Is UK post delivery taking longer?

[Martymarta]

Not an AIBU at all but posting here for a range of opinions. I need to post a birthday card soon which I hope will arrive on the receiver's actual birthday. I know these things are never guaranteed anyway, but does anyone have experience of whether first class delivery is still expected to be next day, or longer? If relevant, I live in the same town as the receiver.

Mine definitly is. The postman told me that it was because they are short staffed at the moment and they are busier than Christmas with deliveries. I'd leave extra time if you can.

I think in some areas it is but I seem to be getting things quite quickly and the birthday cards I've sent have arrived on time.

I was sent me a second class parcel about 10 days ago and it arrived two days later. Not sure about letters.

Post as early as possible
Lots of staff absent through illness
I posted my friends birthday card first class post on 25th April
Her birthday is 1st May

I posted a parcel 2nd class. Normally 2-3 days, this time it took 8.

Round here (Midlands) it's become extremely slow. I'll be posting my DMs card with 2 weeks leeway. If it's early she can quarantine it.

Our post here is an absolute nightmare. I ordered something from an Etsy seller for a friends first wedding anniversary. She posted mine and 3 to England (were near Edinburgh) on the same day. Mine took around 10 days, the others were delivered next day.

I got my shielding letter around a week after it was posted.

Understandable but still frustrating.

In some areas the postal workers are overwhelmed. Staff absences, unable to share vehicles so difficulties with certain rounds and an increase in post means that things are taking longer.

We are currently getting a postman twice a week because they just can't cover us every day.

Our post is a mess. Probably get a delivery about once maybe twice a week. Central London

It seems to massively depend where the mail is coming from.

Some stuff is arriving within 48 hours, other things I've been waiting two weeks and it still hasn't arrived. Same service, but coming from different parts of the country.

My experience has been a real mix in SE London, I posted a second class letter to someone who lives about 10 mins from me and it arrived the next day rather than the usual 2-3 days for second class. But then I also posted another second class letter to someone who lives about 100 miles away quite rurally and that took nearly a week to arrive. I think it’s a bit of a lottery and you’re better off posting earlier than you normally need to just to be safe.

Definitly. My DH is a postman and he was told last week there are such a massive amount of packages to deliver that he must leave the regular mail behind for another day. They then expected him on Friday to deliver all that week's mail and the rest of the packages in one day

I'm waiting for something that was sent royal mail 48 (second class?) It was due 8 days ago, so I guess yes (although I have had stuff delivered rather quickly).

Definitely is, across the country.

I send a card 2nd class. It arrived next day.

I bought some postage online a couple of days ago & Royal Mail warned first class is taking up to 5 days.

Spoke to a postman, they are short staffed & have extra mail. They are recruiting round here though to keep on top of it.

Ours is busy. Does it matter if it gets there early?

I know some people are leaving their post for a couple of days before opening anyway

Something was sent to me royal mail 48. I was told to expect it within 5 working days, when ordinarily it would be 2.

Everthing is taking longer. I'm waiting on presents ordered for me and not had a refund yet for things returned teo weeks ago

I work for a mail order company, and there are differences across the country - some first class or tracked items are getting there the next day as usual, and other items are taking a lot longer.
Royal Mail are short-staffed, and people are ordering mail order goods at almost Christmas levels, so it is much busier, with less staff.
I would guess that in the same town it should be ok. I'd post it early though.

I posted two large letters first class on 15th April. One got there on Monday 20th, the other is still to arrive.

I'm expecting business online banking access devices, and my finance assistant is driving me nuts asking me every day if it's arrived yet.

Normally due in 8-10 days, but just passed the tenth day - hardly surprising that things are slow right now!

It really does seem to vary though - some things showing up very promptly, others dragging. It seems to depend on where it comes from more than the class of postage.

Current Royal Mail service is completely unreliable. I've had two items undelivered after 2 weeks and at least 3 others that have taken two weeks or more to arrive (all sent 1st class).
Service is now so shite, I've had to close my ebay business because I can't afford the losses.
We have also noticed that the postbox on the end of our road is full - so hasn't been emptied for at least two weeks.
I wish Royal Mail would stop fucking about with TV adverts and pointless birthday postmark bollocks and actually try to deliver a service.

i posted a first class recorded letter and it took 6 days to get there, im in scotland, letter was being sent to england if it makes any difference.

Our post no longer comes everyday as they are short staffed. So expect delays.