How To Prepare For Mail Slowing Down This Holiday Season

The holidays are almost here—cue the festive lights, family gatherings, and, of course, the inevitable mail slowdown. Yep, as we head into the busiest time of the year, USPS, FedEx, and UPS are bracing for a tidal wave of packages and letters. Whether it’s holiday cards or businesses sending out year-end notices, the mail system is about to get busier than ever.

Now, we’d love to tell you that your mail carrier will power through the season with ease, but the truth is, things might start to feel like you’re stuck behind holiday shoppers on Christmas Eve. So, what does that mean for your business? Let’s take a closer look—and most importantly, figure out how you can avoid getting caught in the holiday mail storm.

Why Does Mail Slow Down During the Holidays?

It’s all about volume. USPS anticipates handling over 12 billion mailpieces, including close to a billion packages, during the holiday season. Yes, you did read that correctly. And that’s not counting all the letters, postcards, and business mail like invoices, statements, and end-of-year notices. When the system is overloaded like that, it’s no surprise things start to move at a snail’s pace really making living up to the name of sending snail mail.

It’s like trying to funnel a river through a garden hose—it’s bound to overflow and slow things down. That’s why it’s so important for businesses to plan early and stay ahead of the holiday rush to hopefully help avoid holiday mailing delays.

What Does This Mean for Your Business?

Here’s where it gets real: If your business relies on getting mail out on time—whether it’s invoices, contracts, or HOA annual meeting notices—you can’t afford to let holiday mail delays bog you down. As mail carriers juggle the extra load, what normally takes just a few days to deliver might start showing up fashionably late.

This could be a big deal if you’re sending time-sensitive legal or financial documents. An invoice that arrives two weeks late doesn’t just delay a payment; it can mess with your entire cash flow. And if you’re handling important contracts or compliance documents, missed deadlines could cost you a lot more than just frustration.

Long story short: Don’t wait for the holidays to sneak up on you—plan ahead and stay ahead.

How to Stay Ahead of the Holiday Slowdown

The good news? There are ways to make sure your business mail stays on track, even when carriers are overwhelmed. Here are a few strategies to keep things moving smoothly:

1. Plan Early, Send Early

The earlier you can get your letters mailed, the better. If you’re planning a big mailing—whether it’s holiday promotions or year-end statements—send them earlier than usual. Trust us, your future self will thank you when your mail sails through before the holiday bottleneck hits.

2. Consider Faster Mailing Options

If timing is critical (and it often is), upgrading your mailing services might be the way to go. FedEx Overnight and 2Day are the fastest options when it comes to sending mail quickly. First-Class Mail and Certified Mail services are usually given priority, meaning your documents have a better chance of reaching their destination on time but it’s not a guarantee. In fact, Certified Mail can actually take longer than what the USPS says. If you wondering how long Certified Mail takes, you can read more on that here. Yes, it might cost a bit more upfront, but when deadlines are looming, peace of mind is worth it.

3. Let the Pros Handle It

This is where we come in. If the thought of juggling large mailings during the holidays feels overwhelming, why not let someone else handle the logistics? We specialize in printing, inserting, and mailing business documents, so you can focus on running your business—or, you know, sipping some holiday eggnog. Literally, we handle all of the printing and mailing for you. We’ll make sure your mail gets out on time, no matter how busy the season gets. All you have to do is upload your documents and we handle the rest. You can even upload early and schedule out for future mailings.

4. Track Your Mail

If your mail absolutely must arrive by a certain date, tracking is your new best friend. Services like Certified Mail and FedEx 2Day come with tracking options so you can monitor the progress of your mail and keep your clients informed every step of the way. If using LetterStream you can send mail online and then with a Certified Mail Electronic Return Receipt or FedEx 2Day signature you can easily track it right from inside of your account without having to enter in a tracking number.

Don’t Let the Holidays Derail Your Business

The holiday season isn’t just about giving—it’s also about dealing with a lot more mail. But with carriers moving slower under the weight of extra deliveries, businesses need to stay on top of their game to avoid delays. By planning ahead, upgrading your mailing options, and outsourcing to the pros, you can keep your business running smoothly through the holiday chaos.

At the end of the day, it’s all about making sure that when you send physical mail online that it doesn’t get stuck in the seasonal slowdown. So, let’s keep things moving—before the rush sets in.

Ready to make sure your business mail stays on track this holiday season? We’re here to help you navigate the busiest time of year without skipping a beat. Sign up for a free account and start sending letters or your bulk mailing ASAP here.

LetterStream is a printing and mailing company, offering bulk printing and mailing services for businesses of all sizes from those with small business mailing needs to Fortune 500 companies.

What You Need to Know About the January 21, 2024 USPS Postage Increase

Well, it seems to be that time of year again. The time when the United States Postal Service (USPS) has a postage rate increase. If you’re feeling like this is happening a lot, well, you’re not wrong. The Postal Service raised their prices twice in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and now we’re starting off 2024 with another USPS postage increase.

January 2024 USPS Postage Price Increase

Effective January 21, 2024, the cost of mailing letters, packages, and other USPS services will climb slightly across the board. While the average increase sits at a modest 4.3%, it’s still cause for pause, especially for businesses and high-volume senders.

Here’s a Breakdown of the Key Changes for the Postage Rate Increase in January 2024:

First-Class postage increase for letters (1 oz.) is going up from $0.66 up to $0.68 cents
Certified Mail Postage is going from $4.35 up to $4.40
Certified Mail | Add-On Electronic Return Receipt price is going from $2.20 up to $2.32
Certified Mail | Add-On Green Card price is going from $3.55 up to $3.65
International Letters (1 oz.) are going from $1.50 up to $1.55
Domestic Postcards are going from $0.51 up, to $0.53
International Postcards are going from $1.50 up to $1.55
Registered Mail is going from $20.25 up to $20.75
Registered Mail | Add-On Electronic Return Receipt price is going from $5.65 up to $5.80
Extra Ounces (Letters) staying at $0.24
Extra Ounces (Flats) staying at $0.24
First-Class Mail Forever Stamp is $0.68

How to Handle the USPS Postage Increase?

These adjustments, while seemingly small, can accumulate over time, impacting both individuals and businesses. So, what can you do to navigate the new United States Postal Service postage increase?

Shop around: Not everything has to be sent via USPS. You may want to look at other options, such as FedEx 2Day to send a letter. You might be surprised at the fact that there’s another service with a faster delivery option.

Embrace technology: Leverage online shipping tools and platforms to compare rates, Make your life easier and more convenient and track your letters efficiently. Remember, time is money and removing the hassle of making trips to the Post Office to send your letter or to buy stamps is something to embrace on its own! Hi! LetterStream here. This is exactly what we do!

The 2024 USPS postage increase is a reality, but it doesn’t have to derail your mailing habits. By being informed and adaptable, you can adjust your strategies, find smarter solutions, and keep your letters moving without breaking the bank. Remember, a little planning and resourcefulness can go a long way in the ever-evolving world of postage.

LetterStream Is on Your Side!

For customers familiar with our process, you know we do raise our prices each time the USPS raises their rates. But our increase is only the amount needed to cover the added postage costs. So, while your bill might look a little higher, the extra money is only going to the United States Postal Service. LetterStream seldom raises our prices and works hard to keep your prices locked in for the long haul so that your mailing budget is consistent and predictable. If you want to send First-Class Mail, Certified Mail, postcards, or FedEx envelopes for any of your secure and important documents just remember that we’re on your side!

Keep in mind, if you’re looking for an electronic way to send your statements, we provide an email delivery service (eDoc Delivery), which allows you to send your documents via email directly through your LetterStream account. This can be done in place of real mail or in addition to your snail mail. If you’d like more information or if you’d like to add this product to your account, please feel free to send us an email at support@letterstream.com.

Now it’s your turn: How will these changes affect your mailing habits? Are you already preparing for the next postage increase? Share your thoughts and cost-saving tips in the comments below! Let’s help each other navigate the new postage landscape together.

Click here to review the USPS 2024 postage rate press release and click here to download the complete list of 2024 USPS postage rate changes.

Just a friendly reminder about a little pro tip we have: if you would like to get the old pricing but don’t want to send your mailing out before the effective Jan 21, 2024 date, you can always use our schedule job option to schedule your job to be mailed on a future date! That way you’ll still get the current (old pricing) but it won’t go out until the date you choose.

Postal Holidays in 2023 to Keep In Mind

As we embrace the festive spirit, it’s crucial to stay informed about the USPS holiday schedule to ensure your holiday mailings reach their destinations on time. It feels like just yesterday we were talking about the USPS Postal Holidays 2022 and now here we are a year later going over the United States Postal Holidays 2023. Crazy how fast time flies!

Ok, let’s get into it. Here’s a quick rundown of the 2023 USPS Christmas and New Year’s schedule, followed by a sneak peek into the 2024 USPS holiday season.

2023 USPS Christmas and New Year’s Schedule: Plan Your Mailings Accordingly

If you’re wondering what the rest of the 2023 postal holiday schedule looks like for the United States Post Office, look no further!

Both the USPS and LetterStream will observe the following holidays during the rest of the 2023 holiday season.

USPS Postal Holidays 2023

Christmas Day – December 25, 2023 (Monday): USPS will be closed and mail delivery will not be taking place.
New Year’s Day – January 1, 2024 (Monday): USPS will be closed and mail delivery will not be taking place.

Keep in mind that it’s important to plan your mailings around these dates to avoid any delay. Stay tuned for another blog post where we talk about crucial days to remember during the 2023 holiday season to help avoid any late deliveries.

Oh, and you might also be wondering. “Is December 26 a postal holiday?” or “Is December 31 a postal holiday?”…actually you more specifically might ask, “Is New Year’s Eve a postal holiday?”

Neither one of those is a federal holiday or a U.S. Postal Service holliday and because of that Post Office locations will be open and they are not included in the U.S. Postal Service holiday schedule. To be on the safe side you may want to call and check with your local Post Office to see if they might be closing early on New Year’s Eve but most will be open and doing their normal delivery services which include sending regular mail, also known as First-Class Mail, Certified Mail, Marketing Mail and more.

Looking Ahead to 2024 Postal Holidays: USPS Holiday Schedule & LetterStream’s Holiday Schedule

Part of Christmas tree branch and a Christmas bell located next to a LetterStream lanyard with Certified Mail envelopes and Certified Mail tracking and USPS stamps

As we bid farewell to 2023, (can you believe it is already that time?!), it’s wise to get a glimpse of the upcoming year’s holiday schedule for better long-term planning.

We created a 2024 holiday calendar for you that not only showcases the USPS postal holidays and when the Post Office is closed in 2024 but also which days LetterStream is still open and mailing during that time.

You can find the 2024 USPS holiday schedule here.

Count on LetterStream for Your Holiday Mailings

LetterStream’s committed to providing fast, efficient and perfect mailing services throughout the holiday season and beyond. Our team is here to support you, offering assistance and guidance to make your mailing experience as smooth as possible.

While we have you, we wanted to extend our warmest wishes for a joyous holiday and a prosperous New Year. Thank you for choosing LetterStream as your trusted partner for all of your mailing and printing needs!