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Shelley Osterloh ReportingIf you've already been to the Post office today, you may already have guessed this is the busiest mailing day of the year.
Utah Post offices expect more than 2-million cards and packages to be mailed today.
If you are mailing in the states you can still easily get your gifts there in time for Christmas.
Louis Bonilla showed up at the Post Office with a sack full of wrapped gifts for his baby daughter in Texas. "I'm hoping that they do that, just put them in a big box and send them out, maybe two day deliver if they can do that."
One thing the US Post office is doing to help make shipping easier is offer flat rates on certain sized boxes.
Elaine Zambos, U.S. Postal Service: "This will be the better price, its two to three days, flat rate, up to 70 pound"
So for just $8.10 he is promised everything will be there in time.
Jill Nixon saved some time by going online before she hit the post office. "I just went on line to usps.com and printed off an express mail and they have a flat rate envelop you an put how ever much will fit in the envelop so you don' t have to know the exact weight and then you can either print your postage on line so you just hand them the envelop or you can do your postage her at the post office."
Another way to save time and avoid lines is the Automated Postal Centers located in the lobbies of 29 Utah Post offices and open 24 hours a day.
Nick Whittington: " It's easy, you just throw your credit card in, put the zip code in, it accepts the weight and takes about five minutes piece of cake." More tips on how to package your gifts, to make sure they arrive safely and unbroken are.
You just put your package on the scale, put in the zip code and it calculates your rate -- then put it on a credit or debit card and you're done. It's open 24 hours a day.
Now packaging your gift is very important to make sure it arrives in good shape. The Post office also has all the supplies you may need.
Here are some tips on how to get your package there in one piece.
Packaging Tips:
* Select a box that is strong enough to protect the contents.
* Package contents with shredded or rolled paper, bubble wrap, or Styrofoam peanuts.
* Always use tape that is designed for shipping.
* Do not use wrapping paper, string, masking tape, or cellophane tape.
* Put the delivery and return addresses on only one side of the package.
* Make sure you use correct address and zip code.
It's a good idea to place an index card inside the package that contains the sender's address and the recipient's address along with a list of the contents. That way if the box is damaged, it can be re-packed and sent to its destination.
