Independence Day, July 4, 2023 – Are USPS, UPS, FedEx Open Today?
The Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the country’s independence.
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It celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, when the American colonies declared their freedom from British rule, marking the birth of the United States of America.
On Independence Day, most government offices, the United States Postal Service, UPS, FedEx, banks, and many non-retail businesses are closed. Here is what it means for ecommerce merchants shipping today:
USPS
What is closed today or not operational today at USPS?
- No counter operations at retail post offices around the country.
- No regular mail delivery.
- No regular mail pick-up.
- No mail pickup from USPS mailboxes.
- No USPS phone customer service.
What is open or operational today at USPS?
- Access PO Boxes at most locations, if separated area from counter operations/lobby.
- Use self-service machines at most locations, if separated area from counter operations/lobby.
- Online USPS Click-N-Ship is fully functional.
- Inside and outside USPS mailboxes are open 24/7 – but outside boxes could become full at busy post office locations.
Don’t forget to check our domestic and international USPS updates on delivery disruptions and suspensions.
UPS
UPS is also not operating on Independence Day, with no pick-ups and deliveries, and service centers, including UPS Stores, being closed. UPS Express Critical, a specialty service, is available today.
FedEx
FedEx Express and Ground services are not operating on the Fourth of July either, with no pick-ups and deliveries. Some FedEx Office locations may operate on a modified schedule. Call before going. FedEx Custom Critical, a specialty service, is available today.
Other Carriers such as DHL, Sendle, OnTrack, etc.
Most other carriers will also not operate on Independence Day. Some may offer critical delivery services, but customers should expect normal shipping and pick-ups to resume tomorrow.
Amazon
Business as usual, the company is making deliveries today.
Tips for Sellers on July 4th, 2023, Independence Day
Today can be tricky for online sellers, as international buyers may think this is a normal business day. Here are some tips on how to deal with shipments on Juneteenth.
You may process shipments as usual, but a good practice is to notify buyers that today is a federal holiday in the U.S., and USPS and other carriers are not operating today.
If you process orders, buyers will still receive a tracking number, but by notifying them that today is a federal holiday in the United States, they will not expect to see any tracking scans until Wednesday.
If you are using USPS Scan Forms, the best practice is to close out the day as usual. Some shipping platforms may not allow this or may allow rolling over today’s shipments to the next business day. Check with them for details.
eBay, Etsy, Poshmark, PayPal, and other platforms that offer their own platform-based shipping services will process shipping label labels on Independence Day. However, most will not inform buyers that today is a federal holiday in their tracking notifications.
Federal / USPS Holidays in 2023
Looking ahead, here is a list of the remaining federal and postal holidays in 2023, with the next federal holiday just about a month away.
- Monday, September 4 – Labor Day
- Monday, October 9 – Columbus Day
- Friday, November 10 (observed) – Veterans Day (observed)
- Thursday, November 23 – Thanksgiving Day
- Monday, December 25 – Christmas Day
- Monday, January 1, 2024 – New Year’s Day
* Veterans Day, November 1, 2023, falls on a Saturday this year and when this occurs, workers at government agencies receive the preceding Friday as their day off.
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Richard Meldner
Richard is co-founder of eSeller365. He has over 17 years of experience on eBay which includes tens of thousands of sales to buyers in over 100 countries and even has experience with eBay’s VeRO program enforcing intellectual property rights for a former employer. And for about two years Richard sold products on Amazon using Amazon FBA in the US.
To “relax” from the daily business grind, for a few weekends a year, he also works for IMSA as a professional race official.