Holiday shipping 101: How to get your gift there on time

No one wants to end up with a lump of coal under the tree, so if you’re mailing out gifts across the country or internationally, be aware that deadlines are fast approaching.

Canada Post spokesperson Anick Losier says parcels destined across the country should be in the mail by Dec. 11 if you want the cheapest service, but there are options for latecomers.

“There’s all kinds of deadlines. It really depends on the type of service you are willing to pay for, “said Losier.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "There's all kinds of deadlines. It really depends on the type of service you are willing to pay for, "said Losier.

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Don’t be surprised if you see Canada Post employees delivering on weekends and evenings in your community as they gear up for one of their busiest seasons.

Canada Post expects to deliver up to 42 million parcels this holiday season, up 20 per cent from last year. That works out to 800,000 parcels a day. UPS and FedEx are also anticipating record deliveries this year.

Shipping Tips

When it comes to making sure your package arrives at its destination, winter weather may create delays. If you’re anxious about your parcel delivery, Losier says there’s an app for that. ‘The Canada Post mobile app’ allows you to track your packages while you’re on the go.

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“We always have a cautionary tale for anyone that is ordering online, especially if you are working during the day,” said Losier.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We always have a cautionary tale for anyone that is ordering online, especially if you are working during the day," said Losier.

If you want to keep thieves from swiping packages from your doorstep, Losier recommends getting your mail registered or going for Flex Delivery, a new and free service that helps prevent theft. With Flex Delivery your items are delivered to a post office of your choice.

“Might be very interesting for the online shopper that maybe has a nosy teenager or doesn’t like it because they’re not at home when it’s getting delivered. It’s under your name, under your postal box and only you can pick it up with your piece of ID,” adds Losier.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Might be very interesting for the online shopper that maybe has a nosy teenager or doesn't like it because they're not at home when it's getting delivered. It's under your name, under your postal box and only you can pick it up with your piece of ID," adds Losier.

If you are re-packaging a box, Losier says look for barcodes and have them removed, otherwise they may create confusion and a major headache for you.

“Everything is technology based. Everything is based on barcodes and if there’s another barcode it could create a delay.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Everything is technology based. Everything is based on barcodes and if there's another barcode it could create a delay."

For consumers decorating their boxes, Losier recommends putting it inside another box to prevent any damage to your festive wrapping.

If you’re a last-minute shopper, couriers such as FedEx, DHL and UPS may be able to save you, as they sometimes have later deadlines than Canada Post.

“Be prepared for your shipping, shop early, organize yourself and know where your packages need to go to,” said UPS operations manager Lynne Harrison.

“Make a list of what it is you have and if it’s leaving the country know who each of those items is going to be shipped to, particularly if it’s going into the United States,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Be prepared for your shipping, shop early, organize yourself and know where your packages need to go to," said UPS operations manager Lynne Harrison.</p><p>"Make a list of what it is you have and if it's leaving the country know who each of those items is going to be shipped to, particularly if it's going into the United States," she said.

Price Comparison:

When it comes to shipping costs, you may want to shop around.

Global News conducted a postal experiment to see how Santa’s delivery service assistants differ in terms of price, shipping from Canada to the United States.

For the experiment Global News packaged up a box of gifts, weighing four pounds, to send to Cleveland, Ohio from Vancouver, British Columbia.

For standard post, UPS charged $42.70. UPS’s three day select was $122.29. We compared that to Canada Post where it was cheaper. Standard post was $39.04, and express was $62.87. The cheapest rate was across the border in Blaine, Washington, even when you factor in the exchange rate. Standard Post was $15.36 U.S., which is $20.50 CDN. Priority, two-day mail, once you calculate the exchange rate, was $45.46 CDN.

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If you are shipping express out of the country, be mindful of American courier regulations.

“Once you send express, things are travelling by air. So not only do you have to be careful of the courier regulations but you also have to be careful of International Air Transportation.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Once you send express, things are travelling by air. So not only do you have to be careful of the courier regulations but you also have to be careful of International Air Transportation."

In some cases, perfume with high concentrations of alcohol, for example, cannot be shipped via express.

“It’s considered dangerous goods in the airline industry,” said Harrison.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's considered dangerous goods in the airline industry," said Harrison.

Also keep in mind, if you’re sending packages outside of Canada, customs in all countries have the right to open all packages.