Postal Service offers tips for safe, timely holiday gift mailing
by Lance Cpl. Heather Choate III MEF
OKINAWA, Japan - Halloween is just around the corner and the December holiday season is not far behind as evidenced by the wrapping paper and ornaments already on sale in stores.
These are indicators that it will soon be time to mail holiday gifts to loved ones back home.
To ensure gifts arrive home in time for the holiday season, Marine Corps Bases Japan Postal Services has tips to properly and efficiently mail packages.
Service members should bring holiday packages to the post office early, said Sgt. Robert C. Allen, noncommissioned officer in charge at the Camp Foster Post Office.
The holiday season is very busy for the military post offices and wait times for customers to mail packages can be from 20-30 minutes, he said.
Proper and prior packaging will save time for postal employees and customers while reducing the risk of packages being damaged while in route to their destination, said Gunnery Sgt. Shontate Morley, staff noncommissioned officer in charge at the Camp Foster Post Office.
Allen encourages customers to fill out U.S. customs forms before going to the post office to mail boxes. Customs forms are available at all military post offices.
"One thing customers need to know is that we don't provide packaging supplies or tape for their packages," said Morley. "They can purchase those items at the post exchange."
Some resources that can be used for packaging items are newspaper, bubble wrap or packing peanuts, he said.
Customers should package items at home before coming to the post office, Allen added.
"If you are sending breakable items and are concerned that they may break while in transition, it is highly recommended that you double wrap your items," said Morley.
Other packaging tips from www.usps.com include:
* Ensure packages can withstand processing without contents breaking.
* Wrap each item separately when packing more than one item in the same box.
* Close and shake the box to see if it has enough cushioning. If items shift, add more cushioning.
* Mark "Fragile" in large print on the outside of a box when shipping breakable materials.
* When re-using a box, ensure previous labels and markings are covered.
* Mark "perishable" on packages that contain food or other items that can spoil.
* Place an extra address label with the delivery and return addresses inside packages. This ensures undeliverable items can be returned to sender.
* Use tape designed for sealing shipping boxes. Do not use string, cellophane or masking tape to seal packages.
* Packages can weigh up to 70 pounds and measure up to 130 inches in combined length and width.
* Ensure the width is measured around the largest point of the package.
Expensive items can be insured, advises Morley. Customers should keep a copy of the purchased insurance. If something happens to a package, the customer should send a copy of the receipt to the receiving post office for reimbursement, he said.
To keep package contents hidden from recipients stateside, customers can mail packages using an internal customs form. The internal customs forms to use are Postal Service Form 2976 and PS Form 2976A. Ask at the front desk of any military post office for these forms.
Afterward, follow PS Form 2976's instructions, "Affix only the upper portion of this label (to the outside of the box) and complete a PS Form 2976A. Enclose the completed (form) inside the item."
Normally, customers can expect mail to reach their destination in seven to 10 days, in both the U.S. and Okinawa, said Morley.
But, post office Marines ask for customers to be patient during the chaos the holiday season brings.
"Keep in mind that the holiday season is a very busy time for everyone, especially those who work at the post office," said Allen.
Post office hours Monday-Friday for parcel pick-up are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and finance 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday hours for parcel pick-up are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and finance 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
See below for shipping deadlines from Okinawa and the United States for items to be received by Dec. 25.
The holiday season is very busy for the military post offices and wait times for customers to mail packages can be from 20-30 minutes, he said.
Proper and prior packaging will save time for postal employees and customers while reducing the risk of packages being damaged while in route to their destination, said Gunnery Sgt. Shontate Morley, staff noncommissioned officer in charge at the Camp Foster Post Office.
Allen encourages customers to fill out U.S. customs forms before going to the post office to mail boxes. Customs forms are available at all military post offices.
"One thing customers need to know is that we don't provide packaging supplies or tape for their packages," said Morley. "They can purchase those items at the post exchange."
Some resources that can be used for packaging items are newspaper, bubble wrap or packing peanuts, he said.
Customers should package items at home before coming to the post office, Allen added.
"If you are sending breakable items and are concerned that they may break while in transition, it is highly recommended that you double wrap your items," said Morley.
Other packaging tips from www.usps.com include:
* Ensure packages can withstand processing without contents breaking.
* Wrap each item separately when packing more than one item in the same box.
* Close and shake the box to see if it has enough cushioning. If items shift, add more cushioning.
* Mark "Fragile" in large print on the outside of a box when shipping breakable materials.
* When re-using a box, ensure previous labels and markings are covered.
* Mark "perishable" on packages that contain food or other items that can spoil.
* Place an extra address label with the delivery and return addresses inside packages. This ensures undeliverable items can be returned to sender.
* Use tape designed for sealing shipping boxes. Do not use string, cellophane or masking tape to seal packages.
* Packages can weigh up to 70 pounds and measure up to 130 inches in combined length and width.
* Ensure the width is measured around the largest point of the package.
Expensive items can be insured, advises Morley. Customers should keep a copy of the purchased insurance. If something happens to a package, the customer should send a copy of the receipt to the receiving post office for reimbursement, he said.
To keep package contents hidden from recipients stateside, customers can mail packages using an internal customs form. The internal customs forms to use are Postal Service Form 2976 and PS Form 2976A. Ask at the front desk of any military post office for these forms.
Afterward, follow PS Form 2976's instructions, "Affix only the upper portion of this label (to the outside of the box) and complete a PS Form 2976A. Enclose the completed (form) inside the item."
Normally, customers can expect mail to reach their destination in seven to 10 days, in both the U.S. and Okinawa, said Morley.
But, post office Marines ask for customers to be patient during the chaos the holiday season brings.
"Keep in mind that the holiday season is a very busy time for everyone, especially those who work at the post office," said Allen.
Post office hours Monday-Friday for parcel pick-up are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and finance 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday hours for parcel pick-up are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and finance 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
See below for shipping deadlines from Okinawa and the United States for items to be received by Dec. 25.
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