HOLIDAY DELIVERY Shipping volume expected to be big

Shippers say consumers can save time by creating address labels and paying shipping fees online.
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (AP) -- Deep discounts driving merchandise off store shelves this month could lead to a busier-than-usual shipping rush to restock the shelves next month, analysts say.
Major shippers such as United Parcel Service and FedEx are prepared for a shorter holiday shipping season -- only 17 instead of 21 regular shipping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. But it's what happens after the holidays that could catch them by surprise, analysts say.
"The retailers decided even if they're not going to have a good period for profits, they're going to have a good period for volume," said Thom Albrecht, an analyst with BB & amp;T Capital Markets, a unit of Scott & amp; Stringfellow Inc. in Richmond, Va. "What may end up happening is January and early February may be a little bit better than normal. Inventories were fairly lean coming in to the holiday season."
Atlanta-based UPS and Memphis, Tenn.-based FedEx expect Dec. 19 to be their peak holiday delivery days; UPS plans to deliver 19 million packages; FedEx, 5 million. The companies are bringing in part-time seasonal workers to help; at UPS, it's 60,000 extra people.
No predictions
Beyond the holiday, the companies are taking a wait-and-see approach.
"We're pretty much gearing up just for our peak season at this point," said FedEx spokeswoman Pam Roberson. "After the season, if there is a need for us to be in a peak mode, we will continue to do whatever it takes to serve the customers."
To make things go more smoothly, shipping companies are encouraging customers to use their Web sites to create address labels and pay shipping costs to eliminate the time they would have to stand in line. The packages can be dropped off at hundreds of facilities around the country, or customers can schedule to have them picked up, for an extra fee in some cases.
The companies are also reminding people that there are fewer shipping days during the holiday season this year. Take UPS driver Vic Kimble, for example.
Good advice
"He always tells me to go early," said Ben Matheison, a retired New York City police detective, as Kimble delivered a package to his home last week in Alpharetta, 30 miles north of Atlanta.
Matheison said clothes, toiletries and other gifts he and his wife have bought for friends and relatives have already been sent.
Kimble, who has been with UPS 26 years, said more snow in the Northeast could delay shipments sent through the air.
"Everybody wants to know if we are behind. I tell them the volume will not put us behind," Kimble said. "Only the weather will put us behind."
Stan Agee, a senior UPS sales executive, said weather is always a wild card, but he believes UPS is well prepared for any situation.
Online discounts
There are indications more people are buying gifts online because of discounts being offered on shipping. Seattle-based Amazon.com, for instance, is offering free shipping on some holiday orders, depending on the price.
A survey done for the online shopping site found that 51 percent of Americans say they are looking or lower prices this holiday season, while 32 percent are looking for more value, such as free shipping or bonus products. Cell phones, DVDs and kitchenware are selling particularly fast.