We would love to visit all out our loved ones over the Christmas period, sometimes that is not possible. Over the many years, Irish people have moved to all four corners of the globe. This is why so many people choose to send their friends and family those precious Christmas gifts by courier. The run-up to Christmas is the busiest time of the year for sending parcels, so to help make sure your Christmas presents are posted and delivered on time, here’s our guide to sending Christmas Presents by Courier.
1. Don’t Wait Until The Last Minute
This time of year is extremely busy for sending parcels, and this can lead to delays with delivery, so your parcel may take a little longer than normal to be delivered. If you want to make sure your Christmas presents arrive in time, get them sent as early as you can. Hopefully the receiver will not be tempted to have a sneaky look! If you’re a last-minute shopper, please be sure to check the sending dates we have, and choose the express services.
2. Avoid The Post Office Queues
You can avoid queuing up at the Post Office by booking a courier with Parcel Direct who will collect from your address. You can now sit back, relax and have a cuppa. You can also choose our handy Drop-Off option with Parcel Direct Local and drop your parcel off at a time and place that suits you. Really handy if you can’t wait in for the courier, or have some extra shopping to do. As an added bonus, you will save loads of money with www.ParcelDirect.ie
3. Pick Presents That Are Suitable For Sending
If you’re still choosing which gifts to send, try and pick gifts that will travel well and are easy to pack and are not restricted in the country you are sending to. A number of items aren’t allowed to be sent with our couriers (restricted and prohibited items) so make sure you don’t buy these items to send. If an item is restricted or prohibited, we suggest ordering it directly from the retailer and having it delivered directly to the receiver.
4. Packing Your Christmas Presents
Packing is very important to ensure your Christmas gifts arrive safely. Have a read of our Blog Post to parcel packing. It can be tempting to add some festive decorations to the outside of your parcel but we’d advise against this. Tinsel, bows, ribbons etc. can get tangled up when the parcel is being processed by our couriers. If you want to decorate your parcel, we suggest using two boxes and to put your nicely decorated box in a larger plain box. Remember to use padding to protect your nicely decorated gift box.
5. Sending Christmas Presents Abroad
If you’re sending Christmas presents abroad, there are some things you should remember. If the parcel is staying within the EU, then you won’t have to complete any extra paperwork, like commercial invoices. If your Christmas presents are being sent outside the EU, then you will need to complete a Commercial Invoice. Completing this form is easy with Parcel Direct, and will be completed as you make your booking online. You’ll also need to check the different customs and import procedures and charges for each country. In most countries, there are no duties for gifts, but this is not always the case, so it’s best to find these out in advance, rather than leave the receiver of the gift with an unwanted bill.
If you still think you need some more advice, please feel free to call us, and we will be glad to help out. www.parceldirect.ie