US Postal Service Sends Consumers a Holiday Greeting

Help is on the way. The U.S. Postal Service will mail 110 million greeting cards to households across the country this week, offering simple solutions for holiday challenges.

“Everyone can use a little extra help around the holidays. We know that customers want more choices and convenience to help manage their time, especially this time of year,” said Anita Bizzotto, USPS chief marketing officer and executive vice president. “The Holiday Guide is one more way for us to help families enjoy the best the season has to offer. Today’s holidays need today’s mail.”

This is the fourth year the Postal Service has created a special holiday guide for consumers. Unlike the guides of holidays past, this year’s guide is designed to look more like a greeting card. And instead of a series of quick takes on products and services, the card sends recipients to the Internet and usps.com.

The Postal Service website is like a Post Office that’s always open, available to customers at a time and place convenient for them. The card highlights some of the most popular services offered online that will give consumers something they can really use during the holidays.

In the time it takes to download a tune or a video onto an iPod, customers can:

– Pay postage
– Print shipping labels
– Request free package pickup
– Build personalized greeting cards
– Create holiday postage
– Order free, environmentally friendly packaging
– Find Post Office locations and hours

Customers also can check on recommended mailing dates to make sure packages arrive safely and on time for the holidays. First-Class Mail and Priority Mail should be sent by Dec. 20. The recommended date for sending items by Express Mail is Dec. 22. And the date for sending holiday cheer by Parcel Post, the most economical service, is Dec. 15.