Getting your gifts delivered for Christmas 2018

The presents are bought and wrapped … now they just need to get to their recipient!

Here at Secureship we’re making things easy with our 5 tips on shipping for the Christmas holidays … from when the last shipping days are to getting the documentation right, we’ve got it covered.

1) Find out when the last shipping days are

Canada Post has suspended all delivery guarantees due to the backlog from the strike. It’s so bad that parcels being delivered internationally could be delayed until March 2019. So, for your parcels to be delivered in time for Christmas Day, you’ll need to use another carrier.

The times given by the carriers assume best case scenarios to major locations. It’s likely they will be experiencing higher than normal volumes of packages so the earlier you ship, the better!

We have suggested earlier shipping dates to take into account both the higher volumes of packages and the potential for other delays caused by factors outside of the carriers’ control.

Purolator shipping deadlines
FedEx shipping deadlines
UPS shipping deadlines

Service type	Carrier deadline	Suggested ship date	Delivery Standard
Canada next-day	Dec 20th	Dec 16th	1 business day
USA next-day	Dec 20th	Dec 16th	1 business day
USA (ground)	Dec 13th	Dec 6th	2+ business days
Mexico, Caribbean, South and Central America	Dec 18th	Dec 12th	2+ business days
Western Europe, (including UK, France and Germany)	Dec 18th	Dec 12th	2+ business days
Australia	Dec 18th	Dec 12th	2+ business days
East Asia (including China, Japan and Thailand)	Dec 17th	Dec 11th	2+ business days
Other international destinations	Dec 11th		2+ business days

Service type	Carrier deadline	Suggested ship date	Delivery Standard
First Overnight	Dec 21st	Dec 17th	1 business day
Priority Overnight	Dec 21st	Dec 17th	1 business day
Standard Overnight	Dec 21st	Dec 17th	1 business day
Ground	Dec 13th	Dec 6th	1-7 business days
International First	Dec 20th	Dec 14th	2-4 business days
International Priority	Dec 20th	Dec 14th	2-4 business days
International Economy	Dec 17th	Dec 10th	5-7 business days

Service type	Carrier deadline	Suggested ship date	Delivery Standard
Expedited	Dec 20th	Dec 16th	1-2 business days
Express Early	Dec 21st	Dec 15th	1 business day
Express	Dec 21st	Dec 15th	1 business day
Express Saver	Dec 21st	Dec 15th	1 business day

2) Check what can and cannot be shipped

Some things can’t be sent through the mail. Whilst the majority of items are perfectly fine, some are restricted or prohibited either by the carriers or Customs if you are shipping internationally.  If you ship prohibited or restricted items you risk substantial penalties including confiscation or prosecution.

For international shipments, check with the Customs department of the destination country for what is prohibited or restricted.

Shipping 107 has more about what can and can’t be safely shipped.

3) Pack your gift properly

Packaging your item properly is crucial to protect it from any knocks or bumps. Packaging needs to conform to the ISTA 3A Shipping Standard to be eligible for insurance and refunds should anything go wrong.

Secureship has tips for how to pack items for shipping here.

No matter how carefully you pack your gift, any package going through the postal system is vulnerable to damage caused by the shipping process.

Insuring the items can give you peace of mind, but not everything is insurable. Items which can’t be insured include:

- Antiques
- Artwork
- Alcohol
- Televisions
- Jewelry in excess of $500
- Perishable goods
- Personal belongings

For customers shipping their items through Secureship, there is the option to purchase additional insurance. To learn more about shipping insurance, take a peek at Shipping 201. Check with your carrier for a complete list of uninsurable items.

4) Clearly label the parcel

Getting the labelling right can help to reduce potential delays. The following are common issues which cause parcels to be lost or delayed:

- Ambiguous or illegible writing
- Incorrect information
- Old shipping labels on packaged
- Damaged labels

To avoid these issues, remember to:

- Use a new box with no previous labels attached
- Print the postage label
- Attach a “documents enclosed” wallet to protect the Customs documents

Don’t forget to include a commercial invoice for international shipments. These are created automatically when you purchase your shipping through Secureship.

For more information on reducing delays, check out our Shipping 104.

5) Get the documentation right!

When you are shipping internally the documentation needed is very basic – just a clear, easy to read address label is fine.

If you are shipping internationally you’ll need a commercial invoice as a minimum. This acts as a Customs declaration and is needed for any package sent outside of Canada. When you’re sending gifts, you’ll need to clearly indicate that the package is a gift shipment:

Don’t worry about creating a commercial invoice yourself - they are automatically generated when you ship packages through Secureship. For more information on other types of documents you might need, check here.

There it is … follow these five steps, sit back and relax as your parcel goes on its way!

Merry Christmas from everyone at Secureship!