The normal 1-5 business day range becomes 2-7 days.<\/p>\n

Over a pound, though, USPS has a steep cliff. \u00a0Priority Mail isn’t guaranteed but is supposed to be 2-3 business days and even holiday rush deliveries are usually within 2-4 days. \u00a0Not so with Standard shipping speed that goes by Parcel Post (AKA Parcel Select). \u00a0While usually 2-8 business days, it can sometimes take 10-14 (or even 20) days during the holiday peak. \u00a0USPS staff usually shrug and tell us, “Well, you\u00a0did<\/em> ship it Parcel Post. \u00a0What did you expect?” \u00a0And we answer, “We expected you to delivery our package in a reasonable amount of time.”<\/p>\n

At The Purple Store we use FedEx ground for\u00a0some<\/em> of our shipments over a pound. \u00a0During the holiday rush you can request that for a slight additional amount if you prefer it. \u00a0We also gladly use 1, 2, or 3-day express upon request for the cost difference.<\/p>\n

4. Don’t let USPS talk you into Express Mail. \u00a0We’ve seen USPS counter staff nearly intimidate people with dire threats of how your package might not arrive in time. \u00a0Express Mail\/Priority Mail Express costs a\u00a0lot<\/em> more. \u00a0If you need it there on time, great, but look at the price tag.<\/p>\n

5. Breathe. \u00a0Yes, it’s great when items arrive before Christmas and we will move mountains to help our customers reach that deadline in the most affordable ways we can. \u00a0Our culture has made us a bit crazy about this deadline, though. \u00a0Except for small children and items needed for events, we’ve found most people are just as happy to receive items a day or two after Christmas. \u00a0Sometimes it’s nice to have a second wave of presents. \u00a0The extra cost and worry of delivery before Christmas can sometimes be avoided by a smile, a shrug, a deep, cleansing breath in, and saying, “Well, it will get there a few days after.” \u00a0Now breathe out. \u00a0Worth considering.<\/p>\n

Here’s a timeline for the last day you can ship something to be sure it will get to its destination in time for the 24th:<\/p>\n