SAN DIEGO -- It's the busiest day of the year at post offices as people scramble to get their holiday packages delivered on time.
"We thought we had everything ready to go," said Kristin Stehly, one of the folks who were at the main post office in Carmel Mountain Monday morning. "Last trip to the post office and they we remembered five more people we had to purchase for and get things in the mail. And we had to buy stamps for our cards because our cards are last minute from Costco as well."
The United States Postal Service is expecting to process 611 million pieces of mail today across the nation. UPS and FedEx say they will serve two times as many people today as they do on a "normal" day.
To avoid lines at the post office, USPS advised folks to use their Click-N-Ship feature. You can buy labels and postage from there, print them at home, and then schedule a time to have your mailman pick them up. There are also self-service kiosks at the post office to help you save time.
For USPS packages, here are the recommended shipping deadlines if you're expecting to get your delivery to its destination by December 25:
DOMESTIC
- December 20 - First-Class Mail
- December 21 - Priority Mail
- December 23 - Priority Mail Express Service
INTERNATIONAL
Middle East
- December 19 - Global Express Guaranteed
Africa, Asia/Pacific Rim, Australia New Zealand
- December 20 - Global Express Guaranteed
Central & South America, Mexico, Europe
- December 21 - Global Express Guaranteed
Canada, Caribbean
- December 22 - Global Express Guaranteed
MILITARY
- Too late - deadline was Dec. 16
