Author: Chrissie Nelms, Customer Experience Manager, Rush Order
More than ever, this year’s holiday shipping season brings a unique set of challenges. You’ve worked hard all year to navigate a pandemic, launch new products, and hopefully, save, stabilize and/or grow your business. Let’s end 2020 on a positive.
First, the expensive news. Starting November 2nd for FedEx and November 15th for UPS, both carriers will levy a $1 – $4 surcharge on all Ground and Expedited shipments in the US.
International shipments are already subject to additional surcharges based on weight. The international surcharges are applicable worldwide, including shipments from Rush Order’s Europe and Asia warehouse locations.
If you ship larger or bulkier items, these may be subject to additional peak surcharges of $5 – $50!
Here are links to the specific details on these ground, expedited, international, and large item peak surcharges from FedEx and UPS.
Between October 18th – December 27th, US Postal Service will assess a $0.25 surcharge on all First Class Mail parcels and $0.40 on Priority Mail parcels.
We expect other carriers around the world to levy similar surcharges and price increases this holiday season.
On top of these additional expenses, all three major US carriers are seeing significant struggles delivering parcels on time. Instances of lost and/or damaged parcels are also on the rise. We are seeing similar delays and frustrations worldwide. Our previous comments regarding how to navigate these challenges and still deliver an awesome customer experience still apply.
With performance suffering and delivery guarantees suspended, make sure you plan accordingly and set expectations with your customers. Deadlines to ship orders in time for Christmas delivery are a couple of days earlier this year, almost across all regions and carriers globally.
OK, with all that bad news out of the way, you can still delight your customers and finish the year strong.
As we do every before the holiday season, Rush Order created a nearly comprehensive list of global shipping deadlines to help ensure delivery before Christmas.
The following table is categorized by Rush Order warehouse location, as well as shipping carrier and service level. We recommend providing clear guidance to customers on your website using the following deadlines for the particular shipping service levels you offer. You are also welcome to view this table in a more user-friendly format.
Please keep in mind ground shipping deadlines in the US can be pushed out a little further if you leverage Rush Order’s locations on both coasts. For questions about US bi-coastal shipping, as well as options from our Shanghai or Tokyo warehouses, please contact your Rush Order Project Manager or through our general inbox here.
Rush Order wishes you a happy and successful holiday season!!!
Rush Order Warehouse Shipment Origin |
Customer Destination |
Carrier |
Service |
2020 Suggested Deadline for Christmas Delivery |
| AUSTRALIA (NEW SOUTH WALES) | ||||
| Australia | Australia | Startrack | Australia | 12/18/20 |
| Australia | Australia | Australian Post | Australia Priority | 12/18/20 |
| CALIFORNIA | ||||
| California | USA | FedEx | OneRate 2day | 12/22/20 |
| California | USA | FedEx | OneRate Express Saver | 12/21/20 |
| California | USA | FedEx | OneRate Priority Overnight | 12/23/20 |
| California | USA | FedEx | OneRate Standard Overnight | 12/23/20 |
| California | Canada | FedEx | Economy | 12/22/20 |
| California | USA | FedEx | 1st Overnight | 12/23/20 |
| California | USA | FedEx | 2 Day | 12/22/20 |
| California | USA | FedEx | Express Saver 3 Day | 12/21/20 |
| California | Canada | FedEx | Ground | 12/11/20 |
| California | International | FedEx | International Economy | 12/7/20 |
| California | USA | FedEx | Ground | 12/15/20 Outside of California, 12/17/20 within California |
| California | International | FedEx | International Priority | 12/14/20 |
| California | USA | FedEx | Overnight Priority | 12/23/20 |
| California | USA | FedEx | Overnight Standard | 12/23/20 |
| California | USA | FedEx | Home Delivery | 12/15/20 East Coast 12/15/20 Midwest & Southwest 12/15/20 West Coast 12/17/20 within California |
| California | USA | FedEx | SmartPost | 12/9/20 East Coast 12/9/20 Midwest and Southwest 12/9/20 West Coast 12/11/20 within California |
| California | International | USPS | USPS Air Mail | 12/15/20 |
| California | USA | USPS | Priority Mail | 12/19/20 |
| California | USA | USPS | First Class Mail | 12/18/20 |
| California | All Destinations | USPS | APO/FPO/DPO USPS Ground Service | 11/6/20 |
| California | All Destinations | USPS | APO/FPO/DPO Priority & First Class Mail | 12/9/20 |
| California | USA | UPS | UPS 1 bus day by 8am | 12/23/20 |
| California | USA | UPS | UPS Mail Innovations | 12/7/20 |
| California | International | UPS | UPS Mail Innovations Intl | 12/1/2020 Not suggested for guaranteed Christmas delivery |
| California | USA | UPS | UPS Next Day Air Saver | 12/23/20 |
| California | USA | UPS | UPS 2nd Business Day | 12/22/20 |
| California | USA | UPS | UPS 3rd Business Day | 12/21/20 |
| California | International | UPS | UPS Worldwide Express | 12/14/20 |
| California | USA | UPS | UPS Next Bus Day 10:30 | 12/23/20 |
| California | USA | UPS | UPS Ground | 12/15/20 Outside of California, 12/17/20 within California |
| California | Canada & Mexico | UPS | UPS Standard to CA & MX | 12/14/20 |
| California | International | UPS | UPS Worldwide Express (same as UPI) | 12/14/20 |
| California | International | UPS | UPS Worldwide Express Plus | 12/17/20 |
| California | International | UPS | UPS Worldwide Saver (Express) | 12/17/20 |
| California | International | UPS | UPS Worldwide Expedited | 12/18/20 |
| CANADA (ONTARIO) | ||||
| Canada | Canada | Canada Post | Expedited | 12/22/20 |
| Canada | Canada | Canada Post | Priority | 12/17/20 |
| Canada | Canada | Canada Post | Xpresspost | 12/22/20 |
| Canada | Canada | FedEx | 2Day | 12/22/20 |
| Canada | Canada | FedEx | Economy | 12/23/20 |
| Canada | Canada | FedEx | First Overnight | 12/23/20 |
| Canada | Canada | FedEx | Ground | 12/17/20 |
| Canada | Canada | FedEx | Priority Overnight | 12/23/20 |
| Canada | Canada | Purolator | Express | 12/18/20 |
| Canada | Canada | Purolator | Ground | 12/14/20 |
| Canada | Canada | UPS | Express Early AM | 12/23/20 |
| Canada | Canada | UPS | Express | 12/23/20 |
| Canada | Canada | UPS | Standard | 12/17/20 |
| Canada | Canada | UPS | Express Saver | 12/21/20 |
| Canada | Canada | UPS | Expedited | 12/22/20 |
| HONG KONG | ||||
| Hong Kong | International | DHL Express | Express | 12/21/20 |
| Hong Kong | International | FedEx | Economy | 12/16/20 |
| Hong Kong | International | FedEx | Intl Priority | 12/14/20 |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong | SF Express | Ground | 12/14/20 |
| THE NETHERLANDS | ||||
| The Netherlands | Europe | DHL | Express | 12/21/20 |
| The Netherlands | Europe | DHL | Next Day Noon | 12/23/20 |
| The Netherlands | Europe | DHL | Next Day EOD | 12/23/20 |
| The Netherlands | Europe | DHL | Next day by 10:30 | 12/23/20 |
| The Netherlands | Europe | DPD | Classic Service | 12/17/20 |
| The Netherlands | Europe | DPD | Express Service | 12/21/20 |
| The Netherlands | Europe | FedEx | International Economy | 12/14/20 |
| The Netherlands | Europe | FedEx | International Priority | 12/16/20 |
| The Netherlands | Europe | Deutche Post | Deutche Post | 12/14/20 |
| The Netherlands | Europe | Post NL | Post Netherlands | 12/14/20 |
| The Netherlands | Europe | UPS | Standard | 12/14/20 |
| NEW YORK | ||||
| New York | USA | FedEx | OneRate 2day | 12/22/20 |
| New York | USA | FedEx | OneRate Express Saver | 12/23/20 |
| New York | USA | UPS | 1 bus day by 8am | 12/23/20 |
| New York | USA | FedEx | OneRate Priority Overnight | 12/23/20 |
| New York | USA | FedEx | OneRate Standard Overnight | 12/23/20 |
| New York | International | USPS | USPS Air Mail | 12/15/20 |
| New York | USA | USPS | First Class | 12/19/20 |
| New York | USA | USPS | USPS Priority Mail | 12/18/20 |
| New York | All Destinations | USPS | APO/FPO/DPO USPS Ground Service | 11/6/20 |
| New York | All Destinations | USPS | APO/FPO/DPO Priority & First Class Mail | 12/9/20 |
| New York | USA | FedEx | Ground | 12/15/20 Outside of New York, 12/17/20 within New York |
| New York | USA | FedEx | Home Delivery | 12/15/20 Outside of New York, 12/17/20 within New York |
| New York | International | UPS | Mail Innovations Intl | 12/1/2020 Not suggested for guaranteed Christmas delivery |
| New York | USA | UPS | UPS Next Day Air Saver | 12/23/20 |
| New York | USA | UPS | UPS 2nd Business Day | 12/22/20 |
| New York | USA | UPS | UPS 3rd Business Day | 12/21/20 |
| New York | International | UPS | UPS Worldwide Express | 12/14/20 |
| New York | USA | UPS | UPS Next Bus Day 10:30 | 12/23/20 |
| New York | USA | UPS | UPS Ground | 12/15/20 Outside of New York, 12/17/20 within New York |
| New York | Canada & Mexico | UPS | UPS Standard to CA & MX | 12/14/20 |
| New York | International | UPS | UPS Worldwide Express | 12/14/20 |
| New York | International | UPS | UPS Worldwide Express Plus | 12/17/20 |
| New York | International | UPS | UPS Worldwide Saver | 12/17/20 |
| New York | International | UPS | UPS Worldwide Expedited | 12/18/20 |