Extended Delivery Times Expected By Local Shipping Companies

With COVID extending delivery times, local shipping companies are recommending to get your presents delivered this week.

Matt Hall is the franchise owner of Cookeville’s UPS Store. Hall said the earlier you drop off your package, the better.

“Right now, it just really honestly depends,” Hall said. “If you are going out to the west coast, yeah, absolutely you want to get in today and ship that. If it is going to Kentucky, you probably have a couple days left.”

Hall said one mistake he commonly comes across is inappropriate packaging for breakables. Hall said to use approved shipping style boxes with plenty of bubble wrap.

“They don’t pack very well,” Hall said. “They will send something like a ceramic coffee mug in a package that has not been an approved shipping style box, and thy don’t pack it well enough with bubble wrap.”

If you are a novice at packaging, Hall said his employees are professionals, so stop by to secure your gifts.

“Here at the UPS store, we actually offer packing services,” Hall said. “We are the packing experts. We have pack and ship guarantee. Basically means that if it was damaged in shipping and we packed it, not only would they get that claim approved on a particular item, but on top of that, they would actually get whatever they paid us to pack and ship it.”