Is the Post Office Open? It Pays to Check For Holiday Closures
When you have something you need to mail right away, whether it's a get-well card for a friend or an important business letter, there's one annoyance you don't have time for: a wasted trip to the post office.
The U.
S.
Postal Service maintains a fairly predictable schedule throughout the year, but it is closed on several holidays.
But since the post office doesn't necessarily follow the same holiday system as banks, schools and even states, trying to remember if it is open or not can be a confusing proposition.
For example, when July 5 (the day after Independence Day) falls on a Monday, the post office is closed.
But if July 5 is in the middle of the week, it is open.
Also, the U.
S.
Postal Service does not do business on Memorial Day.
Essentially, branches are closed on all federal holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday, Washington's Birthday (President's Day), Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
By finding out ahead of time whether the office is open or closed, senders can save time (and money, if they're mailing "on the clock").
Knowing the post office status also ensures that people don't miss out on other options, such as using a private express mail service that is open such as UPS, FedEx or a storefront packaging and mailing service.
When planning a trip to mail letters or packages, it's also important to keep in mind the hours of the particular branch you plan to visit.
For example, some cities have multiple locations, but only one of them may be doing business on Saturdays.
Sometimes, you might want to not only know if it is open today, but also if it is open tomorrow, the following day.
In cases like this your options include consulting a convenient website that tracks post office status, calling the post office itself or visiting the USPS website.
Knowing when the branch is open lets home and business users plan, avoid costly courier fees and still get important mail to its destination on time.
Copyright 2010 by Kevin Savetz
The U.
S.
Postal Service maintains a fairly predictable schedule throughout the year, but it is closed on several holidays.
But since the post office doesn't necessarily follow the same holiday system as banks, schools and even states, trying to remember if it is open or not can be a confusing proposition.
For example, when July 5 (the day after Independence Day) falls on a Monday, the post office is closed.
But if July 5 is in the middle of the week, it is open.
Also, the U.
S.
Postal Service does not do business on Memorial Day.
Essentially, branches are closed on all federal holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday, Washington's Birthday (President's Day), Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
By finding out ahead of time whether the office is open or closed, senders can save time (and money, if they're mailing "on the clock").
Knowing the post office status also ensures that people don't miss out on other options, such as using a private express mail service that is open such as UPS, FedEx or a storefront packaging and mailing service.
When planning a trip to mail letters or packages, it's also important to keep in mind the hours of the particular branch you plan to visit.
For example, some cities have multiple locations, but only one of them may be doing business on Saturdays.
Sometimes, you might want to not only know if it is open today, but also if it is open tomorrow, the following day.
In cases like this your options include consulting a convenient website that tracks post office status, calling the post office itself or visiting the USPS website.
Knowing when the branch is open lets home and business users plan, avoid costly courier fees and still get important mail to its destination on time.
Copyright 2010 by Kevin Savetz
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