Help On Sending Holiday Cheer

Lots of packages must travel across the miles atabbreviations. And even if you feel you write a
Christmas gift's lovingly chosen, fancily wrapped,good hand it is always better to print than to use
and carrying as well a precious burden ofhandwriting.
affection for someone. Yet millions of theseTie up your carton with medium-heavy cord,
packages travel at a time of year when the postwound tightly around the entire package at least
office facilities are extremely overtaxed, help istwo or three times and knotted with simple
often inadequately trained, and weather conditionsdouble knots. Very heavy twine is not as safe,
are, in general, poor. How can we be sure ourstrangely enough, because it is too heavy to pull
packages will get there on time, and in goodtight and therefore slips off the package more
condition?easily.
Start with a packing plan. Make a list of theRegulations governing packages to be mailed
packing supplies that you'll need string, tape, labels,within 150 miles are different from those for
cartons and buy them all in one trip to thepackages to be mailed farther than that, as far as
stationery store.the weight permitted is concerned. There is
The very best container for a Christmas gift thatanother regulation for the weight of packages
must be mailed is a fresh new cardboard carton.which have an APO address. Check these rules
Sometimes you can obtain from local merchantswith the post office if you want to send heavy
cartons which are in excellent condition, with firmpackages, since the rules may change from time
corners and intact flaps. Or they can be bought;to time. You may express a package of any
buying a carton is well worth while if it protects aweight, no matter how heavy.
valuable present.The post office strongly advises December 1 as
If there is even a remote chance that a gift couldthe deadline on mailed packages. It's better to
be broken or crushed, use two cartons, one insidechance their arriving a bit early, with a DO NOT
the other. The inner carton should be big enoughOPEN UNTIL CHRISTMAS sticker, than to run the
to allow at least a 2 inch clearance all around theslightest risk of their not arriving until the day
package enclosed on all four sides as well as atafter The Day.
the top and bottom.Expressing by rail or air are quicker methods, of
Don't let a present rattle around in a carton,course, than mailing a package; be sure to
whether you use two, as recommended, or one.investigate these ways if you've let an important
The best, cheapest cushioning is shreddedpackage slip past December 1.
newspaper; crumpled newspaper doesn't haveFlat, non-breakable objects, such as books, need a
enough give to protect the gift from the shockdouble corrugated-paper covering. Envelop the
of handling. Use enough shredded paper so thatbook lengthwise in a corrugated strip, seal with
there is no rattling or shifting when the package isgummed tape. Wrap a second strip around the
shaken back and forth.width and seal. Use heavy brown paper for outer
For the utmost safety, make out two labels: onewrapping.
for the outside and one to be placed inside theIf you are sending a very small package in a box
carton. The post office objects to more than oneof its own, you must enclose it in a larger carton
label on the outside, but if you express theto be sure of its safe delivery, and cut down the
package, use two outside labels.danger of loss.
Use the full names and addresses of yourself andWhen you follow these guidelines, you can be
the recipient of the package; don't usesure you gift will arrive on time and intact.