IN THE MAIL? THE RUSH IS ON AS POSTAL DATES LOOM.

Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer

The U.S. Postal Service and other parcel companies are urging people to mail this week to beat the holiday rush and get the lowest rates.

Monday is the first drop-dead date for the cheapest shipments to the East Coast, and packages headed to Western states should be shipped by the end of next week to ensure delivery by Christmas, said Terri Bouffiou, Postal Service spokeswoman for Southern California.

The number of greeting cards and letters expected to be mailed will more than double by Monday and parcel shipments already are on the rise. Adding to the seasonal flow is merchandise purchased on the Internet, said Postal Service and shipping company officials.

People in long lines during the lunch hour Tuesday didn't need any reminders.

``I'm on the ball. I've decided to start earlier this year,'' said Jeff Story of Winnetka.

Rather than wait in line at the post office on Winnetka Avenue, Story paid a little more to go next door to Express Pack & Ship, where he sent a packaged gift to a friend in Ohio.

``The line over there was worth the dollar over here. You get good service at little places like this.''

While procrastinating at Christmas is matched only by waiting until the last minute to file income taxes, plenty of people seemed intent on beating the crunch.

``Business is good and people are shipping early. It seems to be as busy or more than last year,'' said Ellen Langan, owner of The Mail Box Toluca Lake.

One reason could be an earlier start to Hanukkah, which begins Monday. Another is customers heeding the need to ship early, Langan said.

``(Shippers) always say they run on time, but we tell people to get it out by the 14th to get it across the country by Christmas by ground,'' she explained.

``You can always come in on the 23rd and overnight it. Some people like to spend the most money possible to show that they got it there on time.''

Daily parcel volume at Langan's store will increase from 20 a day to 100 or more leading to Hanukkah and Christmas. The seasonal shipping boosts daily volumes at Express Pack & Ship from 500 to 800, said owner Rick Young.

Both businesses predict Monday will be busiest.

``Everybody likes to procrastinate. Time evaporates with procrastination, wondering who I should buy a gift for, can I get out of work to buy a gift,'' Young said. ``Right now, there's still plenty of time to get it there by Christmas at the lowest rate.''

The Postal Service is the one option for overnight deliveries that will arrive on Christmas Day.

``That's for the ultimate procrastinators. There are lots of them. In the Valley, we will deliver over 600 packages on Christmas Day,'' Bouffiou said.

The greeting card glut already is beginning to hit the Postal Service. The Santa Clarita processing center will likely cancel 2.3 million cards and letters on Monday compared with 1.1 million on a normal day, Bouffiou said.

United Parcel Service will ship 295 million packages between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. The busiest day will be Dec. 22, said Robert Godlewski, spokesman for the Atlanta-based shipper.

``It kind of grows gradually. It's like a function of human nature. We're a nation of procrastinators,'' he explained.

``And with the warm weather we've had in the Sunbelt and in the Northeast, until a lot of people see it getting cooler, they don't get into the holiday spirit and go out shopping.''

Shipping will surge at Federal Express, peaking on Dec. 22 or 23, said Jess Bunn, spokesman for the Memphis-based shipper.

``Last year, our busiest night was Dec. 22 with 4 million packages,'' he said.

``We're there for the ultimate procrastinator,'' he said.

SHIPPING TIPS

The U.S. Postal Service and parcel companies offer these suggestions for getting holiday packages delivered in time:

Send now. Packages sent by ground freight before Monday are guaranteed to arrive to all destinations in the U.S. before Christmas. After Monday, packages must be sent by air, express or other special-delivery options, which cost more.

Get the ZIP code right. The Postal Service has a toll-free phone line, [phone] and a World Wide Web site, www.usps.com, where you can match ZIP codes and addresses.

Pack it yourself or pay. Use cushioning materials such as shredded newsprint, bubble wrap, Styrofoam peanuts or plain-air popped corn. Seal boxes with pressure-sensitive tape. Put a return-address label inside the package. Take glass out of picture frames and wrap separately. Remove batteries from toys and wrap separately. Shipping stores will do this work for you for a price.

Use a return address. On all letters and packages. Print mailing and return addresses neatly or type on labels. And be sure to put a return address on letters to Santa - Santa might write back.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

PHOTO Gwen and Charles Barbata bring Christmas gifts to Express Pack & Ship in Canoga Park.

Evan Yee/Daily News

BOX: Shipping Tips (see text)