Argh. Royal mail have DHs main present, will it arrive?

[LetterWoe]

His main gift from Zavvi was given to RM 3 days ago, no movement since

Should I rebuy elsewhere?

I’m sure it will arrive, i ordered something from IWOOT last week and it arrived today. Try not to worry just yet.

This sounds weird. Posting animals?

It's standard across the hobby to post inverts. Spiders, mantids, other insects. Also feeder foods such as flies, crickets, roaches are all posted.

They're very well packed and it's much more humane than the travel meat market animals go through. I take it you're a strict vegan?

I ordered a present from Etsy Portugal very beginning of November, still zero movement in the Royal Mail network, ordered in more than plenty of time and I doubt it will arrive in time. I did a trade in deal with samsung for a new phone (gift) - it's taken 7 weeks for the returns envelope to be delivered here, it should have taken 3 days, so the guaranteed trade in is now no longer valid and I'm £150 out of pocket. I went to collect an Amazon order from the post office yesterday, they couldn't find my parcel and said 'royal mail strikes', and 'you'll get incorrect delivered notifications despite them not being there'... blah blah every excuse and lie for not finding my package. It was delivered by Amazon courier to the post office on Monday so clearly they have no idea how their own system works, strikes didn't affect Amazon couriers, and have lost my parcel in their tiny shelving unit -somehow.

Quite frankly I'm surprised they even exist anymore, striking for increased pay yet by striking - their service is unfit for purpose and people are using other delivery services, means no revenue for increasing pay.

If you need something in time for Christmas, I would use a proper delivery service, definitely avoid Royal Mail at all costs.

Certain things seem to be delivered, my eBay orders came quite quickly. I posted my Christmas cards yesterday to some relatives I send to every year, I suppose they will get there sometime but at least they are sent even if they arrive after Christmas. I wouldn't use them for anything important though, my Christmas presents are being sent by Amazon Prime as usual so I know they get there

I'm a business user of Royal Mail. They aren't holding up too badly considering. Probably because they have a massively reduced volume. I can't afford to switch to another provider and the only one that comes close to pricing is Evri, who can't cope with the demand. DPD stopped taking bookings completely this week.
Those who are saying they won't shop with companies using Royal Mail, this has had a knock on effect across the board and now all firms are struggling because no one has the infrastructure to cope with the extra customers.
I was fairly supportive of the strikes but the CWU are Hell bent on bringing down every small business with them and they are costing me £1000's in lost business, increased costs where I'm upgrading delivery free of charge, and time emailing about delays. After such a rubbish year, we needed a good Christmas trade period to stay afloat. As it is I've had to let another member of staff go.

Yep, I'm an Etsy seller and I've had to close down my shop for Christmas as I can't risk the bad reviews if people don't get their parcels on time (customers are not understanding of strikes and still blame the seller!). This is being repeated all over the platform.

That's so bad. I'm on ebay and use royal mail and there's warnings put on it automatically but still I'm going to shut down after this weekend. Not worth the hassle.

Feeling your pain, I was out when they tried to deliver a couple of weeks ago so had to organise a redelivery, earliest I could get was yesterday, there was someone at home all day and they didn’t redeliver, tracking service shows it moved on 30th Nov then nothing, it’s from a small business - I really feel for them and the knock on effect.

Out of interest why close and not use another courier?

All couriers are bogged down at this time of year too in normal circumstances. Add on the extra they have picked up from strikes and no guarantees with them either.

DPD haven't collected from our parcel shop for a week and have stopped booking new collections to catch up.

Evri have a backlog.

It's not as simple as using someone else when they are all inundated and backlogged

Out of interest why close and not use another courier?

Yep, as Justhereforthechristmasthreads says - I don't believe the other couriers are performing any better, and it's only going to get worse. Hate to say it, but I think Amazon will provide the most reliable delivery service this Christmas.

Do they still turn up alive after a week in the postal system?

My stuff has been arriving, just maybe 3-4 days later than usual, however there are a LOT of strikes planned - if I'm order much more in the run up to Christmas I will try to ensure it's through someone else, even the dreaded Evri.

Amazon Prime is the best one, I use their wrapping and delivery service to send my presents to distant people.

I'm choosing not to buy from companies that use royal mail. I have a parcel to send, I won't be using royal mail. Nor will I be sending cards as they are just too expensive to post.

@Spoodee
*
They're very well packed and it's much more humane than the travel meat market animals go through. I take it you're a strict vegan?*

Yes. They're very Hardy creatures and only eat once a week anyways.

I posted my Mums Christmas present and my daughters debit card Monday for 24 hour tracked. Still not arrived and the strike wasn't until Wednesday/Thursday. My Mum is a worrier so is messaging every day the bloody parcel doesn't arrive and stressing me out.

I am asking sellers to use Evri. Fed up with RM in general, a lot of my mail goes to the next road, and that is when they are working normally. Except on a normal day our postman always keeps stuff back and delivers it on the days he wants to, which means I get it all at once, instead of when I need it. (Sometimes medical supplies which are ordered in good time).

On the other days he takes it to another address and I have to look for it. Last time I had to rebuy as he lost it/the other people pinched it. He is always moaning and groaning because people are out.

Evri man, however, arrives on time, knows where to leave it if I am out, is cheerful and pleasant. I am lucky to have him.

Both of them have been delivering here for years.

I know RM delivery people are not having it so good these days, a lot of delivery people are under pressure to meet targets and get paid enough to live on but people are moving away from RM, and I don't see a great future for the company, especially if they stop Saturday letter delivery as well.

I received a delivery via RM this morning (Sunday). Something I ordered on 23 November, just before 2 strike days, and I think there were another 2 strike days last week. If your Zavvi parcel is already in the system, I'd expect to receive later this week.

Evri is no better. They've now lost 2 of my parcels ordered in November (although won't admit they've lost the latest so I have not been able to get a refund from the seller despite waiting 2 weeks for arrival as they say just backlogs...although 3 Christmas gifts ordered last week were delivered on Friday by Evri)