Send your parcels on time this Christmas

As you may have noticed from all of the decorations, songs and TV ads—the Christmas season is once again upon us!

This is by far the busiest season for deliveries, as families and friends send gifts to their loved ones and businesses cater to customer demand.

So if you have a parcel to send this Christmas, here’s what you need to know to ensure that your parcels are delivered on time.

Collection cut-off dates

Couriers aren’t always exact with their cut-off dates, as high Christmas volume tends to require some leeway. This means that, whoever you’re shipping with, you should always add one or two extra working days to expected transit times.

 (Image credit: Andy Rogers.)

Only UPS and TNT have published clear cut-off dates at the moment, which you can find below. Please note that these dates are for final collections, not deliveries.

UPS

For UPS (click to go to their site), Wednesday December 23rd is the last possible collection date for deliveries that may arrive in time for Christmas—but this will depend on the service (e.g. Express) and collection and delivery locations.

On Thursday December 24th, collection requests can be made until 1pm and will be carried out until 3pm. UPS drop-off centres will be open until 5pm. However, deliveries will arrive at their destinations after Christmas.

TNT

For TNT (click to go to their site), Wednesday December 23rd is the last possible collection date for deliveries that may arrive in time for Christmas, but only if they are next-day delivery services. TNT will still make collections on Thursday December 24th, but deliveries will not arrive until after Christmas.

For information about Transglobal Express cut-off times, please see our website.

Avoiding customs delays

Remember that, if you are sending parcels to a destination outside of the European Union (EU), or to the UK from outside of the EU, they will need to clear customs.

It’s always advisable to allow extra time for customs clearance, but this is particularly true over the Christmas period, when there may be a seasonal backlog.

 (Image credit: Joe Buckingham.)

You should also be aware of carriers’ prohibited and restricted items, which may include perfumes, aerosols, aftershave, alcohol, and certain foods. Believe it or not, even Christmas crackers may be considered an explosive hazard.

Please also check the packaging guidelines for your carrier—you should use sturdy, protective packaging. Your parcel should not be covered in Christmas wrapping paper, as customs officials may need to open your parcel to inspect the goods.

You should know the rules before you send to avoid extra fees and unwanted delays.

Transglobal Express opening hours

With Transglobal Express, you can get a quote and book your parcel delivery online at any time. We offer reduced rates with major carriers such as UPS, TNT and DHL.

If you need any assistance, call us on 0345 145 1212, or email sales@transglobalexpress.co.uk. Our customer services team are available:

Monday to Friday: 8:00am-6:30pm.

Saturday: 9:00am-1:00pm.

Over the Christmas holidays, our offices will be closed on:

Christmas Day (December 25th)
Boxing Day (December 26th - Saturday)
Substitute Boxing Day (December 28th)
New Year’s Day (January 1st)

For more information, or to book your Christmas deliveries, please visit transglobalexpress.co.uk.