Mail Boxes Etc. Helps Ease Holiday Packing & Shipping Concerns

The advent of the holiday season brings with it concerns about getting holiday gifts to their destinations on time -- and in one piece.

The professional holiday helpers at Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE) offer a full range of services designed to take the hassle out of the holidays.

"This holiday season, it is more important than ever to ensure that holiday shipments are properly packaged," said Jim Amos, MBE president and CEO. "Our franchisees are committed to providing real help -- not only by saving consumers time, but also offering shipping recommendations and packaging expertise."

To avoid delivery delays, MBE offers the following key tips:

• Make sure each package is clearly labeled with BOTH the recipient's and sender's addresses.
• Call the package recipient ahead of time, so that he/she knows to expect a delivery.
• Items that could possibly leak require extra care in packing.
• For additional peace of mind, utilize carriers like UPS who offer customers the ability to track packages from origin to destination.
• People traveling by plane for the holidays might consider shipping holiday gifts and/or luggage in lieu of bringing these items on the plane. This is a particularly attractive option given airline restrictions on carry-on baggage.

"With increased airport security, there is a higher likelihood airline travelers might be asked to open gift-wrapped packages for inspection," added Amos. "Shipping gifts beforehand can save time and aggravation."

Customers concerned about securely packaging their holiday gifts can bring them into any MBE location to have them packed by trained and experienced professionals.

For added convenience, most MBE locations offer extended holiday hours. Amos says consumers should avoid the holiday rush by planning to ship early. However, MBE locations can accept packages as late as Saturday, December 22, for delivery on Monday, December 24.

Established in 1980, Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE), a UPS company, is the world's largest franchisor of retail postal and business services. There are nearly 4,500 MBE locations worldwide, with master license agreements covering more than 80 countries. Entrepreneur magazine has rated MBE no. 1 in the postal and business services category for 11 consecutive years and no. 2 overall on their annual "Franchise 500." In the United States, MBE locations are owned and operated by licensed franchisees of Mail Boxes Etc. Inc. Outside the United States, MBE locations are owned and operated by MBE master licensees or their franchisees.