Now that you've shopped for the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, it's time to get those gifts wrapped and out the door.
But with shipping prices higher than ever this year, it's important not to wait much longer.
At shipping stores like Safe Ship, general manager Mason McCarty is urging his customers to get those gifts shipped as soon as possible.
"We want to see you soon rather than being late," he said. "It is going to cost a lot more to ship the week of the 23rd than it is to ship the week of the 18th."
McCarty says late customers are often shocked by what they have to pay a few days before Christmas, ending up with fees that are double or more what they were a week earlier.
"I've seen a package going from $25 to $150 on an overnight," he said.
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Shipping deadlines to know
Here are some of the key shipping deadlines to ensure gifts arrive by Christmas Eve:
- December 13 is the deadline to ship using FedEx Ground Economy.
- December 18 is the cutoff for USPS Ground Advantage Service.
- December 19 is the last day for USPS Priority Mail service
- December 19 is also the last day for UPS 3-day Select.
- For UPS ground, check online using your location.
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Last chance for free shipping
Consumer Reports' Deals editor Samantha Gordon says there's also an opportunity to get holiday orders sent on time and save a little money in the process.
It's called Free Shipping Day, happening December 14.
"This is when a lot of retailers will offer free shipping with a guarantee of the products getting there by Christmas Eve," Gordon said. "After that, you run the risk of things not showing up on time."
Of course, you can always have gifts sent directly to family members from many retailers, and skip the extra shipping charge.
Ashley Volbrecht, who runs a mobile fashion boutique called TruckShop, also tells customers to get those gifts shipped now.
"You want to make sure you have it well before Christmas," she said. "The earlier the better."
Finally, be careful with standard mail this time of year.
Be sure to use a service that provides tracking every step of the way, so you don't waste your money.
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