Royal Mail International - No Delivery Updates

[bricklanebargains]

We have been receiving messages from our international customers who want tracking updates on their orders. So far, 3 parcels which were sent Royal Mail International Tracked on 24 November, 2 December and 6 December show no updates yet. I`m certain there are more who haven`t contacted us yet but afraid to look to be honest.

RM had a software failure of some sort a few years ago which caused a massive backlog and delay of international deliveries for they did not update sellers at any stage so I`m thinking maybe it`s happening again. Is anyone else having a similar problem? Is Ebay aware of this?       

[technthread]

I don’t use international tracked myself I only offer international standard on letter / large letter low value items. If it’s any use I’ve got an international standard to the USA that seems to be moving like normal:

[maturin.surprise]

I would bet they're experiencing a backlog at Langley right now.

I posted international tracked items last week which haven't even been scanned yet (beyond the initial Post Office acceptance scan).

Of course, eBay are telling customers deliveries to the US will take less than 10 days. In December of all months. Which there's no chance of happening right now. The same thing happens to outbound mail every year around this time, but the delivery estimates are never modified.

I'm already awaiting all the messages politely asking buyers if they wouldn't mind waiting another week or two. I doubt they'll be arriving before Christmas now, hopefully they weren't intended as presents.

[bricklanebargains]

We are experiencing the same thing. The only update we receive says "sender is preparing the item" and nothing beyond that which means that the parcels are not even scanned by RM yet. Like you said, I very much doubt most parcels will arrive in time for Christmas.    

[bricklanebargains]

I received the following response from a RM customer advisor today: 

Good Morning,

I hope you are well.

 I am sorry to hear you have had some issues recently with overseas parcels, there is no reported widespread issue for international although it is possible these may have been delayed slightly by the increase in traffic over black Friday. For further information on each item please raise a tracking query here 

 Kindest regards

[sherbetpatch]

I'm experiencing similar, with international mail not being scanned in to the system for days after being collected via click and drop.

It used to be that, even on a weekend, items collected in the morning would at least be scanned into the RM depot by the same evening, or the following morning.

Currently getting twitchy about a USA one that hasn't moved past the optimistic  ''we've got it'' when it was collected on Saturday morning.

My tracked 48s are fine, but I've also noticed an extra day added on to my tracked 24s.