Raise your hand if any of the following scenarios sound familiar: One, you have been so busy with work and life, you realized the day before your mom’s birthday that you didn’t send her anything yet. Two, you have an extremely important financial document that you have to send in immediately to your accountant, the IRS and/or a mortgage company. Or three, one of your kids is away at camp and has forgotten a much-needed item.
What do these three situations share in common? They are all examples of when overnight shipping can really help. If you need this type of service but are new to this method of shipping and have questions, please consider the following do’s and don’ts to get your package or envelope there on time:
Do: Know that You Have More than One Option
When you absolutely have to get something to someone overnight, you have more than one shipping option. In addition to the USPS, you can also use services like UPS, FedEx, and other shippers. You are also welcome to come into our conveniently located PakMail location and we will be happy to help you with your speedy delivery needs. As a bonus, we can also box up your Mom’s birthday gift for you (she will love what you got her!) or the goodies for your campground kiddo.
Don’t: Assume that Can Drop Off Your Package Anytime for Next-Day Delivery
Yes, your friendly team from PakMail can help with overnight deliveries, as can a number of shippers and the USPS. But please do not assume that you can show up with your important IRS document near our closing time, hoping it can be at their main office the following morning. Please be aware of any cut-off times that we and other carriers have—if you have a question about it, just give us a jingle and we’ll be happy to advise you of your shipping deadline.
Do: Know that Sunday Delivery is Now an Option
There was a time when true overnight delivery didn’t always apply. For instance, it often referred to regular business days and not holidays and the like. As USPS notes on their website (1), overnight delivery on a Sunday or a holiday is now available in many major markets for an additional charge. This also applies to deliveries that must be there by 10:30 a.m. the following morning—you will pay more for this service, but if you really want your beloved Mom to enjoy her birthday gift on Sunday morning, it’s well worth it.
Don’t: Think that All Carriers Charge the Same
There is definitely a difference in overnight delivery fees; you can come into our PakMail store and we can give you the different options, or you can also check out the other carriers’ websites to see what they offer. How much you will pay will vary depending on what you are shipping—an overnight envelope to your mortgage company will be less money than sending a huge and heavy care package to your tween at camp. It also depends on where you live and where you are overnighting the item; carriers usually use shipping zones to determine where you live and where the box or envelope needs to go—the further the distance, the higher the cost.