As the holiday season approaches, we want to express our gratitude for choosing Americover as your supplier for specialty plastic sheeting products. Your trust in us drives our commitment to provide exceptional service. While we always aim to deliver a five-star experience, certain factors are unfortunately beyond our control. In such cases, we’ll keep you informed with any updates that could affect your order. Here’s what to expect during the holiday season, and how to navigate the potential shipping delays that may be over the horizon:
Holiday Shipping Delays
As we enter the final months of the year, shipping delays are inevitable due to increased holiday demand and unpredictable weather conditions. These factors can result in longer lead times, particularly for custom orders. We encourage you to plan ahead by placing your orders as early as possible to avoid potential delays.
Shipping carriers often experience heavy loads during the holiday season, and extended transit times become unavoidable. This is especially true for our products, where production schedules are already tight. Weather disruptions like snowstorms, floods, and road closures can also affect our delivery schedules, further compounding these delays.
Be Prepared for Natural Disasters
Many of the products we offer at Americover play a crucial role in disaster preparedness. With unpredictable natural events occurring throughout the year, being proactive is essential.
Shipping delays are already being forecasted during the holiday season. In the event a disaster hits during the holidays, it’s important that you prepare now instead of potentially getting caught in a disaster without supplies.
We recommend that customers living in areas prone to natural disasters plan their orders ahead of time to ensure they have what they need, when they need it. Having supplies on hand before the holiday rush can provide peace of mind and prevent unexpected inconveniences.
Related Article: Plastic Sheeting & Your Disaster Preparedness Kit
Biggest Causes of Shipping Delays During a Disaster
Shipping delays are common during the holidays, but they can be exacerbated when a natural disaster occurs. Below are four key challenges that impact delivery timelines:
1) Road Closures and Delivery Truck Accessibility
Natural disasters often result in widespread road closures, limiting available routes for delivery trucks. When this happens, delivery schedules are delayed, adding strain to an already busy holiday shipping network.
2) Government Agencies Prioritizing Disaster Relief
In the aftermath of a disaster, government agencies often step in to secure emergency supplies, prioritizing critical resources for relief efforts. This can affect the availability of transportation for commercial goods, causing delays in product shipments.
3) Manufacturing Facility Closures
Disasters can also disrupt manufacturing facilities, leading to temporary shutdowns and reduced production. Combined with holiday closures, this results in lower stock availability and potential backorders, extending lead times.
4) Increased Local Demand for Supplies
During a disaster, demand for essential supplies increases drastically. As a result, competition for limited inventory intensifies, creating potential shortages. Increased demand, coupled with strained shipping infrastructure, can further delay deliveries.
Stay Informed: UPS Shipping Notice
One of our key carriers, UPS, has issued a notice about expected delays during the holiday season:
From November 29 through December 31, delivery times for certain services will be extended. Additionally, between November 18, 2024, and January 10, 2025, select UPS Ground and UPS Standard shipments will require more time in transit due to high volume and specific shipping routes. Other carriers have issued similar statements regarding extended delivery windows.
We highly recommend placing your orders as soon as possible to avoid disruptions and ensure timely delivery of your materials.
A Message from the Americover Family
At Americover, we value your business and strive to help you plan effectively for the holiday season. We are committed to keeping you informed and prepared for any potential delays. Your satisfaction remains our top priority, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
We encourage you to take these anticipated shipping delays into consideration when placing your orders to avoid last-minute inconveniences. If you need assistance or have questions about your order, our friendly and knowledgeable team is ready to help.
Thank you for your continued trust and support. We look forward to serving you this holiday season and beyond.
Trusted by Growers, Builders, and Distributors
Americover is the smart source for plastic and polyethylene sheeting. Trusted by contractors and distributors across the construction and agriculture industries, our American-made products combine reliability with quality and innovation.
As an Americover customer, you will receive the personalized support of a dedicated account manager to simplify the ordering process and ensure the best solution for every one of your projects. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff is here to answer your questions and fulfill orders Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. If you would like to speak with a representative, call us at 760-388-6294 or contact us.