Royal Mail & Parcelforce delay-have you experienced any?

[FrenchBoule]

Not just the Christmas time but this year.
48hrs “guaranteed” parcel took 6 days to arrive, another one nearly 10 days.

I’m still waiting for DS’s books as Christmas presents- one was returned to sender goodness knows for what reason, the other one apologised and asked for patience (a couple of days more).

I bought the books on 3rd of December,surely I waited long enough?

I'm an online seller and I've had to close early due to the delays in post. I'm seeing deliveries of up to 2 weeks at the moment across all sizes of post. I get several emails a day asking where orders are. Thankfully, most of my customer's are lovely and are being patient but I do feel for them and wish I could do more.

I did send dd the booking ref and she tried to collect using her bank card, but the ticket machine wouldn’t accept it. Needed the card the tickets were booked with. I used train tickets.com, a ticket splitting website this time which might be the issue. Haven’t had this issue before with Trainline or other websites.

@Hope4theBestPlan4theWorst thank you very much for the explanation,that makes sense.

@AutumnDragon I’m really sorry to hear that 🙁

We're waiting for something from Amazon that should have been delivered Monday. Kept getting emails to say it was being pushed back but still waiting. It's only a bulk pack of batteries so nothing desperate but still.

Yes, my street only seems to get post twice a week now. First class is taking at least a week or more.

I'm more surprised anyone is surprised about it though than the delays themselves - of course Royal Mail will be affected by all the same issues other businesses are, with staff having to self-isolate and generally having to adapt to different working practices. Add to that a huge increase in online shopping and the usual Christmas rush and it's no wonder they are experiencing delays.

My sister sent my a birthday present through the post back in April - I got it about a month after my birthday and she had sent it at least a week beforehand.

Now the tables are turned - I ordered her a Christmas present at the end of November, from amazon but being delivered by royal mail - still waiting on it. It was originally supposed to be here by the 12th (which is a pretty long time for a delivery in the first place)

Royal Mail has been bad where I am.

Yep. Still waiting for xmas gift bought in 1st December.

Our mail seems to turn up twice a week all bundled together.

I ordered something yesterday morning with Royal Mail 24hr delivery but was expecting it Monday at the earliest.it arrived today!

I paid for Parcelforce Global Express - guarantee delivery to USA in 2 days. Was still in the depot at day 2. They phoned me to say it had been down downgraded to Global Priority and left the UK on day 5.

Yes.

I own my own business and we rely on RM to deliver.

My entire day has been spent tracking parcels for customers.

Parcels that were sent a week ago on Tracked 48 and are still either saying "the sender has sent your item" - so not even been scanned yet a week later!

Also have a good few at the Home Counties North MC - which seems to be some sort of parcel graveyard.

I spoke to our RM collection driver yesterday about it

He said the car park is full or parcels and the staff now have to park elsewhere and walk in. And that anything below special/first are being put in lorries and driven to other places to make space.

I've never know it this bad.

And yet it'll be me that loses custom. Had 3 people moan at me today I'm ruining Christmas and yet I got their items sent last week within 24 hours of them ordering.

I posted some tea lights to my DD by first class post. They took three weeks to arrive! We assumed they had got lost.

The 4 first class parcels I sent recently took 2 days

I’ve bought everything online many things coming by Royal Mail all have arrived on time. My postie has been here every day this week.

Guaranteed 48 hour parcel posted on Friday.......arrived yesterday. Card posted first class the previous Thursday for a Monday birthday arrived on the Tuesday.

We are only getting two postal deliveries a week at the moment. I just got an appointment letter from the hospital in time for me to attend... it arrived 11 days after it was posted... the day before my appointment.

One of mine has arrived today!

Posted 4th December

3 to go 🤞

I had ordered a particular framed print that came from a calendar DD had 2 years but I’ve managed to find it in the depths of her room and bodge a version using the picture from the calendar and a cheap frame so at least she’s got something if it doesn’t arrive

The other 2 are pretty special - I’ve had a hoof pick made from one of DD’s pony’s horseshoes and a knitted “Neddie” teddy of her pony - both posted on the 2nd December and the tracking isn’t available on them. I’m so hoping they arrive in time, or at least aren’t completely lost.

I posted a customer order on Monday and it arrived today, first class. Dread to think how long second-class would've taken. It must be absolutely horrific for the Royal mail at the moment

I have received a parcel today that was posted 2nd class on Monday.
I posted mine 1st class on Wednesday and they have received today.
Posted a card first class Monday and was received yesterday.
So all in all whilst it’s not as quick as usual it’s been pretty good. It looks like I’ve got off lightly though looking at some of the previous replies, luckily I have nothing else to post.

Online retailers why are you still using RM then? Is Hermes not cheaper or another courier? My Hermes orders I've bought have come so quickly and the few I sent have arrived next day when I sent them the slower standard service.

I don't sell much now and I'm only a personal eBay seller, but sending a Hermes I can see is delivered at £2.90 is lot better than £4.10 recorded by RM. I'm guessing businesses get things cheaper than individuals with these 48 hour labels?

Yes - posted something Royal Mail special delivery guaranteed by 1pm (now 4pm because of COVID) arrived two days late so got a refund of full postage (posted last day before Christmas period applicable) and a parcel force parcel guaranteed to arrive in US last Saturday has still not been delivered (will be getting 25% refund)

@ohchristmastreeohbigtree Hermes is the most complained about courier, especially on here. A lot of people say they won't order from companies that deliver with Hermes, and yet as soon as someone asks for Ebay selling advice, everyone recommends Hermes as the cheapest option. Even though they wouldn't buy anything that would be sent by them.

Businesses do get Royal Mail prices a bit cheaper, but mainly it's usually the most reliable method in my opinion, more reliable than any courier. I've had a couple of parcels go "missing" with Hermes, never to be seen again. They're cheap for a reason.

Yes, we run a small online business and during November and early December if people ordered and chose second class postage it was taking up to two weeks.

I recently ordered something 48 hours and took a week.

I’m waiting for a parcel which when I track it says ‘On route to Hermes’. It’s been showing that since 4th December. The sender doesn’t reply to my emails and getting to speak to anyone at Hermes is nigh on impossible. I’ve faired far better with items sent by RM.

I have a parcel "lost in transit" ordered three things in quick succession from the same site, the later two arrived within days. Still waiting for the other.

However Hermes, I had to send a parcel to my sister, big and heavy so £8 with them, compared to £20+ with RM. Dropped into the shop lunch time on Tuesday (NE) arrived Thursday morning (Berkshire). Can't grumble at that.

It's been repeatedly said on here that royal mail and other parcel carriers are struggling and yet people are surprised when it affects them. Then the 'unacceptables' come out.

It's shit but this not the fault of RM. My usually jolly postman looked so stressed and unhappy recently I had to ask him if he was ok. They're understaffed due to covid... Yanno that bug that's kicked us all in the nuts this year? Have a heart man.