Feedback

News | Around Town

When To Ship Your Christmas Presents

The USPS offers tips and suggestions so holiday packages arrive in time for the holidays.

Posted by Patch Staff, December 17, 2012 at 05:07 pm

Families are spread all over the country — and the world — which means long distance phone calls and gifts sent by mail. But how early must you buy, wrap and post holiday gifts so they get to their destination in time for the holidays?

The Mill Valley post offices is at 751 East Blithedale Ave. in the Whole Foods plaza.

Here are a few suggestions and ‘send by’ dates from the USPS to get your gifts delivered on time and in one piece:

Packing tips from the USPS:

Double-check addresses & write legibly
Shake boxes to make sure they’re well packed
Priority Mail is fast for last minute gifts
Express Mail is even faster

Holiday Dates for Domestic Mail

Calculated for December 25, 2012.

Domestic Mail Class/Product

Dates

First-Class Mail® Service

Dec. 20

Priority Mail® Service

Dec. 21

Express Mail® Service

Dec. 22

Parcel Post® Service

Dec. 14

Destination Network Distribution Center (DNDC) Drop Ship

Dec. 19

Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) Drop Ship

Dec. 21

Holiday Dates for International Mail

Destination

Global Express Guaranteed® Service

Express Mail® Service

Priority Mail® Service

First-Class Mail®

International Service

Africa

Dec. 19

Dec. 11

Dec. 3

Asia / Pacific Rim

Dec. 18

Dec. 15

Dec. 10

Australia / New Zealand

Dec. 18

Dec. 15

Dec. 10

Canada

Dec. 20

Dec. 17

Dec. 13

Dec. 10

Caribbean

Dec. 19

Dec. 15

Dec. 13

Dec. 10

Central & South America

Dec. 19

Dec. 11

Dec. 3

Mexico

Dec. 20

Dec. 15

Dec. 10

Europe

Dec. 19

Dec. 15

Dec. 13

Dec. 10

Middle East

Dec. 19

Dec. 15

Dec. 13

Dec. 10

Click here for send-by dates for military mail.

Here's what else is happening on Mill Valley Patch

Surveillance Shots Help ID Thieves Who Went on Mill Valley Spree
PHOTOS: Mill Valley Gets into the Holiday Spirit at Winterfest
Fairfax Fire Linked to Pot Growing Operation - Friends Mourn Resident
CHP Arrest Driver for Alleged DUI After Three-Car Hwy. 101 Crash

For local news like this wherever you go, follow us! And don't forget to sign up for our daily e-newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

"Like" us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for the daily Mill Valley Patch newsletter | Start a blog

Flag as Inappropriate

Comments + Leave a Comment

Loading comments ...

Who's Blogging?

Deborah Phelan

Deborah Phelan's thoughts and ruminations

Read Deborah Phelan's blog »

Erma Murphy

Erma Murphy's thoughts and ruminations

Read Erma Murphy's blog »

Libi Uremovic

On July 1st Another California Gas Tax Will Be Cha…

Read Libi Uremovic's blog »

First Base Foundation

First Base Foundation's thoughts and ruminations

Read First Base Foundation's blog »

Beau Behan

"Star Trek Into Darkness” is absolutely a trek int…

Read Beau Behan's blog »

Tim Amyx

Tim Amyx's thoughts and ruminations

Read Tim Amyx's blog »

Andy Berman

Andy Berman's thoughts and ruminations

Read Andy Berman's blog »

Become a blogger today!
Get started now

Start blogging

Boards

All Boards »

Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something

Celebrate Memorial Weekend with Patrick James and Laughing…

Join Patrick James and Laughing Glass Cocktails this Memorial Weekend. Marin based 'Laughing…

Announcements May 18, 2013 at 06:27 pm

0 1 Recommend Patrick James Mill Valley

Memorial Day Parade "Let the Goodtimes Roll" Mill Valley

Still time to get your group together and participate in the Memorial Day Parade Monday May…

Announcements May 17, 2013 at 10:02 pm

1 Recommend Erma Murphy

Rhonda J. (Smith) McCormick May 18, 2013 at 04:14 pm

So wish I could be there for the Memorial Day Parade and picnic. I used to join in the fun for…Read More years!

Recommend

Painted Traffic Circle ?

What is it good for ? I don't know how many people have seen the new painted traffic circle at…

Opinion May 17, 2013 at 06:21 pm

0 1 Recommend Rico

Earthbound Spirits

Spirit Voices. Hear Them Yourself. www.earthboundspirits.vpweb.com

Announcements May 17, 2013 at 05:09 pm

0 Recommend Eddie Goody

Snacks for Parade Participants

Hot coffee and donuts, apple juice and bottled water! An impromptu snack-bar at Olive Street…

Announcements May 17, 2013 at 05:07 pm

0 Recommend Linda Xiques

Film Review: STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS

“Star Trek Into Darkness” is absolutely a trek into tour de force of a colossal masterpiece.…

Announcements May 16, 2013 at 03:43 pm

0 1 Recommend Beau Behan

RUACH DAY AT KOL SHOFAR - May 19 10am - 1 pm

A spirited day of fun, food and learning for all ages - FREE. A fantastic opportunity to learn…

Announcements May 16, 2013 at 08:13 am

0 Recommend NANCY DRAPIN

Ways for Mill Valley Teachers to Save in the Classroom

Why are Mill Valley teachers continuing to pay for school supplies out of their own pocket?…

Announcements May 16, 2013 at 07:42 am

0 Recommend Jessica Mitchell

Mill Valley Children Age 7-11 Five Day Etiquette Essentials…

Have fun while learning timeless skills at the Protocol Academy Etiquette Essentials 5-Day…

Announcements May 16, 2013 at 07:37 am

0 Recommend Trisha Russo

"My Medical Choice" -- Your Thoughts?

Angelina Jolie recently revealed in a NYT editorial that she underwent a preventative double…

Opinion May 15, 2013 at 02:47 pm

2 Recommend Drew Himmelstein

Rico May 15, 2013 at 05:16 pm

I guess I can't hit the enter button because that submits the post so from now on (until they fix…Read More the problem), all of my posts will be one paragraph. What Angelina did was her choice, based on the multi-billion dollar per cancer industry, and by the people that like do unnecessary surgeries to line their pockets. Ask one of those male doctors if he is willing to have his testicles removed "just in case" he might get testicular cancer in the future. I'll bet that they would laugh at anyone who proposed that question. There are many ways that people can take care of their bodies to prevent cancer, like taking vitamin D, magnesium, selenium, turmeric and many more anti-inflammatory herbs. Also diet and environmental factors play a role in the pre-disposition to get cancer. In most cases, genes only play about a 5% role in a chance of inheriting or contracting cancer. But this big business of cancer research doesn't want hear about anything else besides expensive pharmaceutical drugs and surgery, anything else would threaten their business model. This post is a test of the new Patch commenting system.

1 Recommend

Rico May 15, 2013 at 04:55 pm

Yes, and she also announced that she is considering having her ovaries removed also.

Recommend

Re the new format ... just "meh". It's pretty, but has lost that useful "information at a…

Opinion May 15, 2013 at 12:58 pm

0 Recommend leslie reiber

Good Job

I agree, very nice photo and a great new look, thank you M.V. Patch. There are some things…

Opinion May 15, 2013 at 10:20 am

2 1 Recommend Rico

Rico May 15, 2013 at 11:04 am

Thanks Jim W. for your reply and explaining things to us. I look forward to a new Patch where people…Read More are more considerate of other's opinions. I hope the new filters get rid of the hacker/trolls. And by the way, if you don't port over the comments about the transgender shower sharing article that I glanced at last night, you will be doing all of us a favor !

Recommend

Jim Welte (Editor) May 15, 2013 at 10:32 am

Thanks Rico. You make great points. We had a bit of a tech glitch in that some content from earlier…Read More this week did not migrate over yet to the new sites - but it'll all be there soon. And yes, we'll have more info on how to navigate the site. I'll direct you here with any specific questions for now: https://patchsupport.zendesk.com/home But if that doesn't cover it or if you'd prefer to ask me, feel free - happy to help. And that goes for anyone out there with a question about how to get around on the new site.

1 Recommend