For the latest from USPS, UPS, and Fedex regarding shipping deadlines, click here (11/10/21).
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If you’ve been reading or watching the news recently, you’ve surely heard the warning from retail analysts… “Shop early this holiday season if there’s something you really want. Otherwise, you might miss out.” That’s because of disruptions in the global supply chain that began in 2020 with the pandemic and are still with us today in late 2021. In fact, some industry analysts believe they will persist into 2023! As a result of these supply chain issues, inventory is less reliable, deliveries are taking longer to arrive, and the cost of shipping continues to rise.
CBS New Clipping: Starting this week, the USPS is slowing down mail delivery. First class mail/package delivery is going from 3 to 5 days.
USPS Rate Announcement: a holiday shipping surcharge of $0.75 to $5.00 depending on weight and destination, in effect through December.
It's expected that UPS, FedEx, DHL and other carriers will likely implement similar surcharges for the peak holiday period.
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Here at Izzy Knits, we likely won’t be receiving much, if any, additional inventory between now and the end of the year. Ashford’s Variable Width Loom Stands are the one notable exception. We have 12 of these stands on backorder and expect to receive them in late October. To ensure you receive one (they sell out really fast!), we recommend you pre-order now, and we’ll ship it out as soon as it arrives.
In response to yesterday’s USPS announcement that it will “implement new service standards” for first-class mail/packages and periodicals, slowing target delivery time by about 30%, we recommend customers shop early to ensure timely holiday delivery. Orders placed prior to December 15th are guaranteed to arrive in time for Christmas. Priority mail is not affected.
Finally, due to the rising cost of postage, we will be increasing our ETSY shipping rates by $1.00 beginning October 3rd. On Etsy, postage is applied as a flat rate. Shoppers on our main website (www.IzzyKnits.com), will be charged for shipping based on package size, weight, and destination, reflecting actual costs as determined by USPS and/or selected carrier.
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On the map above, Izzy Knits is located in Zone 1. Shipping to Zone 8 will take more time and cost more than shipping to Zone 2. Those who live in the farthest zones should order earliest to ensure timely delivery.
Map courtesy of Pirate Ship (https://www.pirateship.com/usps/zone-map)