We all know the value of making purchases from stores right here at home — especially when it comes to selecting the perfect gifts for the holidays.
It often means coming up with something truly unique and memorable, quite apart from so much of what’s too readily available to everyone else with little more than the click of a mouse and disclosure of credit card details to some far away merchant. [1,2]
To the recipient, it evokes images of you, as the giver, bundling-up and braving the crazy weather here in Michigan to hunt and embrace serendipity and pick up this or that, physically imagining how it will look on the intendeds’ mantle or bookshelf or wall. Out among your fellow hunters, taking in the music we can only really hear this time of year. And, yes, probably stopping every so often to fuel your efforts with a hot chocolate (because calorie-counting stopped for 2018 when pumpkin pie was served two weeks ago).
These are gifts from a giver who took the time to get them just right.
“Time?” you’re now thinking, with yet another shopping weekend about to slip away. “I won’t be seeing all of the people I want to buy for this month, including my niece in California and my friend in Pennsylvania and my sister in Hawaii, and even my aunt and uncle in Ohio.
“I wonder if The UPS Store in Saline has posted best-rate deadlines for shipping, like I read about last year.” [4]
Indeed they have.
Here are the current “Last Days to Ship” dates for delivery by December 24. [5,6]
- UPS 3-Day Select: By Tuesday, December 18
- UPS 2nd-Day Air: By Thursday, December 20
- UPS Next-Day Air: By Friday, December 21
Additionally, regardless of what size vehicle you drive, it obviously makes good sense to clear out trunk and backseat or truck bed regularly along the way to keep the shopping momentum running smoothly; think about shipping early and often. To support his, The UPS Store not only offers comprehensive packing services, but also extended holiday hours through December 21. [7]
- Monday 8:30am to 7:00pm
- Tuesday 8:30am to 7:00pm
- Wednesday 8:30am to 7:00pm
- Thursday 8:30am to 7:00pm
- Friday 8:30am to 7:00pm
- Saturday 9:30am to 5:00pm
- Sunday 10:30am to 5:00pm
Store owner Raj Gill also asked that Saline Journal readers be reminded that area residents and businesses that are expecting to receive packages consider security concerns related to their deliveries. If no one is going to be physically present to receive a parcel, arrangements can be made to have delivery re-routed to The UPS Store here in Saline for pickup. Plan ahead for this.
Now that those shop local plans are looking that much better organized for time, consider having a tasty baked treat with that hot chocolate. Better still: Ship a box of fresh Saline-made goodies to a far-away friend.
References
- “Saline Police Department To Host Fraud Expert For “Scam Presentation” At United Church Of Christ On November 29” Dell Deaton (November 21, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “‘If You Only Remember One Thing From My Presentation Tonight, Remember This,’ Detective Jeremy Stempien, Regarding Scams” Dell Deaton (November 30, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “Make a Plan to Ship Packages for Delivery Before Christmas Day” Janet Deaton (December 14, 2017) Saline Journal.
- The UPS Store (Saline location).
- UPS (home page).
- “Domestic Shipping Service” UPS.
- “Packing Services” The UPS Store.
