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Shipping gifts? There’s still time

Durangoans do mad dash to Post Office
With holiday shipping deadlines rapidly approaching, Debra Van Winegarden of Durango packs boxes full of gifts Monday at the Durango Post Office.

You still have time to get those Christmas packages to their destinations.

The last day to ship Priority Mail or first-class packages via the U.S. Postal Service in time for Christmas arrival is Saturday, said Otis Carmichael, a supervisor at the Durango Post Office.

The final day to ship Priority Mail Express, which is more expensive, is Dec. 23.

The Postal Service said it expected Monday to mark the busiest mailing day of the year with more than 640 million cards, letters and packages expected to be processed.

“This isn’t just our busiest time of year – it’s our season,” Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said in a news release. “Customers can count on the Postal Service to deliver their holiday gifts in time for Christmas as we have for the past 239 years.”

At the downtown Post Office, Dan Rottman of Durango said he waited 35 minutes to mail a package to friends in Morrison.

“It’s my own fault for waiting,” he said.

Rottman said he was at the Post Office to mail locally purchased products. Otherwise, he used Amazon to ship products directly.

“Everything else was online stuff,” he said.

The line reached the entrance door of the Post Office.

The Postal Service recommends shipping gifts in a strong and sturdy box, cushioning items with packing peanuts, newspaper or bubble wrap and closing the box with strong packing tape.

At The Mail Room and Copy Center in Town Plaza, a modest line appeared to be moving quickly. Mary Monroe of Durango was repackaging gifts for her family in Wisconsin and a friend in Moab, Utah.

Why not just use online shipping?

“Homemade cookies,” she said.

cslothower@durangoherald.com



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