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The UPS Store Danbury: Holiday Packing Tips

PACKING TIPS

Q: Do you have somewhere where shippers can go to get packing tips?
A: We recommend shippers visit their local The UPS Store experts specially trained and certified in packing techniques to ensure gifts arrive on time and in one piece.

Q: Are there any quick tips for do-it-yourselfers?
A: Use a new corrugated box with flaps. If you must use an old box, remove labels or other shipment markings from the box.

  • Provide internal protection by wrapping items separately and using adequate cushioning material. Styrofoam or foam packing is perfect. Use at least two inches of cushioning on all sides of each item.
  • Use a properly sized box and pack it as full as possible. The less space in the box, the less room for the contents to shift around and less risk of damage.
  • Seal boxes securely, using strong tape designed for shipping (not masking or cellophane tape). Do not use string or paper overwrap, which can potentially catch in package sorting equipment.
  • Use proper labeling featuring a single address label that has clear, complete delivery and return addresses on the front. Placing a duplicate address label inside also is recommended in case the outer label becomes illegible.
  • The best protection for your package is proper packing, but UPS provides automatic protection against loss or damage up to $100. However, it is important to note this protection does not extend to improper or insufficient packing.
  • Better yet, leave the packing to the experts at The UPS Store. Now, with the Pack & Ship Promise, if a participating location packs and ships your item via UPS and it is lost or damaged, you?ll be reimbursed 100 percent (subject to certain terms and conditions).
  • Give yourself peace of mind by tracking your shipments online at UPS.com, by calling (800) PICK UPS, or via wireless access at UPS.com/wireless.

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SHIPPING

 Q: What's the last day that customers can ship packages to arrive on Christmas Day?
A: We are encouraging customers to ship by Dec. 21 for packages to arrive by Christmas. Most ground packages require one to three days to reach their destination. Delivery days and times to some locations will vary. We recommend shippers check UPS.com to verify time-in-transit for their particular shipping destination.

Q: Is UPS delivering the Monday before Christmas?
A: Yes, on Monday, December 24, UPS will deliver packages as normal.

Q: Is UPS delivering on Christmas?
A: We believe Christmas Day is a time for families, so we give our employees that day off.

Q: Can a person use UPS to ship to a soldier deployed overseas?
A: We deliver to military bases in the United States if there is a street address (any time of the year) but commercial package delivery companies cannot deliver packages to soldiers deployed in a theater of war. The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. locations are equipped to assist individual who are preparing to ship to military personnel stationed overseas, or any other destination outside of the United States.

Q: How many The UPS Store locations are there in the United States?
A: UPS has nearly 4,300 The UPS Store locations in the United States. Find a location

Q: How long would it take to ship from point A to point B?
A: UPS.com has a time-in-transit calculator through which you can verify this information. The direct link is: http://wwwapps.ups.com/ Popup We caution doing comparisons because every carrier uses differing modes of transportation and differing routes to move packages between destinations.

Q: What new tools does UPS have to move packages to their designated destinations in the requested time frame?
A: UPS is currently integrating package flow technologies into its U.S. network. This suite of software and hardware is designed to give the company a competitive edge by optimizing the delivery of multiple services to customers out of a single delivery vehicle. This improves our ability to move a package from point A to point B in the time frame requested by the customer.

Q: Can returns to retailers be made through UPS?
A: Yes, UPS has made returns easier for consumers and retailers with the industry's broadest array of returns services. There are many options with services ranging from our basic Authorized Return Service to the Electronic Return Label (which can be e-mailed to a customer) to the technologically sophisticated UPS Returns on the Web (which allows consumers to print a return label directly from their PC, and allows businesses to precisely manage the returns process and analyze returns data for customer behavior and logistics trends). Learn more

Q: What kind of web-enabled shipping tools does UPS offer consumers?
A: With a multi-billion dollar global IT infrastructure and a massive physical network, UPS has the ability to deliver flexible and convenient customer-focused solutions. There are several web-based tools to aid customers including UPS Internet shipping, UPS.com to help manage customer shipping, and Quantum View Notify which delivers status updates via e-mail, and these are just to name a few.

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UPS HOLIDAY STATISTICS

 Q: What is considered to be UPS's busiest day of the year?
A: UPS's daily package volume will peak this year on Wednesday, December 19, when the company projects it will deliver more than 22 million packages.

Q: How many more packages will UPS handle on Peak Day versus an average day?
A: UPS will handle more than 22 million packages worldwide on peak day this year. That's more than 250 packages per second. On a typical day, UPS moves more than 15 million packages worldwide.

Q: How many tracking requests does UPS expect during Peak Week?
A: During peak week, UPS predicts it will receive more than 150 million package tracking requests, and on Peak Day, Wednesday, Dec. 19, UPS projects 32 million tracking requests.

Q: How many additional planes will be added to UPS Airlines?
A: UPS Airlines, the ninth largest in the world, will add thirty-two chartered aircraft to its year-round operating fleet to handle the influx of holiday packages.

Q: How many UPS flights will take off in a day during Peak Week?
A: UPS moves packages on over 2,300 flights per day during peak week, which is more than 400 more than on a typical day.

Q: How many more UPS flights take off during a day during Peak Week compared to an average day?
A: 423 more flights take off during a day during Peak Week than an average day in November.

Q: Is UPS Air Peak Day different from UPS Ground Peak Day?
A: Yes, UPS Air Peak Day this year will fall on Friday, December 21, when UPS will deliver about 5.6 million air packages worldwide. That's more than 2.5 times the normal average.

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UPS GUARANTEES

 Q: Does UPS make any guarantees that their packages will be delivered on time?
A: UPS will maintain its money-back guarantees throughout the holiday on all air products despite the huge surge in volume. UPS Early A.M.® and UPS Worldwide Express Plus services are guaranteed for on-schedule delivery as usual through the holiday season. Guarantees for other air and international shipments delivered within the United States will be extended by 90 minutes on the following days: Nov. 23 and Dec. 18 - 24 and Dec. 31. The guarantee does not apply to UPS Ground and UPS Standard to Canada packages picked up or scheduled for delivery between Dec. 11 and Dec. 24. Furthermore, with the Pack & Ship Promise, if a participating The UPS Store packs and ships your item via UPS and it is lost or damaged, you?ll be reimbursed 100 percent (subject to certain terms and conditions).

Q: Does UPS have any sort of contingency plans in case of bad weather or other circumstances that are out of UPS's control?
A: Flexibility in our operating plans is the key to maintaining the safety of our employees and assets, as well as providing reliable service to our customers. UPS has several tools that help plan for uncontrollable circumstances including the UPS Meteorology Department, advanced data collection, tracking and communication technologies, an intermodal system that keeps packages moving to their destinations during severe weather, and Alternate Operations Teams which track activities throughout the world that could cause service disruptions and then prepare or implement contingency plans.

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HIRING DURING THE HOLIDAYS

 Q: Does UPS offer any seasonal work during this busy time?
A: Yes, UPS offers great temporary part-time holiday jobs that can help individuals get a foot in the door for permanent employment. Seasonal hiring varies from location. To inquire about available positions, visit www.upsjobs.com Popup.

Q: How many employees does UPS plan to hire this holiday season?
A: Nationally, UPS anticipates hiring approximately 60,000 drivers, driver helpers, and package sorters.

Q: When did UPS start hiring for the holiday season?
A: In most cities, seasonal hiring began in October and will continue until employment needs are fulfilled.

Q: Do seasonal employees have the choice to stay on after the holiday season concludes?
A: Yes, holiday employees have an opportunity to apply for a permanent position after Dec. 31. Permanent part-time employees can take advantage of the company's generous health benefits package, 401(k) plan and the Earn and Learn program (available in select locations).

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THE ONLINE COMPONENT

 Q: Have the UPS tracking devices been popular and successful with your customers?
A: Yes, we expect online tracking requests to grow to more than 150 million during our Peak Week and we may reach 32 million in just one day on our busiest delivery day, Dec. 19 (tracking requests the rest of the year average 15 million a day). This is an exponential increase from the 100,000 requests we received during the entire month of December 1995, when tracking was first added to UPS.com.

Q: What kind of innovations has UPS developed to accompany the growth of online retail?
A: Increasing online consumer activity has driven UPS to continually improve its sophisticated Online® Tools available to retailers to integrate into their Web sites. Tools include tracking, rate and service selection, address validation, and time-in-transit. UPS can even point to an increased level of internet-related activity just by the growth of online tracking requests we're seeing this holiday season.

Q: How much of your volume is from online shopping?
A: The delivery manifest created by shippers tells us where a package is destined and the origin address, but not necessarily whether their purchase was made online, in-store, or from a catalog. What we do know, however, is that UPS serves 21 of the Top 25 e-tailers in the United States, as ranked by Internet Retailer magazine.

Q: Do you know how many businesses have integrated UPS OnLine Tools?
A: UPS has had more than 25,000 unique integrations of UPS OnLine Tools within the last 18 months. These integrations have allowed more than 748,000 unique users to access information regarding tracking, time in transit, rating and shipping. Many multi-channel and online retailers integrate UPS OnLine Tools to improve customer service and reduce costs to their businesses by empowering their own customers to track packages and compare and select shipping services that best meet their needs.
To learn more about UPS OnLine Tools, visit UPS OnLine Tools Popup

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FOOD SHIPPING TIPS
  • Look Before You Cook. Before preparing homemade goodies, consider how well they will travel. Moist foods are more susceptible to mold. Cookies the diameter of a coffee can stack perfectly in a coffee can to keep them from crumbling. Decorative tins or disposable plastic wear can also be used for cakes and brownies (personalize with paint pens or permanent markers). For most perishables, it is imperative that you ship Next Day Air or 2nd Day Air.
  • Take Your Temperature. Just as summer heat can wreak havoc on fine chocolates, winter's harsh cold temperatures can also spell disaster for perishable treats. Shipping overseas brings the added stress of extreme temperatures and extra time-in-transit. Send items that will travel well. For any holiday treats, The UPS Store shipping experts can help you choose the best packing to keep treats tasty and tempting.
  • Don't "Space Out." Make sure all foods are sealed in an interior airtight container or plastic bag before putting them into a gift box and shipping box. Never leave air pockets in these containers or the items will vibrate and/or crumble. Fill the gaps with squares of bubble-filled wrap so that the goodies look as good on arrival as they did when they came out of the oven. If shipping more than one item, place the heavier items at the bottom.
  • Know Military Restrictions. With thousands of service members stationed overseas, many "tastes of home" will cross international borders for the holidays. To ensure your gift arrives, check the restrictions of the destination country. For instance, in some Middle Eastern countries where troops are stationed, items containing any alcohol - and that includes baking vanilla - are prohibited imports. The UPS Store international shipping experts can help you identify a specific country's restrictions.
  • Check Schedules. Many holiday goodwill gestures have been thwarted by vacation schedules and closed offices. Before sending perishables, ensure that someone will be available to accept your shipment. There's nothing festive about a holiday ham shipment that has been sitting on a desk for two weeks past its delivery date!
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RECYCLING TIPS
  • Recycle packing peanuts. The UPS Store accepts clean foam packing peanuts of reuse. For additional information on peanut recycling consumers can visit www.loosefillpackaging.com Popup.
  • Reuse wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, tissue paper, etc. Also, save gift bags and boxes and reuse them throughout the year. Those you can't reuse, recycle.
  • Recycle greeting cards. Save cards and cut them up to use as gift tags next year. They also make a great resource for children's art projects, or you can research organizations in your area that could utilize your used greeting card collection.
  • Recycle your tree. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, there are approximately 25-30 million real Christmas trees sold in North America each year. After the holidays, put your tree to good use - chip it to use as mulch around shrubs and flowerbeds or, if you have a live tree, plant it in the yard or donate it to a local school or nursing home to plant on their grounds. You can also check local resources for instructions on recycling options, drop-off locations or pickup dates.
  • Donate old toys, clothes or unwanted gifts. Start off the New Year with a clean slate. Take this time each year to donate to local charities any unwanted gifts along with last year's toys, clothes, or electronics that are still in good shape.
To learn more about UPS recycling and environmental initiatives, please visit sustainability.ups.com Popup.

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RETURNS INFORMATION

 Q: Where and how do I return UPS packages?
A: Why stand in line? UPS accepts return packages at its 40,000 drop box locations Popup.

UPS Returns on the Web is UPS's - and arguably the industry's - most technologically advanced online returns solution. It addresses one of online shoppers' biggest sources of frustration, returns, while streamlining back-office functions for businesses. Read More Popup.


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CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

 Q: Does UPS still keep up their social and environmental efforts during this busy time?
A: Yes, even during its busiest time of year, UPS maintains a focus on social and environmental responsibility.

Q: What kind of programs are in place to help out charities and communities?
A: Every year, participating The UPS Store locations offer customers the opportunity to purchase a Toys for Tots pledge card for $1. All proceeds go to support local Toys for Tots activities.

Q: What kind of programs are in place to help reduce your environmental footprint?
A: Participating The UPS Store locations around the country are helping to protect the environment by accepting clean, foam packing peanuts for reuse. This also keeps packing costs down for customers. Additionally, The UPS Store introduced IVOX, an innovative, earth-friendly new shipping box that reduces packaging materials needed for many items. Also, UPS technologies optimize our business, which enables our network to expand to handle the influx of holiday packages efficiently. UPS customers and the environment benefit from the fuel conservation achieved by this optimization. For example, over the last few years, UPS has been rolling out package routing technology that reduces the number of miles required to make deliveries.

Q: What about all of the carbon emissions that your fleet produces during the holiday season? What is UPS doing to help reduce these emissions and work towards a cleaner environment?
A: UPS operates ones of the world's largest fleets of alternative fuel vehicles, which includes over 1,600 compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane, fuel cell, electric, and hybrid electric vehicles. In fact, since 2000, our alternative fuel fleet recently hit an impressive milestone, driving over 126 million miles making deliveries to homes and businesses.

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Help@UPSStoreDanbury.com