Holiday volume is the busiest stretch of the year for USPS and for TCG sellers. Here are the dates that matter, what changes in TCGHaulTracker, and how to get set before the rush.
The dates that matter
- Nov 15SunHoliday claim window beginsNot-delivered Shipment Guarantee claims for orders first scanned from today wait 21 days instead of 14. Details below.
- Nov 26ThuThanksgivingPost offices closed, no regular mail delivery.
- Nov 27–30Fri–MonBlack Friday through Cyber MondayExpect your biggest order days of the year. Have supplies and your workflow ready before Friday.
- Dec 17ThuUSPS's recommended mail-by date for First-Class MailUSPS's recommendation for delivery by Dec 25 in the contiguous U.S. Not a guarantee — mailing a few days earlier is safer.
- Dec 25FriChristmas DayPost offices closed, no regular mail delivery.
- Jan 1FriNew Year's DayPost offices closed, no regular mail delivery.
- Jan 10SunHoliday claim window endsOrders first scanned after today go back to the normal 14-day wait.
What to expect from tracking
USPS handles far more mail in November and December than the rest of the year, and letter mail moves through the same machines as everything else. During peak season you'll likely see:
- Longer gaps between scans. An envelope can sit at a busy facility for a day or more before its next scan.
- More pieces that go quiet for a while. A piece with no new scans for several days is usually just slow, not lost.
- Slower deliveries overall, especially in mid-December and right around the holidays.
Your dashboard keeps showing every scan USPS reports, so you'll still see where each envelope has been. If a buyer asks, the tracking link shows them the same thing.
Shipment Guarantee during peak season
Because so many quiet pieces turn up late during the holidays, claims for not-delivered orders wait a little longer before they can be filed:
| Order status | Normal wait | First scanned Nov 15 – Jan 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Shows as delivered | 7 days | 7 days |
| Not delivered | 14 days | 21 days |
The wait is counted from the most recent USPS scan and applies to orders enrolled in the guarantee on or after November 15. Everything else about the guarantee stays the same. See the Shipment Guarantee guide for coverage and how claims work.
Get set before Black Friday
- Run a batch now. If you're new, process a normal batch this week so the upload-print-mail routine is second nature before volume spikes.
- Stock up. Envelopes, top loaders, and label paper and ink for a few weeks of peak volume — and skip the stamp run by buying letter postage right in TCGHaulTracker.
- Fix flagged addresses before you mail. A bad address costs more in December, when a returned envelope can't be resent in time.
- Split big orders instead of upgrading. Package rates are higher through January 17. See how much Split Shipment saves.
- Mail early. Earlier in the day and earlier in the week, and well before USPS's Dec 17 recommended date for Christmas orders.
When a buyer asks where their order is
A short, friendly reply with the tracking link usually settles it: