How long to wait for delivery in current Royal Mail situation

[Deleted User]

Thanks the_lunatic_is_in_my_head.  Still no response from the Seller.  Royal Mail tracking is showing, as before, in transit.  There will be no Royal Mail deliveries tomorrow so, if the item does not arrive and still no response from the Seller on 16th December,  I'll contact eBay Customer Services after that.  I would feel differently about it if the Seller had acknowledged my messages.

I really am understanding of the delay but feel disappointed in the Seller for not responding to my two messages.  I paid the fixed price and postage on 26 November, the item was received at the Post Office and Tracking number provided on 28 November and estimated delivery was 5-7 December.

MrsCatz

Hello,

I bought an item from eBay that was sent on the 29th of November. Having waited (taking into account the strikes and bad weather) yesterday I phoned Royal Mail to ask where it was as it has been in transit for 15 days. The seller had sent it 48 hr special delivery. 

The lady in the call centre, when I did get through, told me that anything sent 24/48 hour special delivery or signed for is not being given special preference, everything is going 1st class. She said they are working to a ten day delivery window (excluding strike days and weekend). I was told that if nothing had arrived by Saturday to start the missing items process.

I am a Christmas baby so not only am I faced with no birthday/ Christmas cards (unless hand delivered) it looks like my gifts from two friends won’t arrive until the New Year.  I feel really sorry for those with young children waiting for Christmas/birthday cards and gifts.

A friend has had every single gift she has ordered for her children held up or lost in the post. She has purchased from small online traders who are making a loss sending out duplicates of items missing, even if they are insured.

ciderboy2009

I've got a couple of items that I've been waiting 11 days for so far.  I fully accept that it's nothing to do with the seller so don't want to cause hassle by contacting them yet or starting an INR.

What is the latest I can leave it before I have to start an INR to protect my position?  I've got 45 days from expected date in my mind - is this correct?

[Deleted User]

I'm sorry I don't know, ciderboy2009, but I'm sure someone will know and will post soon.

in_the_Cotswolds

As a postie speaking to one of my colleagues yesterday we both came to the conclusion that this will carry on until mid January maybe February.

I'm advising people to avoid using Royal Mail for anything. Parcels and mail.

Normally our office has a parcel relief system at Christmas. This means the larger parcels get delivered separately so we normally clear mail daily however this is not happening this year. We are delivering parcels as a priority and the mail with the parcels. Which basically means if you have ordered items to be delivered by RM you should get your post.

I cover about 12 different rounds and the one I'm on this week the mail hasn't been delivered since last week. There is also 4 trays of mail that I can't get into the frame.

On a different note I have heard that our CSP is closing and parcels will be automatically be re-delivered the next day. Apparently we are been told "this is what the customer wants".

I'm advising customers to collect their own mail and also to complain to our CEO Simon Thompson. Although that will be like water off a ducks back.

As a postie who when I started out as an apprentice mechanic in the middle 70's was told in no uncertain " either you do f*****g job properly or not at all" followed by a smack round the back of the head I can only apologise.

GrubbyGirl_2

There is no excuse not to respond, so worth opening a case anyway.  However, you item was posted on 5th.  There are 3 strike days in those 9 days (4 including tomorrow) and a Sunday that they wouldn't have delivered anyway.  Personally I would much rather wait for something to be delivered safely via Royal Mail than wait for it to be left on my doorstep by one of the other couriers

Spoonie_Turtle

ciderboy2009 said:

What is the latest I can leave it before I have to start an INR to protect my position?  I've got 45 days from expected date in my mind - is this correct?

30 days after the latest delivery estimate.

MalMonroe

martindow said:

soolin said:EVRI are saying they cannot guarantee deliveries in their estimated time frames any longer.

This raises a smile - EVRI have rarely delivered in their expected timescales it seems.  It is similar to the proposal that if during strikes a minimum service level should be maintained, Avanti trains would offer a better service on days when there was a strike than they normally do.

In my experience, Evri always deliver on time. I don't know if it's just because we actually know the delivery people or whether the Evri base where I live is well organised. But we have never had any trouble with them. And today, I've received a parcel that they advised me this morning would be coming between 1 and 3. It came at 2.30. I won't ever complain about them. 

KxMx

I laughed when my Dad in NY said he'd posted Christmas presents. They won't be arriving until January for sure.

In a strange turn of events in present shopping the Etsy items going from US to US all got delivered within 3 days. Usually they bounce around the entire country for 7-10 days. 
For the UK to UK Etsy items it's now clear ordering 3 weeks ahead wasn't leaving enough time.

I'm also going to have to try and get a Prine delivery at the weekend of a vital item which hasn't turned up from eBay (posted 10 days ago).

Again I clearly didn't allow enough time.

I suspended my eBay selling this month, was planning a January return but thinking of February now. 

[Deleted User]

GrubbyGirl_2 said:

There is no excuse not to respond, so worth opening a case anyway.  However, you item was posted on 5th.  There are 3 strike days in those 9 days (4 including tomorrow) and a Sunday that they wouldn't have delivered anyway.  Personally I would much rather wait for something to be delivered safely via Royal Mail than wait for it to be left on my doorstep by one of the other couriers

Thanks GrubbylGirl 2.  Because of Courier problems (not always the same Courier) in the past, saying I was not in when I was in, no access to address (untrue) and another leaving a parcel exposed to the main street outside my house (in the rain) when not being delivered on the confirmed delivery date, now I only order from eBay if delivery is by Royal Mail. 

So, apart from the strike delays, I also much prefer Royal Mail. If a delivery is when I am out Royal mail leave a card and the item can be picked up at my nearby Royal Mail Delivery Office usually the next day or can, by arrangement, be redelivered.

My disappointment on this occasion is that the Seller has not responded to either of my two messages.