If You're Shipping Packages From San Clemente, Make Sure They Arrive Before Christmas!

SAN CLEMENTE, CA — While some San Clemente shoppers are eager to return to stores for the 2021 holiday season, many are once again turning to their computers and smartphones to do the majority of their Christmas shopping.

It's the second holiday season amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and forecasts predict more than 80 percent of consumers still plan to do more of their holiday shopping online.

In fact, more than 94 percent of U.S. consumers will do at least some of their holiday shopping online, according to a survey by DealAid.org.

Most — about 39 percent — wait until December to start checking items off their lists. About 28 percent started prior to Thanksgiving.

If you do plan to shop small and send gifts to friends and family across the country, it pays to plan in advance.

There’s still plenty of time to shop in December, however, the U.S. Postal Service and other major package delivery companies are reminding shoppers to build in plenty of extra time to ensure all those gifts are delivered by Christmas Day.

Extra time may be especially important given the Postal Service’s new "service standards,” rolled out earlier this month. The new standards will result in slower mail delivery and higher prices at the post office.

While the service changes will be more noticeable in certain parts of the country, others won't see much of a disruption.

RELATED: Slower Mail, Higher Prices: 5 Things To Know About USPS Changes

Here are the 2021 holiday shipping deadlines you need to know when shipping packages from Orange County across the country:

U.S. Postal Service

• USPS Retail Ground: Wednesday, Dec. 15
• First-Class Mail: Friday, Dec. 17
• Priority Mail: Saturday, Dec. 18
• USPS Priority Mail Express: Thursday, Dec. 23

If you’re shipping abroad or to a member of the U.S. military, special deadlines apply.

UPS

• UPS Ground Shipping: Monday, Dec. 20
• UPS 3 Day Select: Tuesday, Dec. 21
• UPS 2nd Day Air: Wednesday, Dec. 22
• UPS Next Day Air: Thursday, Dec. 23

FedEx

• FedEx Ground/Home Delivery: Wednesday, Dec. 15
• FedEx Express Saver: Tuesday, Dec. 21
• FedEx 2Day: Wednesday, Dec. 22
• FedEx Overnight: Thursday, Dec. 23

And for your own package deliverers, don't forget the snacks.

Related:

Delivery Driver Snacks A Must, SoCal Online Shoppers Say