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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is UK post delivery taking longer?

84 replies

Martymarta · 27/04/2020 10:14

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.

OP posts:
TheRoyallingStones · 27/04/2020 12:32

Generally it seems to be slow but then sometimes things arrive quickly

I would just send it as early as possible. Better for it to arrive early than late!

gatsbylove · 27/04/2020 12:33

In the Midlands too and post is VERY slow with a higher than usual number of lost parcels etc.

Toomboom · 27/04/2020 12:35

Yes, I posted something to my parents and it took 12 days to get to them.
I imagine that they are overwhelmed and short staffed at the moment.

Iwantacookie · 27/04/2020 12:55

I'm sure I read somewhere post was no longer being delivered Wednesday or Saturday but I cant find it again since.

cricketballs3 · 27/04/2020 13:06

Surely it will be obvious that it is a birthday card? My DH had some through before his birthday and didn't open them until the day as it was clear what they were

beebeedandelion · 27/04/2020 13:10

I got my new bank card within three days when they quoted five working days so no, not that I've noticed.

PuppyMonkey · 27/04/2020 13:13

My vet had to post out some worm tablets for my dog on Saturday and they warned it would probably take 7-10 days. The package arrived this morning.

ImFreeToDoWhatIWant · 27/04/2020 13:14

It's completely variable. I've been waiting on a 2nd class packet for over two weeks now and a first class letter for 8 days 🤷‍♀️

GrimmsFairytales · 27/04/2020 13:15

Definitely slower here for RM. We've just had a week with no post at all, and no sight of the posties. Then today we've had quite a few bits.

Other delivery services / couriers seem to be running as normal.

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 27/04/2020 13:31

Yes; I had a parcel dispatched first class on Monday and it didn't turn up until Saturday.

listsandbudgets · 27/04/2020 13:35

I received a parcel this morning posted first class on the 17th.. 10 days is not what I call first class!!

I also received in the same post something posted second class on Friday. There's no rhyme or reason to the postal service lately

Thaddit · 27/04/2020 13:36

If you have to collect an undelivered parcel from the sorting office check opening times. Mine are 7-9am at the moment and not Wednesdays or Sundays. Yes you read that right we normally can collect on Sundays.

ticking · 27/04/2020 13:37

We post items out (online business) on a daily basis. Things are taking between 1 and 15 days to arrive 1st class....

ticking · 27/04/2020 13:38

I should just add ours all go recorded too, so we can see when they've arrived at the sortingoffice.

namechangenumber2 · 27/04/2020 13:39

Ours definitely is, it took 9 working days to receive something that had been sent on next day delivery! We're also finding we're only getting 1-2 deliveries a week. I know our local sorting office had to close for a deep clean recently so I believe that's why

tabernacles · 27/04/2020 13:41

It is very variable here (Manchester).

I had one parcel returned to the sender after several weeks because they hadn't even tried to deliver it, so I didn't know it was at the delivery office.

And some letters have taken three weeks.

But I ordered something else that arrived after two days (same postage option as the one that never came).

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 27/04/2020 13:43

@ticking

I've noticed that delivery is not always being recorded in the RM website at present. I've sent a number of packages recently that I know have arrived but RM claims they are still in transit.

bettybattenburg · 27/04/2020 13:45

I got my Covid home test through today, it was posted on Saturday.

ticking · 27/04/2020 13:56

@grumpyoldpersonwithcats Based on the ones we get complaints about, we then track until the customer tells us it has arrived.

I've even resorted to sending some by special delivry next day just to get them there and some of these have been taking up to a week!

Isithometimeyet0987 · 27/04/2020 14:00

I live central London and it’s extremely slow here. Some post taking 2 weeks to get here from other parts of the uk.

megletthesecond · 27/04/2020 14:04

I've just received a Waterstones package that was posted by royal mail on Thursday.

Another parcel (different company) that was despatched Tuesday hasn't appeared yet.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 27/04/2020 14:05

Ours has been late, and we had none for 3 days recently. I assume they are short staffed plus handling more than usual. Was worried about our lovely postman, who didn’t appear for a week, but he’s back now, was probably just on leave, phew.

I’d certainly post anything like a birthday card a week early, to be on the safe side.

Pinkflipflop85 · 27/04/2020 14:44

DP is working loads of overtime and they still can't get on top of it all.

BarbedBloom · 27/04/2020 14:53

Yes, something was posted on the 17th first class and it arrived today. I am still waiting for something posted last week from my bank too. We have a different postie pass by every day so assuming it is due to staff shortages

Candyflosscookie · 27/04/2020 14:56

My friend who is a postie says first class is taking about 4-5 days at the moment for their sorting office as they are still working through a huge backlog. Many more parcels than usual.

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