Second class post times this time of year??

borosteve_2

Does anyone know how long a small parcel should take second class recorded this time of year? My seller sent it 6 Dec by this method and theres no sign of it yet. I don't think theres any scam or anything (they replied straight away when I asked about dispatch and sent me what seems to be a valid track number).

I paid via paypal and off my cc, the item was worth about £70 so I should be covered if its gone missing, its just that the buyer offered me two postage rates, recorded or special, warning me that recorded only covers me to £34.

Obviously after reading this forum I chose the cheaper postage option as its the buyers responsibilty to deliver etc but I am just hoping there is a reasonable chance it could still turn up to save the almost inevitable upset if I have to eventually file an "item not received" claim.

Any ebay experts please?

baffcat

borosteve wrote: »

Does anyone know how long a small parcel should take second class recorded this time of year? My seller sent it 6 Dec by this method and theres no sign of it yet. I don't think theres any scam or anything (they replied straight away when I asked about dispatch and sent me what seems to be a valid track number).

I paid via paypal and off my cc, the item was worth about £70 so I should be covered if its gone missing, its just that the buyer offered me two postage rates, recorded or special, warning me that recorded only covers me to £34.

Obviously after reading this forum I chose the cheaper postage option as its the buyers responsibilty to deliver etc but I am just hoping there is a reasonable chance it could still turn up to save the almost inevitable upset if I have to eventually file an "item not received" claim.

Any ebay experts please?

Second class often takes only a couple of days, and seemingly as often takes seven or eight. There's generally not a lot of rhyme nor reason to it.

During this Season of Goodwill though, the PO seem to process standard letters far faster than small packets, packets & parcels. Most of the stuff I sell is small packet or packet sized. Even though I upgrade the service I use to first class during December, very, VERY little of it gets delivered next day, most taking two to four days to get to the buyer. I'd imagine second class non-letters too will be being delayed longer, so I'd wait up to around ten days before worrying.

The PO don't class an item of mail as missing for fifteen working days after the date it should be delivered (not the date posted). As you seem to be happy with your seller, I'd just sit tight.

My local sub postmaster told me Tuesday next week is the last day for guaranteed (LMAO, I'm sure he meant to say recommended) delivery of second class items for Christmas, so you should have no bother receiving your before then.

As for the liability, you did exactly the right thing in choosing the cheapest option for postage, because, as you said, the seller will lose out if it does actually go missing, not you. But, if you wanted the item to be delivered in a certain time, the ONLY way of doing this is to ask (and usually pay) for Special Delivery or courier.

Personally, if I list an item with a value of £34 plus, I list P&P as Special or courier, or if as is often the case, my buyers want to buy more than one Item, if the total value exceeds £34, or the weight goes over 1500g, again I charge for SD or courier.

HTH

Baff

jacksons_mum

i sent loads of items second class standard on monday, one got there on tuesday, the rest got there today. the quickest i have ever known it!

custardy

the reason 2nd class is sporadic is because it is treated depending on mail pressure.
so if 1st class is all clear then 2nd class will be pushed through.
if 1st class is heavy then 2nd class will be put to the side(this is in mail centres)
once it hits delivery offices 1st and 2nd class are treated the same

the reason packets take can longer than letters is loads are machine sorted.
this is why rm brought in the new sizing to make letters that cant be machine sorted more expensive over mech mail.

baffcat

Thanks, custardy. That explains pretty clearly, to me, why different classes and sizes of mail from different areas, even at similar times, take differing periods to get delivered.

I'd just like to say I read a lot of your replies to posts, and they're always clear & concise, so I appreciate the time you take to post about postage and the PO.

Baff

borosteve_2

Thanks Custardy, so in your professional opinion it could still turn up?

custardy

oh yes,we have 'weird' delays in our office.
so for example the posties have returned items after delivery leaving a red card.
from the 7th & 10th i have very few items back so people are going nuts from the 7th.

the reason(im thinking)is we have storage in livingstone and if the mail centre is at capacity then trucks are diverted to livingstone.
then this mail is on the back burner so to speak until the mail centre is clear to transport &process that mail.

so thats 5 days for mail to turn around in the local system!!

borosteve_2

custardy wrote: »

oh yes,we have 'weird' delays in our office.
so for example the posties have returned items after delivery leaving a red card.
from the 7th & 10th i have very few items back so people are going nuts from the 7th.

the reason(im thinking)is we have storage in livingstone and if the mail centre is at capacity then trucks are diverted to livingstone.
then this mail is on the back burner so to speak until the mail centre is clear to transport &process that mail.

so thats 5 days for mail to turn around in the local system!!

Ah, thats around my area so I'll sit tight. Thanks for your help.

rare_stuff

I'm finding 2nd class packets are taking 7-10 days to arrive at the moment

Not happy about it and neither are my customers!

Have just switched to using first class today, though I'm having to shoulder the cost of that <grumble>

divadee

I bought and paid for something on the 28th the seller claims it was posted on the 29th second class, it has still not arrived, but they are making me wait until the 20th before they will refund or replace.

Which is no good as i want it for christmas. Now i know if i go and buy it again teh original will turn up, but if i dont buy another one then i will be without it at christmas :mad:

dotchas

I had a parcel 2nd class recorded turn up on 10th after it was posted on 1st so that was 9 days.Another one turned up in 2 days!

I also want to thank Custardy for all his advice:T