In JACKSONVILLE, Fla., consumers are being advised that shipping deadlines for online purchases may be extended this year. To ensure your gifts arrive in time for Christmas morning, experts are providing guidance to help you navigate these changes effectively.

Josh Steinitz, the chief strategy officer at ShipStation, emphasizes the reality of these deadlines, cautioning that last-minute shippers might face higher costs.

“During the holiday season, carriers often apply surcharges. They recognize it’s their busiest period and must manage their limited fleet of vans, trucks, and planes. As a consequence, they impose these additional charges, which can rise as the final shipping dates approach,” Steinitz explained.

While two-day shipping might be the norm throughout the year, it’s not always feasible during the holiday crunch due to the surge in online orders. Steinitz notes that factors such as holiday surcharges, winter weather conditions, labor disruptions, and international tariffs can all influence delivery schedules.

“This time of year brings greater uncertainty,” Steinitz remarked. “The volume of mail is two to three times higher than usual, yet the capacity remains the same, leading to potential delays.”

And it’s not just shoppers feeling the pressure. Small businesses, especially those selling on platforms like Etsy or eBay, have to navigate multiple carriers, rising shipping costs, and customer expectations.

“Not every small or medium business has access not just to the rates and pricing benefits but also to all the data, order management, and a dashboard to manage their business. That is what is going on behind the scenes that you often do not see as a consumer, but we are providing those tools to the merchants and small businesses so they can manage their business,” Steinitz mentioned.

If you’re using standard shipping through the U.S. Postal Service, Steinitz recommends giving yourself a shipping deadline of December 17. 

If you’re willing to pay for expedited shipping, then you can push that date to just days before Christmas. Even FedEx and UPS say you could pull off sending something on the 23rd if you’re willing to invest in the shipping fees. These dates do not include Alaska or Hawaii.