Probably a stupid question - online deliveries and Royal Mail

[ocdhelpcovid19]

I take it that - if not all postal services? - will be cancelled now? Have ordered £50 worth of shampoo, shower gel etc and sanitary pads (in desperate need of) ... I’m guessing there’s no way I’ll see any of that now .

Also did an order off Waterstones for my grandma for jigsaws ... also assuming I’ve zero chance of ever receiving that !

I know I can live without sanitary pads - would just make life easier if I could get them, wee shop here doesn’t sell and supermarket have been totally sold out for 3 weeks . Highly allergic to anything other than bodyform for some reason - come out in boils/abscesses .

They said the post office will stay open, apparently they are classed as key workers according to my postie.
I have the same question about non essential online deliveries though - one of the news reporter said online shops would stay open... it’s not totally clear

I think post and deliveries will still be going. Essential service especially in these times. Keeps people safer than going to shops.

My friend makes reusable sanitary towels and sells via Etsy. They're apparently very good.

Plus I imagine if people can afford it they will be looking for entertainment at home
Which will keep them at home so will be looking to order activities etc

I’m hoping the deliveries I’ve ordered today will arrive

I’ve ordered presents for my dd’s birthday on Thursday.

May not be essential to some, but to her, it is.

I’ve ordered from Argos and Amazon

Courier company /postal staff as classed as key workers.

Check out reusables and period pants. Better for the environment, too, and cheaper in the long run.

Can’t afford reusables just now - that toiletries I’ve ordered will need to do a few months . I get through 10-15 pads a day (endometriosis and PCOS) so not sure how many reusables I’d need to buy . Will definitely look into it once this is over, have considered it before . Period pants wise I definitely, definitely can’t afford them sadly .

I don't know if they'll scale back what they see as unessential deliveries but I assume some post will continue. Many people have their repeat meds delivered. My pharmacy uses Royal Mail. They've made a few changes like not doing signatures at the moment.

I work for RM ... unless we get other instructions when we show up for work tomorrow, we will be continuing as close to normal as we can (staffing permitting).

Does this means that we can still use the RM post boxes to send letters?

That was my other question ... I guess if I do that’s my once daily exercise . Have a relative who’s very, very elderly and won’t remember a phone call but she will remember a letter ...

Online shopping is unaffected. Sending mail is unaffected.

Selfishly I hope they continue as I have some
Much needed toiletries and some clothes for DS hopefully arriving, and I need to order a few more bits for DS too as he’s outgrowing everything!

Are post offices actually going to be open? Or are we just going to be able to use post boxes?

I have ordered gifts as it's ds birthday this week and I've ordered a new printer cartridge and paper which I desperately need for dcs school work.

Yep, postboxes will still be emptied.

It might take a bit longer for things to arrive than you're used to, some delivery offices and mail centres are really short staffed at the moment, but we're all working hard to make sure everything gets to where it's supposed to be as quick as possible!

Roysl Mail are still working - they are designated key workers. They will be working hard to keep delivering as normal

Do we think couriers like DPD etc will be too

Thank you all so much . Will get that letter written and sent away then ❤️ and sit tight on the online order front !

Remember that many Etsy and Ebay sellers are just people like you or me, who take a bag of packages to the post office every day. If I had an online shop and could afford to take the hit to my income, I think I would be closing it.
I am torn between purchasing from these people to support their livelihoods but at the same time knowing that I am effectively asking them to break the lockdown and put their health and that of others at risk.