Hollisterites are flocking to the post office and package
delivery stores in record numbers this week, trying make sure their
holiday gifts are under the tree come Christmas morning.
Hollister – Hollisterites are flocking to the post office and package delivery stores in record numbers this week, trying make sure their holiday gifts are under the tree come Christmas morning.
Although many carriers, such as UPS and Fedex, have stopped guaranteeing on-time delivery, last-minute holiday shippers need not fear.
That means most packages will still be delivered on time, but refunds won’t be given if gifts are tardy in arriving, said UPS Store Owner Gary Mangus. Even though he hired an extra employee this year, Mangus was swamped.
“At this point I’m so rummy I don’t even know how many packages we’ve processed,” he said. “It’s probably a little bit more than last year, but not by much.”
The flood of people – about three times more than during average week – created long-lines at the Hollister post office this week, but didn’t stifle holiday cheer, Post Office Supervisor Tammy Frietas said Wednesday. This week, mail carriers have already delivered more than 15,000 packages to Hollister residences, twice as many as usual, this week, she said.
“We have had five people at the windows all week because of the rush,” she said. “The lines have been long, but we’ve been able to keep them moving.”
Frietas urged procrastinators to make sure they get to the post office Thursday in order to get their packages delivered by Christmas morning.
“They can still use express mail if they hurry,” she said. “We’re trying to make sure every package gets to its destination.”
Post office worker Esther Matuk, who has been busying making sure the lines progress smoothly, has seen far more smiles this season than frowns.
“People have been wonderful,” she said. “Everybody has been polite.”
Postal Clerk Mary Lopez agreed. One of the biggest gifts she’s seen shipped this season was her own. Two weeks ago she sent a 4-and-a-half-foot tall Christmas tree to her son, Staff Sgt. Raymond Donald Lopez, serving in Iraq with the Marines.
“I want to make sure he is remembered everyday,” she said.
Hollister resident Jose Anaya brought his three daughters to the post office Wednesday to send out 45 Christmas cards.
“Today was the day to do it,” he said. “Everyone here has been wonderful.”
The Postnet Postal and Business Service Store in Hollister has also been busy, Assistant Manger Tammy Chavez said.
“Some customers have been stressed out, but we’re trying to keep the mood light and have a good time,” she said.
In order to spread good tidings, Chavez and her employees have been handing out hundreds of candy canes.
“We ran out,” Chavez said. “We went through three or four boxes of candy canes and a huge bag of tootsie rolls.”
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or br******@fr***********.com.
