December 23, 2014 - The U.S. Postal Service has announced retail service at Post Offices nationwide, including those in California, will be open for business Christmas Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 24, and New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 31; however, many will shorten their hours and close at noon. Regular mail delivery, pickups from the blue collection boxes and PO Box service will not be affected by these changes.

All Post Offices will be closed Thursday, Dec. 25 and Thursday, Jan. 1. Only Priority Mail Express will be delivered on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day in most major metropolitan areas. Post Offices will resume regular hours on Dec. 26, 2014 and Jan. 2, 2015.

Customers can go to usps.com, under Quick Tools, Post Office Location, and key in their City and State to see if their local Post Office will close early on Christmas Eve and/or New Year’s Eve.

Revised hours will be posted at each Post Office. Commercial customers should check with their Business Mail Entry Units for information regarding holiday hours.

USPS also is advising customers to deposit their mail in collection mailboxes before noon for early pickup on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. Customers requiring later services from the Postal Service on those days should contact their local Post Office or call 1-800-ASK-USPS (800-275-8777) for additional information.

Postal Service customers have other options when it comes to transacting Postal Service business. Self-Service Kiosks (SSK) are located in many larger Post Office lobbies with 24-hour access. SSKs handle basic Postal Service transactions and offer postage stamps. For quick and easy transactions, the SSK accepts debit and credit cards but not cash. The touch-screen machines are easy to use and are available 24 hours a day.

Other options that customers have to conduct Postal Service business are Contract Postal Units (CPUs) and Village Post Offices (VPOs) inside local businesses or at shopping malls, whose locations can be found at usps.com. In addition, postages stamps are available at most grocery and drug stores where people shop.

Customers not wanting to leave home can order postage through Stamps By Mail, in the Postal Store at usps.com, and by calling 1-800-STAMP24. With a computer and Internet access, customers can have the Post Office come to them by logging onto usps.com and using Click-N-Ship to print postage-paid shipping labels. Free Package Pickup by the customer’s regular carrier can also be scheduled, and they can manage their packages and get text or email alerts through the MyUSPS.com tool.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.