Someone reassure me!

[Allromanticsmeetthesamefate]

I have just sent stingy DH to the post office with some parcel boxes to send off to family in Scotland. We were very late posting due to late delivery of gifts to us but was sure if we sent off Track 24 first thing this morning we would be fine.

However DH has retuned and said that he wasn’t paying the postage for 24 hour service and has gone track 28 instead! 😭

His logic was neither were guaranteed so better to go for the cheaper option.

Feel so gutted had put so much effort into everyone gifts and, especially my Nephew who is having his 1st Christmas and now almost certain they won’t arrive in time!

The last day for all parcels was Friday. So in reality... both will arrive next week, maybe Saturday.

Yes, it gets collected but it dosent actually get into the main system until that evening. It is only collected due to space issues in the post offices. It won't get any further through the system than something picked up 5 hours later.
You were still past the recommended posting date for either service. A one year old isnt going to have a clue if it is a few days late. Just explain to your nephew's parents that you were late posting so it may be a day or two late.
In future would it not be better to get it sent direct to their address though? Most online stores offer this option and also offer gift wrapping options now.

You can buy postage online, I do this know because the new people at the post office quoted me £20 for a wine box size parcel and I got it down to £13 online.

They make you feel under pressure because you don’t want to look tight.

It' amazes me how funny people get over postage.
Yes if it's a regular thing of course save the pennies but a one off at Christmas ! Pay the bloody postsge.
I think in many people it's displacement theory they waste thousands elsewhere and think they are careful spenders by saving on one off parkings and postage

It's your fault for sending stuff so late, I wouldn't have paid for 24 never mind 48.

Thank you again @TMMC1 for giving me a bit of hope and positivity in this post.

I know not a definite but tracking is currently saying the estimated delivery for all 4 boxes is Christmas Eve!!!

He might have made a logical decision based on price and impact, but if the two of you had agreed to send the gifts so they arrived by Christmas he should NOT have sent them for a later date without consulting you. I wouldn't let this go without understanding (1) why he felt it was OK to disregard my wishes/our agreement and (2) how, according to him, I can be confident that he won't do similar again.

@localbutterfly for about the 3rd time this was not a “who’s right or wrong” not every post has to be a relationship AIBU.

I only added DH opting for track 48 rather than 24 for context.

As in the heading of my post was just looking for reassurance that the parcels may still make it on time.

Lots of our stuff has still gone really quickly, so I think it still could get there in time! And if it doesn't, it will probably add a bit of excitement to their day when it does arrive. :)

@Eenameenadeeka Im still hopeful!!

I’d recommend in the future purchasing the postage on the Royal Mail website prior to going to the post office. When I have been in the past, both tracked 24 and guaranteed 1pm are shocking when purchasing at the counter (even the cashier told me next time to purchase before).

OP I used to post things to Scotland late afternoon on 23rd from East Sussex and they would get there Christmas eve!

@TMMC1i posted a couple things last Thursday (within England from London) and the post office said second class would not get there in time. He recommended DPD 24 signed for, which was not that much more than RM signed for, so I used that. I thought it interesting that a RM was selling and promoting DPD over its own service as more efficient!
Also, RM are now charging £3.40 to send a normal size card ANYWHERE outside UK, which I think is outrageous.

The Post Office isnt anything to do with Royal Mail and hasn't been for over a decade.

Ah ok.

I live in a rural village and we do have a post office centre but tracked 24 tends to be 48 hours for me, even if I order before cut off times etc.