Royal Mail delivery times

carly

I know there's no definitive answer to this query, but does anyone have recent experience of how long  a second class small parcel is currently taking to be delivered.  I posted an item on 12 June and it is not yet marked as delivered.  The Royal mail tracking states that it will only be updated when delivery is attempted.  The buyer has not been in touch to query non-delivery nor has he left feedback.  Is Royal mail tracking being updated promptly or are they behind due to workload and staff shortages.

soolin

It really does depend on areas. I’ve had 2nd class parcels arrive next day and others take 6-7 days. I’ve also got several from end of May that have never updated to show delivered but where no one has complained about non receipt. 

carly

soolin said:

It really does depend on areas. I’ve had 2nd class parcels arrive next day and others take 6-7 days. I’ve also got several from end of May that have never updated to show delivered but where no one has complained about non receipt. 

Thanks for your reply.  I thought that would be the case, it's the uncertainty that's getting to me.  I like to know that things have arrived safely and that my buyer is happy.

Gellar9

I'm still waiting for things from the end of May that I have tracking for. If it doesn't arrive today or tomorrow, Birthday and Fathers Day will be ruined even more than I expected it to be by Covid 19 and the lack of places to go. Hopefully their will be other years, but I am appreciative I am still here at least.

That said, I received a card this morning that was posted second class yesterday. I have no idea how they are deciding what is what at the moment. I thought it may be that letters could be given priority, but people say they've sent literature from two weeks ago that hasn't arrived, so it's really random I think.

in_the_Cotswolds

I sent a 2nd class parcel from near Gloucester to my daughter in London it arrived next day. 

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

A parcel posted on the 8th via RM48 (basically 2nd Class) was delivered on the 16th.

As this was the only buyer to contact us I assume the rest were delivered a bit more timely. 

The postie won't always bother to scan the parcel upon delivery, no news from the buyer is good news! 

in_the_Cotswolds

If the postie isn't scanning Tracked items he/she will be "retrained".

emmbrook

It seems to be all over the place - I’m waiting on a 2nd class parcel sent over a week ago, not for the first time recently. Others are taking as little as a day. Seems to be local issues in various places.

Silvertabby

Small package from e-bay seller post marked 16 June was received today (20 June).  Expected it to take longer, to be honest.

mattyprice4004

It's all down to the sorting offices it has to pass though. My business passes through Southampton, which is one of the hardest hit - they seem to have had 2 slowdowns.
The first was when lockdown hit - pictures all over the Web of cages completely filling their yard waiting to be sorted; and a second when other business went back to work due to the increase in volume with business both sending parcels, and re ordering incoming supplies.

At some points parcels were taking 2+ weeks on RM48 to be delivered!

mimi1234

I've sent 2 2nd class small parcels in the last month.  Both were delivered the day after and I have been showered with praise by the buyers.  

On the other hand, I was expecting a cheque from RM re: a lost item which took 3 weeks to get to me from the date it was marked "franked".