The Post Office has released the final dates for Christmas posting to assist individuals in ensuring their gifts arrive on time for the holiday season. A recent survey conducted for the Post Office revealed that 67% of Britons have experienced receiving Christmas cards and gifts in the mail after December 25.
While most international posting deadlines have passed, some carriers can still offer Christmas delivery to specific countries until December 15. Postmasters are advising the public to send packages early to avoid being part of the 17% who have missed the cutoff in previous years.
For those willing to utilize Royal Mail’s Special Delivery Guaranteed or DPD Gold services, which promise next-day delivery or a refund, the final date for posting gifts and cards is December 23.
Postmaster Arif Matadar shared expert advice to ensure timely delivery of gifts, emphasizing the importance of providing accurate information about the contents of parcels to determine the best delivery options and comply with regulations. He also recommended securely wrapping parcels and clearly labeling addresses, including a return address.
The Post Office offers a variety of delivery options from carriers like Evri and DPD, in addition to Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide. Candice Ohandjanian, the mails and parcels director at the Post Office, highlighted the convenience of the Pick Up and Drop Off service, allowing customers to collect parcels at their convenience from their local Post Office branch.
By selecting a Post Office branch as a delivery address, customers can retrieve their parcels at a suitable time, ensuring safe and secure handling. This service aims to simplify the posting and parcel collection process during the busy festive period.
The final posting dates are as follows:
– December 15: Final international posting deadline for selected countries
– December 23: Last day for posting gifts and cards using Royal Mail’s Special Delivery Guaranteed or DPD Gold services.