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SAN DIEGO, Calif., December 1, 2004 – With Christmas only three weeks away, now is the time to start thinking about how to get those holiday gifts to their destinations securely and on-time. And whether it’s a child’s first train set or a 17-foot kayak, trained professionals at The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. are prepared to help consumers with all their packing and shipping needs.
The experts at The UPS Store™ and Mail Boxes Etc.® (MBE) locations, with nearly 25 years of packing experience, never tire of helping customers understand that proper packing is the best way to ensure the safe and secure delivery of packages. A recent study commissioned by The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. revealed that more than half (51%) of Americans make the mistake of packing fragile gifts in crumpled newspaper or wrapping paper that doesn’t adequately protect items for shipping.*
“Packages need to be protected against three primary factors: compression, shock and vibration,” says MBE President Stuart Mathis. “The more fragile the item, the more care and expertise is required to ensure it arrives at its destination intact.
“The best recommendation we can give consumers this holiday season is to heed the advice of trained professionals,” Mathis continued. “If customers are uncertain about their packing skills, they might wait to seal their boxes until they arrive at one of our centers. Then we can ensure everything’s appropriately packed. The last thing we want to see is a gift arriving damaged due to improper packaging.”
With that in mind, consumers should follow these five simple guidelines to ensure safe delivery of packages this holiday season:
1. For the best value, ship as early as possible. Those who plan ahead can save money and avoid the stress of shipping holiday gifts at the last minute by using UPS Ground and shipping by Dec. 15. Procrastinators can ship UPS as late as Dec. 23 for Christmas Eve delivery.
2. Don’t dumpster dive for old boxes. Used boxes can break apart in shipping, and leftover shipping labels can create confusion about a package’s destination. Always use a new corrugated box to ship gifts and never wrap the outer box in kraft paper or string, which can potentially get caught in the package sorting equipment.
3. Pack like a pro. Use appropriate packaging techniques and materials, such as bubble cushioning, polystyrene “peanuts,” corrugated dividers or plastic foam, to provide proper cushioning and internal protection. Be sure to provide at least two inches of packing materials on all sides of each item and use proper tape to seal the package. Better yet...
4. Leave it to the experts. The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. franchisees receive specialized training so they can handle any packing challenge. They know every technique to pack your precious gifts, saving you time and effort.
5. Track your package. Choose a shipping option, like UPS, that provides a package tracking number. Tracking lets you notify recipients when to expect a delivery and affords you peace of mind that your package arrived on time.
To find the nearest The UPS Store or Mail Boxes Etc. location and additional holiday packing and shipping information, visit www.theupsstore.com or www.mbe.com.
The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. locations are franchised by Mail Boxes Etc., Inc., a UPS company. Together, the brands comprise the world’s largest franchise network of retail shipping, postal and business service centers with more than 5,100 locations around the world. In the United States, The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. locations are independently owned and operated by licensed franchisees of Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. Outside the United States, locations are owned and operated by MBE master licensees or their franchisees.
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Editor’s Note: The UPS Public Relations team is ready to help with your holiday coverage. For the latest holiday facts and figures, packaging and shipping tips, visit www.pressroom.ups.com.
* Survey of 1,051 adults for The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. network conducted by ORC International’s Caravan® from Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2004.
For more information, contact:
- Jessica Moore
(858) 455-8982
jjmoore@mbe.com
- Steve Holmes, UPS
404-828-7391
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