The local post office has gone into full swing to get thousands
of last minute holiday greetings and packages delivered across
California and to other parts of the country.
Hollister – The local post office has gone into full swing to get thousands of last minute holiday greetings and packages delivered across California and to other parts of the country.
Postal clerks have been working six days a week and mail carriers have been making deliveries even on Sundays to deal with the stampede at the post office created by people sending Christmas packages to family and friends.
More than 12,00 packages a week are being processed and shipped out from the Hollister post office, twice the usual amount of mail, said Tammy Freitas, a supervisor at the post office.
The post office always expects more work just before the holidays, but this year volume is at least 40 percent higher than in 2003, because more people are ordering gifts over the Internet, said Freitas.
“People just don’t want to deal with the lines at the mall,” she said.
The Monday before Christmas is typically the busiest time for post offices around the country, with some 280 million postmarked cards and letters processed that day, according to the U.S. Post Office. The letter blitz doesn’t let up until the day before Christmas Eve, but procrastinators should note that anything shipped starting today will have to sent via express mail if it is to get to its destination on time.
The Hollister post office has added extra window clerks to deal with the Christmas rush, but that doesn’t mean lines have been eliminated. On Tuesday, at least seven people waited in line at the Hollister post office, most with packages in hand and only two post office workers were visible. However, lines have not been too long, because an automated postal center, that allows customers to weigh their own parcels and print labels, had recently been added, said Freitas.
The U.S. Postal Service isn’t alone in feeling the rush. Ron Martin, owner of Postnet Postal and Business Services, said his sales have doubled in the last week as people ship gifts and letters and use the company’s copying, printing and business services.
Mail service will be available until Christmas Eve, but with only two days remaining people should expect to pay a little extra for mailing services if they want their packages to arrive in time, Gary Mangus, owner of The UPS Store in Hollister.
“You are looking at more people using either express or overnight services,” he said.
The Hollister post office is also urging people to pick up their mail right away because numerous mail thefts have been reported in the area.
Karina Ioffee covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at (831)637-5566 ext. 335 or [email protected]
