KETTERING -- The holiday shipping season has kicked off, with Monday being the busiest shipping day in FedEx history.
And as people scramble to get their gifts to their loved ones on time it can be a hassle and costly.
"Hot cocoa and goodies for Grandma and bunch of funny little trinkets for Grandpa," said Kevin Mabe, who is sending the gifts all the way to Oregon, "This is actually the first year we've been away from home."
Shipping his gifts via the United States Post Office was quick and easy, despite the long lines.
"Ever since Thanksgiving we've been into the busy season," said Robert McDaniel, Communication Officer for the United States Postal Service, "Today and next Monday are our two busiest days of the year."
Even though the post office is busy, your package is guaranteed to get there on time if you ship this week.
A 10-pound box from Dayton to Orlando will cost you 11-dollars-and-35-cents.
That's using a medium priority mail flat rate box.
The latest date to send it without costing you more is December 21.
Using parcel post, you have to send it by December 19, and it'll cost you 13-dollars-and-16-cents, which is why Mabe didn't wait.
"I wanted to make sure it wasn't sitting in the post office for a couple of weeks, so I wanted them to get it early," said Mabe.
Another way to get it there on time, FedEx.
For the same 10-pound box and shipping place, it'll cost you 12-dollars-and-61-cents for FedEx ground.
The latest you can ship is December 19.
And that same package will cost you 14-dollars-and-38-cents for UPS ground, but you have to ship it by December 19 to get it there in time for Christmas.
But for Mabe, it doesn't matter how it gets there, as long as the pictures of his youngest daughter make it before the holidays.
"They've never met her, they've never seen her she's five months old," said Mabe, "So we've got a lot of pictures of her in there, and my oldest daughter they haven't seen her in about year we've been gone. So I'm hoping they're just really excited and I'm hoping they think it's a blessing."
And as people scramble to get their gifts to their loved ones on time it can be a hassle and costly.
"Hot cocoa and goodies for Grandma and bunch of funny little trinkets for Grandpa," said Kevin Mabe, who is sending the gifts all the way to Oregon, "This is actually the first year we've been away from home."
Shipping his gifts via the United States Post Office was quick and easy, despite the long lines.
"Ever since Thanksgiving we've been into the busy season," said Robert McDaniel, Communication Officer for the United States Postal Service, "Today and next Monday are our two busiest days of the year."
Even though the post office is busy, your package is guaranteed to get there on time if you ship this week.
A 10-pound box from Dayton to Orlando will cost you 11-dollars-and-35-cents.
That's using a medium priority mail flat rate box.
The latest date to send it without costing you more is December 21.
Using parcel post, you have to send it by December 19, and it'll cost you 13-dollars-and-16-cents, which is why Mabe didn't wait.
"I wanted to make sure it wasn't sitting in the post office for a couple of weeks, so I wanted them to get it early," said Mabe.
Another way to get it there on time, FedEx.
For the same 10-pound box and shipping place, it'll cost you 12-dollars-and-61-cents for FedEx ground.
The latest you can ship is December 19.
And that same package will cost you 14-dollars-and-38-cents for UPS ground, but you have to ship it by December 19 to get it there in time for Christmas.
But for Mabe, it doesn't matter how it gets there, as long as the pictures of his youngest daughter make it before the holidays.
"They've never met her, they've never seen her she's five months old," said Mabe, "So we've got a lot of pictures of her in there, and my oldest daughter they haven't seen her in about year we've been gone. So I'm hoping they're just really excited and I'm hoping they think it's a blessing."
