post office

Is the Post Office Open on Veterans Day 2016?

November 8, 2016 By Alexa Mason 1 Comment

Each time a federal holiday comes around many people get confused as to what is open and what is closed. Some businesses will be operating on regular business hours while others will close. Most retailers will be open and have sales, however, nonessential government offices will be closed.

Veterans Day falls on Friday, November 11 this year. Post offices are generally open for business on Fridays so many people will be wondering, “is the post office open on Veterans Day?”

Is the Post Office Open on Veterans Day?

Post offices are closed on Veterans Day. Post offices locations generally close in observance of most federal holidays. Veterans Day happens to be one of those holidays. Because Veterans Day falls on a Friday this year, the post office will be closed on Friday. Some locations will also be closed on Saturday and Sunday.

The post office will also be closed for the following holidays through the end of 2016:

Thursday, Nov. 24 – Thanksgiving Day

Sunday, Dec. 25 – Christmas Day

What Services Are Available at the Post Office on Veterans Day?

Postal employees will not be working on Friday, however, there will be limited services still available at your local P.O. People who rent mailboxes at post office locations will still be able to access their P.O. box as they would be able to any other day of the year. Most locations have automated postage machines in the lobby of the post office. If your local post office has one of these machines you will be able to calculate and purchase postage and send outgoing mail. Mail will not be picked up from mailboxes on Veterans Day.

Mail will also not be delivered to residences or businesses on Friday unless it is Priority Mail Express. Priority Mail is delivered by the post office 365 days a year. Not all locations provide Priority Mail delivery on Sundays and holidays (like Veterans Day). Delivery is available in most major markets though. If you need to ship something on Veterans Day you should check with your local P.O. to insure that delivery is available on federal holidays.

What Days Will Mail Be Delivered?

Mail delivery service is confusing when a holiday falls in the middle or the end of the week. This is the mail schedule for the week of Veterans Day:

Sunday, Nov. 6 – Closed

Monday, Nov. 7 – Open. Regular business hours and mail service.

Tuesday, Nov. 8 – Open. Regular business hours and mail service.

Wednesday, Nov. 9 – Open. Regular business hours and mail service.

Thursday, Nov. 10 – Open. Regular business hours and mail service.

Friday, Nov. 11 – Closed for the Veterans Day holiday.

Saturday, Nov. 12 – Regular Saturday service.

What if you need to ship something on Veterans Day and cannot wait for the post office to open on Thursday? There are a few other options to ship your package.

Is FedEx Open?

FedEx is open on Veterans Day. Federal Express will provide their normal services on Friday. FedEx may have altered holiday hours on Friday. If you plan to drop items off at FedEx, check their hours of operation on Veterans Day.

Is UPS Open?

UPS is open on Veterans Day. UPS will provide normal delivery and pick up service on Veterans Day.

Photo: grassrootsgroundswell

Is the Post Office Open on New Year’s Day 2016?

December 28, 2015 By Alexa Mason 3 Comments

The Post Office has been a busy place the last few weeks with people mailing Christmas cards and packages to their friends and family. The growing popularity of online Christmas shopping has also increased the demand on postal workers. The Christmas rush may be over, but many people still have mail, such as charitable donations, that must be postmarked by the end of the year.

The post office, like banks, closes in observance of most federal holidays, but even for the most organized person post office hours can be confusing when the holiday falls on a Friday. Are Post Offices open on New Year’s Day?

Are Post Offices Open New Year’s Day?

Post offices are closed on New Year’s Day. The Post Office closes in observance of ten federal holidays each year. New Year’s Day on January 1st is the first federal holiday that the post office closes in observance of in 2016.

The Post Office will be open regular hours on New Year’s Eve, Thursday December 31st. Mail pickup from blue collection boxes will be completed at noon on New Year’s Eve. If you drop your mail in a box that is normally picked up after noon, be sure to drop it earlier on New Year’s Eve.

When Will Mail Be Delivered During The Holiday Week?

Mail delivery can be confusing when a holiday falls on Friday. Here is the mail schedule for the week:

Sunday, December 27th – Closed

Monday, December 28th – Open. Regular business hours and mail service.

Tuesday, December 29th – Open. Regular business hours and mail service.

Wednesday, December 30th – Open. Regular business hours and mail service.

Thursday, December 31st – Open. Regular business hours and mail service. Drop mail in blue boxes before noon.

Friday, January 1st – Closed

Saturday, January 2nd – Regular Saturday service.

What If I Need Postal Services on New Year’s Day?

If you need postal services on New Year’s Day and cannot wait until Saturday, there are limited services available at your local post office. Customers who rent mailboxes at postal locations will be able to access their post office box as they would on a Sunday. No new mail will be delivered to the mailbox on New Year’s Day.

Most post offices have automated postage machines in their lobbies where customers can calculate and purchase postage. The lobbies will be open on New Year’s Day to purchase postage from the automated postage machines and drop outgoing mail. Outgoing mail will not be picked up from mailboxes on New Year’s Day and will not be postmarked on January 1st.

There will be no mail delivery to residences or businesses on New Year’s Day, except for Priority Mail Express. Priority Mail Express items are delivered by the post office 365 days a year. Not all service areas are eligible for Priority Mail Express delivery on Sundays and holidays, but delivery is available in most major markets.

Is FedEx Open?

FedEx is closed on New Year’s Day. FedEx is open regular hours on New Year’s Eve and closed on New Year’s Day. The company will resume regular Saturday service on Saturday, January 2nd.

Is UPS Open?

UPS is closed on January 1st. UPS is open on New Year’s Eve with normal delivery and pick up service.

It’s important to keep in mind the holidays that the post office, FedEx and UPS close in observance of when planning for both your personal and business needs.

Are the Post Offices open or Closed on Veterans Day 2016?

November 6, 2015 By Guest Writer 1 Comment

Federal holidays can be confusing for even the most organized people. Some businesses operate on regular business hours. Other businesses are closed. Almost all retailers are open on holidays and have sales.

This year Veterans Day (Nov. 11) falls on a Friday, when the post office is normally open for business. With the holiday falling at the end of the week, many people are asking, “Is the post office open or closed on Veterans Day?”

Are Post Offices Open or Closed on Veterans Day?

Post offices are closed on Veterans Day. The Post Office closes in observance of ten federal holidays. Veterans Day, November 11th, is one of the federal holidays that the post office observes. Since Veterans Day falls on a Friday this year, the post office will be closed on Friday, November 11th. The post office will also be closed for the following holidays in 2016:

Thursday, Nov. 26 – Thanksgiving Day

Friday, Dec. 25 – Christmas Day

Although postal employees will not be working, there will be limited services available at your local post office. Customers who rent mailboxes at postal locations will be able to access their post office box as they would on a Sunday. No new mail will be delivered to the box on Veterans Day. Most post offices have automated postage machines in their lobbies where customers can calculate and purchase postage. The lobbies will be open to purchase postage from the automated postage machines and drop outgoing mail. Outgoing mail will not be picked up from mailboxes on Veterans Day.

There will be no mail delivery to residences or businesses on Veterans Day, except for Priority Mail Express. Priority Mail Express items are delivered by the post office 365 days a year (yes even on Christmas Day). Not all service areas are eligible for Priority Mail Express delivery on Sundays and holidays, but delivery is available in most major markets. If you need to ship something with delivery on November 11th, check with your post office to make sure that Sunday and holiday delivery is available at the destination.

What Days Will Mail Be Delivered?

Mail delivery service is confusing when a holiday falls in the middle of the week. This is the mail schedule for the week of Veterans Day:

Sunday, Nov. 6 – Closed

Monday, Nov. 7 – Open. Regular business hours and mail service.

Tuesday, Nov. 8 – Open. Regular business hours and mail service.

Wednesday, Nov. 9 – Closed

Thursday, Nov. 10 – Open. Regular business hours and mail service.

Friday, Nov. 11 – Open. Regular business hours and mail service.

Saturday, Nov. 12 – Regular Saturday service.

What if you need to ship something on Veterans Day and cannot wait for the post office to open on Thursday? There are a few other options to ship your package.

Is FedEx Open?

FedEx is open on Veterans Day. FedEx will provide normal delivery and pick up service on Veterans Day. If you plan to drop off at a FedEx store, check their operating hours before heading out.

Is UPS Open?

UPS is open on Veterans Day. UPS will provide normal delivery and pick up service on Veterans Day.

Are The Post Offices Open Halloween 2015?

October 27, 2015 By Amanda Blankenship 1 Comment

Holidays can get a little confusing when it comes to figuring out what is open and what is closed. The United States Postal Service (USPS) is generally closed on federal holidays and on Sundays.

Is the Post Office Open for Halloween?

Halloween is not a federal holiday so the post office, along with many other stores and services will still be available during their regular times. This Halloween just so happens to fall on a Saturday, so the post office is open. However, post office times on Saturdays vary from town to town, so check out the times at your local P.O. to find out what the hours are at your post office this Halloween.

The Post Office Closes in Observance of the Following Federal Holidays:

New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday
Presidents Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veterans’ Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day

Halloween, however, is not one of those days, so don’t worry! You’ll still be able to drop off any packages, mail letters and use the USPS as usual. Be sure to check out your local USPS hours here.

What’s Open and Closed on Memorial Day 2015

May 23, 2015 By Jeffrey Strain Leave a Comment

The weekend of May 23 through May 25, 2015, is Memorial Day weekend. As with many federal holidays, it can get confusing as to what will and won’t be open on Memorial Day. The United States doesn’t have national holidays, so while federal employees will have Memorial Day off, people working in other sectors may or may not have the day off depending on what the company they work for decides. Since each individual workplace decides whether or not to remain open, it can get quite confusing as to what will and won’t be open. Below you’ll find a list of those places you can expect to be open and closed on Monday, May 25, 2015.

Retail Stores

Most retail stores are open. Memorial Day has become an event to drive traffic to stores at the beginning of the summer season through Memorial Day sales. Due to this, most retail outlets remain open on Memorial Day. Major retailers like Walmart, Target, Macys and Sears will all be open on May 25. The one major retailer which closes its doors for the day is Costco. You can see the list of stores which will be open and closed here.

Grocery Stores

Grocery stores are open. For those who find they need to stop by their local grocery store to get food on May 25, you’ll be happy to know that all major grocery store chains will be open. It’s important to note that some of the grocery stores will be open for holiday hours, and not their regular Monday hours. If you plan to go to the store in the evening, you may want to call to confirm they will be open when you are planning to go.

Drugstores

Drug stores are open. All three of the major national drugstores (Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens) will be open for business on Memorial Day. Most local and independent drugstores should also be open, but you will want to call to confirm and to check their hours.

Federal, State and Local Government Offices

Government offices are closed. Since Memorial Day is a federal holiday, all government offices at the federal state and local level are closed as long as they are nonessential. Those government entities which are considered vital, such as police departments and fire stations, will remain open.

Stock Markets

Stock markets are closed. While the stock markets don’t close on every federal holiday, the two major stock markets (the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ) will both be closed on Memorial Day.

Banks & Credit Unions

Banks and credit unions are closed. The vast majority of banks and credit unions will be closed on Monday, May 25. There aren’t a few exceptions, but they are far and few between. You can see a complete list here.

US Postal Service

Post office branches are closed. Since the United States Postal Service is part of the federal government, post office branches will be closed on Memorial Day. There will be no mail delivered as well. Both Federal Express and United Postal Service will also be closed to observe the holiday.

Schools

Schools are closed. The vast majority of both public and private schools observe federal holidays. These institutions will not be open in order to observe the holiday.

Libraries

Libraries are closed. Libraries typically observe federal holidays, so most will be closed on May 25.

Garbage Service

Garbage service is closed. For those who typically have their garbage picked up on Monday, that service may not run depending on what city or town you live in. In many cases, garbage service is rescheduled for Tuesday, May 26, but you should check with your local garbage service to confirm.

Restaurants

In most cases, restaurants are open. If you plan to eat out on Memorial Day, you’ll be happy to know that most major chain restaurants will remain open. If you’re planning to go to a local restaurant, you will want to call to confirm that they will be open. Many independently owned restaurants close on Monday as their day off for the week, so keep this in mind.

Gas Stations

Gas stations are open. Those traveling over the Memorial Day weekend should have no problem finding gas. Most gas stations will remain open to cater to the holiday traffic, and if there is one that closes, there should be plenty of others around to fill the void.

(Photo courtesy of Dawn Paperin)

What’s Open and Closed on Thanksgiving Day 2014

November 26, 2014 By Jeffrey Strain 4 Comments

Thanksgiving Day used to be a day where consumers could pretty much assume everything would be closed for the day, but that’s no longer the case. While the vast majority of institutions will shut their doors to let families celebrate the holiday day together, there are more and more retail outlets opening their doors, and the idea of Thanksgiving being a holiday for everyone is beginning to show cracks. For those who are planning to be out and about on Thursday, November 27, 2014, below you’ll find what you can expect to be open and closed for Thanksgiving.

Retail Stores

Large retail stores may open or may be closed. There are a lot of retail stores open on Thanksgiving Day, although this will be for limited hours for most. On the other side, there are a group of retailers who continue to refuse to open for Thanksgiving. For those stores that do open, here is a list of their opening times.

For those who decide to take advantage of the deals available at stores which open on the holiday, don’t forget the most important rule to save money during sales — the price you pay for something on sale fails to be a good deal no matter how low the price if it’s something you would not normally purchase. When you purchase something because it has a good price and not because you need it, you are basically impulse buying on price, and that’s never a good thing.

Three Major Drug Store Chains

Drug stores are open. All three big drugstore chains (CVS, Rite-Aid and Walgreens) will open on Thanksgiving, but may have limited hours Local drugstores, independent drugstores and smaller chains will likely be closed. Contact them to confirm to be sure.

Gas Stations

Most gas stations should be open. While not all gas stations will be open, there should be enough in your area to fill up with gas if need be. Those along the highway should be open for travelers as well. The service departments of stations will be closed.

Major Chain Grocery Stores

Most major chain grocery store chains are open. Most major grocery chain grocery stores will be open for business on Thanksgiving Day (there are some exceptions like Trader Joe’s), but most will have limited hours. Smaller grocery stores and ethnic food grocery stores will likely be closed for the day. It’s best to contact to confirm opening hours before making a trip to one.

Chain and Independent Restaurants

Some restaurants will be open while others will be closed. Many national chain restaurants will be open while independently owned restaurants may have a special Thanksgiving Meal special. If you’re planning to go out to eat, it’s best to call to confirm whether or not they will be open and the hours.

US Stock Markets

The stock markets are closed. The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ stock market will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Libraries

Public libraries are closed. Public libraries will shut their doors on Thanksgiving (and many of theme will be closed the day after Thanksgiving as well).

Schools

Schools are closed. Public and private schools will be closed for the day. Most schools will have the day after Thanksgiving off as well.

Garbage Services

Most garbage service will be rescheduled. Most people who usually have their garbage service pick-up on Thursday will have it rescheduled for another day. be sure to call your local garbage service to get the holiday schedule.

Federal Government Offices

Most government offices are closed. Thanksgiving Day is an official federal holiday, so all non-essential federal government offices will closed. There are some government services like air traffic control and law enforcement which are essential, and they will remain open.

State and Local Government Offices

State and Local government offices are closed. Most state and local government offices will be closed for Thanksgiving, but essential services such as police departments and fire departments will remain open.

Credit Unions and Banks

Banks are closed. Both credit unions and banks will be closed for Thanksgiving Day. Some banking services that don’t require a teller can be done at AMTs, through the bank’s app or on the bank’s website.

Post Offices

Post offices are closed. The US Postal Service (USPS) and all local post offices will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. There will be no home of business mail delivery.

(Photo courtesy of Ben+Sam)