Top 10 holiday shipping blunders

You have put in a lot of thought, effort and money in finding the perfect gift. Take the extra step to make sure you make the package shipping-friendly.

You have put in a lot of thought, effort and money in finding the perfect gift. Take the extra step to make sure you make the package shipping-friendly. Here are the top shipping blunders to avoid, courtesy of Canada Post.  

1. Incomplete address

– Many packages are still sent without postal codes. Check to make sure you have the full address, and that it’s correct, printed clearly and located on the largest side of your package.  

– Download the free Canada Post mobile app or visit www.canadapost.ca to track your package.  

2. Incorrect postage

– Use the Canada Post mobile app or visit www.canadapost.ca to check rates by entering the destination, size and weight of your parcel, or visit any local post office.

3. Mailing deadlines

– To get your shipments to their destination before the big day, keep these deadlines in mind:

In Canada: for cards, send locally by Dec. 19, within province by Dec. 18, out of province by Dec. 17; send parcels by Dec. 10.

Mailing to the United States: send letters and cards by Dec. 14; parcels by Dec. 10.

International shipping: deadlines vary on the region. In general, allow three weeks for cards and four weeks for parcels, for the most cost-efficient options.

– If you miss a deadline don’t panic! Premium services offer shorter delivery times worldwide.

4. Wrapping paper

– While coloured wrapping paper looks great on gifts, it is not ideal for shipping.  

– Use brown, recycled paper packaging to wrap your parcel.

5. Flimsy boxes

– Boxes you may receive from retailers can be too flimsy for shipping purposes.  

– Put your wrapped gift in a cardboard box designed specifically for shipping. You can purchase boxes at any post office.   

6. Not enough protection

– If you are sending fragile or loose items, be sure to include enough protection in the box.  

– Instead of styrofoam or bubble wrap, use environmentally friendly cardboard chips from Canada Post, or even plain popcorn to seal the deal.  

7. String or twine

– String or twine or any other decorative attachments can get caught in processing machines. Skip this step altogether!

8. Tape

– Household adhesive tape won’t cut it for shipping packages as it often peels off.

– Stick with packing tape that has stronger adhesives to seal your packages.

9. Old barcodes or labels

– It’s great to reuse boxes, but be sure to remove all the old barcodes or shipping labels on the packages as they can interfere with scanning.

10. Don’t forget to mail a letter to Santa with your holiday wishes!

– The most famous postal code during the holidays is none other than Santa’s at the North Pole: H0H 0H0. Make sure to include a return address.

– Santa answers every letter (whether from kids or adults…) thanks to the help from some 9,000 volunteer postal elves!

Courtesy Canada Post, www.canadapost.ca

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