CLIO -- Last-minute shoppers turned into last-minute shippers Thursday - the last day they could use Express Mail with guaranteed arrival before Christmas Day.

Postal clerks say it's no surprise some people waited till now.  Gary O'Boyle, a window clerk at the Clio post office, blames hard times.  “The economy is a big part of it.  They don't have the money this year, so they're watching their pennies."

This is usually the boost the U.S. Postal Service looks forward to every year - that crunch time before the holidays, when people pay extra bucks to expedite their mail – though O’Boyle said this year wasn’t as busy as years past.

Ken Harris, a grandfather of seven, hopes his grandkids will appreciate his practical gift.  "I'm overnighting these gifts to my seven grandchildren,” he said.  “They're savings bonds."  Customers like Harris used Express Mail to ensure delivery - to most zip codes – by Friday.

But others say they won’t be too disappointed if their glad tidings don’t make December 25. 

"I'm not gonna blame it on the postal service,” said Bobbie Goergen, who came to the post office with a stack of letters.  “I know they already know I'm a procrastinator."

"I think they'll still like me if it doesn't get there on time,” Sue Boyse chuckled.

The post office at 800 South Mill St. in Clio will be open 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday and 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Saturday.