[IanW99]

New Zealand post have published the mailing dates for this year:- Closing Dates for Sending (http://www.nzpost.co.nz/Cultures/en-NZ/Personal/SendingMail/ClosingDatesForSending/)

Thought it might be useful?

Take note that some of the dates are earlier than you may think e.g. November 15th is the last day for international economy (slightly later than last year).

Ian

[Marie P]

Cheers for that Ian :nice1

Marie x

[peebles16]

Bookmarked thanks Ian :D

Karenx

[mgbridges]

Cheers Ian, just what I needed to know. I was going to give you some Rep but I have to spread it around first.

Thanks!
Anneliese

[JandL]

Repped on your behalf :)

[Farfields]

we posted close to the 'alledged' last posting date, and felt a right pair of plonks when cards were received 2 weeks later. Most friends hadn't even realised Christmas was on it's way. Probably lost the card by the time their Christmas tree was up. Does NZ post fill up an empty sea container and ship them to the UK via Singapore or something?

[IanW99]

we posted close to the 'alledged' last posting date, and felt a right pair of plonks when cards were received 2 weeks later. Most friends hadn't even realised Christmas was on it's way. Probably lost the card by the time their Christmas tree was up. Does NZ post fill up an empty sea container and ship them to the UK via Singapore or something?

One thing to note when sending cards from NZ is that when you go to a post office for a stamp, you are normally given "International Air" which has a much later (2 weeks later) last sending date than the cheapest option.

The 22nd November date is for the cheapest mailing option which is 15% cheaper than the normal mailing option but doesn't guarantee a delivery date.

If you were to send using "International Air" on the 6th December and it took 2 weeks to arrive then this would be 20th December which seems reasonable.

Ian

[IanW99]

For those wanting to post to NZ from the UK, you can check out Post in time for Christmas (http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/content1?catId=400126&mediaId=17800253) for dates.

For example, if you want to send to NZ via surface mail then you had better hurry up as the last date is 1st October. If you want to send via Air Mail then the last date is 5th December. For any other options, use the link posted.

Ian

[Flutterby]

thankyou, The FMIL, will be impressed if they arrive with her on time this year:)

[IanW99]

Bump!

Just a reminder that you now have less than 4 weeks to send your Christmas mail via international economy (cheapest option) and less than 6 weeks for standard airmail to the rest of the world.

Ian

[Carey]

Oh no I can't possibily think about Xmas yet! Was really surprised to see Advent calendars in the shops last week; just hadn't registered with me that it was coming up!

[mgbridges]

Can I have a moment of smugness here and say that most of my Christmas shopping is done, a large percentage of it is wrapped and most of the UK stuff went back in my Mum's suitcase on Wednesday!

I'm well chuffed with myself for being 100% more organised than last year when I ended up shopping in Covent Garden thinking I'd leave it all behind when we flew out in August but... ended up bringing it with me, wrapping it here and posting it back airmail! D'OH! :o

I got my cards just this week and aim to have them all posted via international economy so will be writing them this week - well OH is off to Wellington for 2 nights and its marginally more fun that doing the ironing!

However despite doing all the above it still feels like it should be my birthday coming (June) and not Christmas - the weather is ALL wrong!

Anneliese

[Marie P]

Giving this a bump ............must get my UK Christmas pressies bought this weekend !!

Marie x

[shakyle2906]

Got to try get mine sorted this weekend. Not having to send much this year with inlaws and SIL coming out end Dec.

Got to get some cards written though!

Sharon
x

[Sam B]

All done, all wrapped, all ready for posting.

Smugness emanating from computer....

[sasvanb]

Fab reminder Ian... thanks! :bluebanana

Saves me going to look it up.

Sam B: I'd happily provide ample payment for a service of that sort if you're offering! :laugh

Saskia

[mgbridges]

All done, all wrapped, all ready for posting.

Smugness emanating from computer....

You and me both Sam! I've even got the cards sitting on the dining room table ready to be written, padded postage-paid envelopes from the post office and a pile of the little green customs declaration forms.

Now all I have to do is find time to write card, put with parcel, put in packaging, label, take to post office and actually post them!

Anneliese

[LesleyS]

Got the cards....now just gotta get writing....missed the economy option last year, cost me loads more in postage!

[IanW99]

Bump, now less than a week left for those who want to send post overseas via the cheapest mailing option - which means of course that there is now less than three weeks left to send by normal air mail.

Ian

[jubjub]

Memo to self... must go buy xmas cards....

[shakyle2906]

Well, I have got the cards out ready to write.............just got to sit down and persevere and do them. Jus not got any family ones yet!

Not got anything for family back in Uk yet i am ashamed to say - hope to pop into town thur/fri night and do a quick shop!

Got quite lot for my little boy here though if thats any help!

Lots to do and less than a week to do!

Sharon
x

[Janey]

Well I wrote my cards sent the surface mail on 1/11 with aim to be there 15th Dec packed up parcels sent 2/11 guess what they all arrived Friday this week Doh! so all my relies and friends now have a xmas card to put on there shelf!
I sent Birthday cards at the beginning of October and they took 3 weeks to arrive
there seems to be no reasoning on dates

[cappuccino]

I sent a parcel last week with my daughter's birthday present (b'day end of November) and it arrived in 5 days. I only posted early cos I was scared it would get caught up in the Xmas madness but better that it arrived early than late or not at all.

Anybody else hate those green custom labels that make you declare what you have inside the parcel which spoils the surprise if it's a birthday gift? I have started to get creative and describe everything a 'decorative wall hanging'!!!

[Janey]

like it yes I agree, if you send anything to Canada and do not attach one of these they do not deliver, my SIL and I wondered why FIL did not get any photos or cards etc until she asked one day at the Post office and got told so somewhjere in Canada is a lot of letters sitting for FIL must be a big black hole!

[IanW99]

A final reminder to everyone that the cheapest mail option overseas must be sent tomorrow (Saturday 15th Nov) at the latest to be sure it will arrive in time for Christmas.

For those that aren't so organised, you have just over two weeks before the deadline for normal airmail.


...
Anybody else hate those green custom labels that make you declare what you have inside the parcel which spoils the surprise if it's a birthday gift? I have started to get creative and describe everything a 'decorative wall hanging'!!!

A word of caution with mislabelling your parcels, when customs scan the package, if it doesn't appear to match your description then they will be much more likely to inspect it.

Ian

[Marie P]

All my parcels are in my car .....off to the post office after school :yes

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Marie x

[jubjub]

All my parcels are in my car .....off to the post office after school :yes

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Marie x


show off....

Mind you I did actually buy some xmas cards yesterday....

[Sam B]

All done and posted.

SMUGNESS RADIATING FROM SCREEN

[Tia Maria]

I've done up to 'B' in my address book, does that count?!

Cheers

Tia

[Marie P]

$170 later ............Oh my goodness ..............

Next year I need even lighter gifts !!!

Oh well its all done ....just need to buy for my 3 then I am finished :bluebanana

Marie x

[shakyle2906]

Written cards out, which is total pain............

Packed a few gifts, got to run up NZ souvenior shop in morning to buy a few NZ things then pack, the post..............

Seems weird just like last year!

Sharon
x

[CJ22]

Am I right in thinking a $2 stamp will get a christmas card to Blighty in a reasonable time-frame?

[jubjub]

Yup $2 is standard air mail price for UK, if its as long as its not in a big envelope

[IanW99]

Am I right in thinking a $2 stamp will get a christmas card to Blighty in a reasonable time-frame?

Depends on what you think is a reasonable time frame?

If you post by 29th November then it should reach it's destination by christmas (it may well still arrive very early).

If you post after that date then you need to pay a more expensive option if you want to try to ensure that it does arrive on time.

Good time for a reminder, if you haven't posted yet there is now less than 1 week left for normal airmail.

Ian

[benandclare]

Good time for a reminder, if you haven't posted yet there is now less than 1 week left for normal airmail.

Ian

Still got to buy them yet :exit

[CJ22]

Cheers guys. Yes all bought and ready to go. Just checking that the $2 stamp for a standard letter was good for a slightlier heavier chrizzy card.

[IanW99]

Cheers guys. Yes all bought and ready to go. Just checking that the $2 stamp for a standard letter was good for a slightlier heavier chrizzy card.

It's pretty much down to the size and thickness of the letter, you soon learn not to buy the bigger cards :D

Ian

[YouMeAndThree]

It's pretty much down to the size and thickness of the letter, you soon learn not to buy the bigger cards :D

Ian

Yeah, I've just learnt this - one card only very slightly bigger than the other, but it cost $3 instead of $2.

You can pick up a size checker from the post shop (well that's where I've got mine from)

Lx

[Marie P]

My parcels have arrived already in the UK :nice1

Marie x

[IanW99]

Final Reminder!!!

Today 29th November is the last day to send your Christmas Cards by Airmail so that they arrive in time for Christmas.

Ian

[Jon-and-Lou]

Doh - I am so unorganised this year - still have cards to write and pressies to buy, let alone wrap.

If I post them this week ... what timeframe am I looking at for their arrival?

If it's going to be very late, should I be cheeky and just post economy and send my apologies to all recipients?

[IanW99]

Doh - I am so unorganised this year - still have cards to write and pressies to buy, let alone wrap.

If I post them this week ... what timeframe am I looking at for their arrival?

If it's going to be very late, should I be cheeky and just post economy and send my apologies to all recipients?

If you really want to get them there on time, then you still have two options (costs more):-

Economy Courier = Wednesday 3 December
Express Courier = Wednesday 10 December

The dates listed are only guidelines, so it would still be possible to post this week and everyone get them on time but the longer you leave it the less likely.

From experience of getting Christmas cards from the UK, I would say that if they are late then expect them to be very late i.e. if you post them two days late don't expect them to just arrive two days late.

For example, last year we were receiving Christmas cards the last week in January.

Ian

[Kerry and David]

I posted most of my cards using the economy mail by the date stated and they all arrived 7-10 days later:nice1