Dec 12, 2007 10:02 pm US/Eastern
Travelers Weigh Shipping Christmas Presents
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Many families travel great distances to spend the holidays with their families. That means all the gifts have to make the trip, too.
But should you bring them with you or ship them ahead? There are a few things to consider before deciding.
Holiday travel can be stressful enough without having to worry about whether your gifts will arrive on time and in one piece.
Insurance expert Madylyn Flannagan, of Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, says there are some simple guidelines that can help you decide.
"We think it's a lot smarter to go ahead and ship ahead if you're carrying a lot of small electronics, things that are very attractive to people if you leave your bag sitting on the seat," Flannagan said.
Air travelers must also be careful to consider how heavy their packages are.
"If your items make your checked bag over the limit, you're going to pay an additional cost," Flannagan said. "So look at the price of carrying on the bag or the price of shipping."
Flanagan says if you do decide to send your gifts ahead of time it makes sense to buy added insurance through the shipping company.
But lost gifts can also be an issue if you're carrying them with you.
Homeowners insurance may cover them but your policy may have exceptions so make sure you talk to your agent ahead of time.
"F ind out what your deductible is, and what you're got o have to do in the event that you experience a loss," Flannagan said.
You'll also want to keep records of everything you bought.
"S ome sort of incident report as well as a copy of the receipt, and of course, if you do have time to take a picture of the item," Flannagan said.
If you have family or friends overseas the rules are different. Depending on where you or your gifts are going you may need extra coverage.
If you want to save money on shipping costs here in the U.S. send them parcel post.
But you'll need to get your packages in the mail early. The post office says by December 15th if you want to make sure they get there by Christmas.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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