Pahrump post office swamped with customers this week

Pahrump's main post office late Monday morning saw a line of customers meandering more than 50 feet from the customer service desk on Monday, as the holiday shipping rush hit its peak.

Customers wanted to take advantage of getting their gifts to family and friends across the country in time for Christmas using standard post, a reliable and economical way to ship packages without having to pay extra.

Supervisor Elias Armendariz said residents can still ship packages across the country on time, via Priority Express Mail.

"That would be their best bet, because it's guaranteed delivery in two days," he said. "The deadline is Dec. 22, and it will get there on the 24th of Dec. Customers should remember that they are competing against the entire nation to get their packages to their destination on time. I'm afraid it's too late to get a package shipped internationally by Christmas with us."

Armendariz also spoke about special services the post office provides to customers, including tracking and insurance.

"With all packages comes tracking and you can get it at the counter or the self-service kiosk here," he said. "It will print you out postage and there will be a barcode that you put on the package so you will be able to track it."

Online services, Armendariz noted, are also available to customers.

"We also have what's known as 'Click and Ship' where you print your own postage up and use the drop box by our self-service kiosk so they don't even have to go to the counter," he said. "Customers can also schedule a package pickup online. If they have packages that already have the proper address and postage and it's ready to go, we will go out and pick them up that day and they will go out that night."

Additionally, Armendariz said postal workers are required to ask whether the package contains items that pose potential hazards and are thus prohibited.

"Due to aviation security, we have to ask if there are hazardous materials inside the package to be shipped," he said. "Any packages you have for shipping that weigh over 12 ounces, we have to ask if there's anything liquid, perishable or potentially hazardous."

A list of prohibited items can be viewed by logging onto usps.com.

Armendariz also provided tips for packing the parcels to avoid any mishaps.

"If it's something fragile or something that's possibly fragile, you want to use bubble wrap and newspaper," he said. "They should pack it up really well because these packages really do take a beating."

Customers at the post office on Wednesday were not only shipping their packages, but also doing last-minute shopping there.

"People have been purchasing some Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers we have here," Armendariz said. "We have of course our commemorative stamps and gift cards as well as Christmas cards."

The Pahrump Lions Club "Letters to Santa" campaign is still underway at the post office.

Kids who mail Santa a letter, including a phone number and address, will receive a Christmas present.

Deadline for the campaign is today.

"We have our giant mailbox outside the entrance for letters to Santa," he said. "If parents have a child that wants to get something from Santa Claus, they can put the letter in there and we pull them out every day and put it in the Lions Club mailbox who has organized that for many years."

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com.