Want to post Christmas parcels in time? Here are tips

Christmas gifts should be sent as early as possible to avail the cheapest rates. The deadline for the lowest price option of the Royal Mail has already passed. But you can still choose from signature, international tracked, and standard options. The deadline varies from country to country. Look for your country's deadline on the Royal Mail's website.

It is likely December 14 for France, December 10 for Canada, US, and Poland, and December 1 for Australia and New Zealand.

The Royal Mail has set the deadline to be December 16 in the UK.


But if you fail to meet that, there are services with a later deadline, but the charges are way higher. The latest date to send a Christmas present via Royal Mail is December 23. But considering that postal workers are planning to go on a six-day strike, it is better you don't take a chance with your presents. Sources tell us that one of the six days includes Christmas Eve.


You can send a Christmas present to the US by 23 December at the latest. But that's not the case in Australia. You have to send them by 20 December to get them home by Christmas. And don't forget to use the right mailing service, or your present might end up in a pile somewhere.

FAQs:

1. What are the cheapest courier rates?
   Considering that your parcel weighs 3 kg, the Royal Mail will charge you £37.02 to send it to France. While ParcelBroker will charge you £23.70. In the US, ParcelBroker charges £48.25 for an untracked parcel and £78.55 for one-day delivery. ParcelHero charges £33.87 for an untracked parcel and £57.73 for next-day delivery.
2. Do we need to fill out customs forms for sending Christmas gifts?
   All gifts that are sent outside the UK need to be reported to customs. You will have to fill out a detailed form where you are also asked to disclose the contents of your parcel for security reasons.