Holiday shipping deadlines

[Former_Member]

USPS lists Dec 20 as the deadline for shipping First Class domestic and Dec 9 (generally) for international. Seems like cutting it a little close to me. When you post your deadlines, do you use these dates, or do any of you push it back a little more? Of course no matter what you post, you should always state that it is not guaranteed. I don't want to push the dates back too much and discourage last-minute shoppers, but I'm not sure I trust these dates.

This is only my 2nd Christmas on Etsy and last year I wasn't busy enough to worry about it. So anyone with a few more Etsy years under your belt, what do you think?

Also, where do you post these deadlines, besides your policies and announcements? Last year I put a notice right on my banner that said "See announcement for important holiday shipping dates". Do you think it is necessary to add it to item descriptions too, just to be safe?

AND, if someone orders past the date do you convo them and let them know it might not make it for Christmas (not everyone is shopping for Christmas)?

[Former_Member]

I usually post it in my announcement, and the 18th is my cut off. I don't care what USPS says, they always run super slow around christmas. If someone orders after that I send them a convo askingif they need it for christmas, and if they do they'll have to pay for express (in a nice way obviously)

I don't get a ton of christmas orders though - mine tend to die out after mid december anyhow.

[Former_Member]

Last year was my first year here, too. I pushed my deadline back to accomodate for my turn-around time plus a few days. So this year, at this moment, I would post it about 12 days earlier than the actual dates.

Thanks for posting these, though! I keep meaning to check their dates!

[Former_Member]

Thanks guys!

I agree, Shiv, I don't trust them either.

And I still have to figure out dates to accommodate turnaround time for custom stuff.

[PattenCreations]

I have this in my policies
* Shipping Deadlines for Christmas:
- Domestic US: December 15th for standard parcel post.
- Canada: December 9th
- Mexico: December 9th
- Everywhere Else: December 2nd

with a note in my announcements to check that date. I need to get in each listing fairly soon (for made to order things) and put in a last date to ORDER in time for Christmas. I may move those dates up a week without priority because I've heard some rumblings that things may be slower....

[Former_Member]

Hmm.. I can't believe the deadline is the 20th for first class... I would push that back a bit. I have in my policies that first class is 2-6 days at best, but delays to weather especially in December should be expected.

I wasn't considering putting a deadline in my shop but I guess there are plenty of people who don't consider many factors when buying right before the holiday.

[Former_Member]

Shiv - oddly that's what happened to me last year too - mine actually died before that, in November...which sucked. So let's hope we get Xmas madness here!

Thanks for bringing this up RRizz - I put my holiday shipping notes in my Policies and Announcement today!

[christmasangel]

Canada Post's shipping deadlines are as follows for packages:

Canada - Dec. 12th

US - Dec. 8th

Asia and Europe - Nov. 29th

Australia and New Zealand - they are not even giving dates unless it is for Expresspost which is ultra pricey.

So, my deadlines will be:

Canada - Dec. 7th

US - Dec. 2nd

Asia and Europe - Nov. 23rd

Australia and New Zealand - No guarantees :(

Have to put my deadlines back as it is dependent on whether or not they have fed the sled dogs that week LOL

[Former_Member]

From the UK:


Monday 05 December South & Central America, Caribbean,
Africa,MiddleEast, Asia, Australia and New Zealand
Friday 09 December Eastern Europe, USA and Canada
Monday 12 December Western Europe

[Former_Member]

These are the dates I got from Canada Post and that I've posted in my shop...


SUGGESTED STANDARD SHIPPING DATES FOR HOLIDAY SHOPPING (according to Canada Post):
Canada: December 12th
U.S.A: December 2nd
International: October 25th-November 22nd (depending on location)


Yeah, they were not very specific with international...