Stragglers who missed the call to send Christmas post early need not despair. There is still time to post letters and parcels with a reasonable expectation of them being delivered before Christmas Day.
So how late is too late? The rule of thumb is the more you pay, the more time you have. In theory, the last day for second-class deliveries to be posted in time for Christmas is this Friday. For first-class post, deadline day is a week on Monday and for guaranteed next-day delivery it is December 23. But experts warn against delaying.
Mike Ryan is chief executive of Pack & Send, which specialises in transporting large, fragile and awkward items. He says: ‘The latest posting dates should be a last resort. If you go through a packing specialist you can send items all over the world with express delivery, giving you more time to prepare.’
Christmas cheer: The rule of thumb is the more you pay, the more time you have
People sending to addresses overseas with Royal Mail may already have missed the boat – although you are still in time for many European destinations. The last recommended posting date for Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and Switzerland is this Wednesday. Deliveries to Belgium, France and Luxembourg should be posted by Friday.
Consider whether your item can be posted by Royal Mail – as there are some quirks to be aware of. For example, you are allowed to send live creatures and insects abroad in humane packaging, but not nail varnish. Domestically, nail varnish is allowed, up to four bottles in a parcel and each item up to 30ml. Royal Mail advises: ‘Write the address clearly on the front and always include a postcode when you can.’ You can search for up to 50 postcodes or addresses, free, at royalmail.com/find-a-postcode.
Names and addresses should be on the bottom left of an envelope or parcel, leaving room for postage to be fixed on the top right. Royal Mail also advises against the use of full-stops or commas on address labels.
HOW TO AVOID THE POST OFFICE QUEUES
Nobody likes queuing at the post office, least of all during a pandemic. But there are numerous services available that allow parcels to be dropped at nearby shops instead, saving time. Alternatively, a parcel can be handed to a courier from your home.
Royal Mail postal workers can now pick up parcels as part of their daily rounds. This is all arranged online, including payment for postage – plus 72p for the pick-up service – the time of collection and the printing of labels. Those without a printer can pay online and receive a code via email. This code is presented at a local delivery office where a label will be printed and the parcel taken off your hands.
You can compare courier services and prices at websites such as Parcel2Go and ParcelHero.
…AND WHAT ABOUT LETTERS TO SANTA?
The deadline for Royal Mail’s ‘Letters to Santa’ service (to his grotto in ‘Reindeerland’) has passed – but there are other options.
Children’s charity the NSPCC runs a letter-sending service from Santa. Parents need to order a letter by tomorrow to ensure it is delivered by Christmas. For more information visit letterfromsanta. nspcc.org.uk.
