Post early and be rewarded

The South African Post Office has urged customers who want to mail Christmas parcels to consider doing so now and reap some rewards.

Speed Services, the SA Post Office’s courier arm, can deliver items weighing 1kg or less overnight for only R69 until 20 December 2013.

It is also the time of year when many South African send Christmas gifts to friends and relatives in other countries.

“Customers who use the ordinary mail service to send their Christmas gifts abroad should make sure they mail their parcels as soon as possible to ensure that the parcels reach their destinations in time,” said Janras Kotsi, Head of Mail Business.

Surface mail is the most affordable way to send items abroad.

The latest times to mail parcels to ensure delivery before Christmas on all air mail items should be on or before (all countries) 11 December 2013.

Kotsi adds that registered items can be insured against non-delivery, but not damage.

“This is due to the fact that we do not have control over the contents of a package, or the packaging material used and cannot accept responsibility for possible breakage.”

Handy Tips:

• Parcels must be packaged securely as they are transported in bulk.

• If your mail item does not fill the container, fill it with packaging material such as shredded paper or polystyrene to act as a shock absorber.

• Make sure the items you are sending are legal in the country of destination. In most countries, plant and animal material may not be imported.

The following items may not be posted:

• Illegal items such as drugs.

• Items that could leak and damage other packages, such as liquids.

• Items that may explode or catch fire during air transport, such as aerosols or flammable liquids.

All international and Speed Services items are x-rayed and scanned to make sure the content is legal and safe.