Royal Mail changes - is everyone aware?

[charleysshop]

I have used Royal Mail for the last three years with little problem....however, over the last two weeks I have had three items that have taken over a week to arrive on a Royal Mail tracked 48 service!!!

This morning, this has happened again, I posted Thursday last week, item still with my local depot as of today on tracked 48 service.

On visiting Royal Mail site, there are only delayed claims allowed on 1st and 2nd class and special delivery NOT on any tracked service. When tracking the item number, it states that this service is ONLY an aim not a guarantee! So, what is the point in sending tracked? If I go back to using 1st and 2nd class EBay purchased labels, there is NO tracking number added, leaving customers in the dark, plus it's only insured for £20. 
There was always a facility to claim for delayed delivery through Royal Mail tracked so this has been removed....we are only in October, what on earth will it bring by Christmas? I know there are weather problems but come on EBAY something has to be done to back the business sellers. 
Is there another courier who dispatches breakables that can be trusted to get their on time in one piece with a tracking facility?

Which courier do other business sellers use please?

[planet78]

You probably won't want to hear it, but I'm all Evri here. I use them for 99% of my stuff, with RM for the odd bits they won't do at a reasonable price like NI and various islands.

They're not perfect by any means, but via Packlink I get full tracking, and for my low value items, 100% compensation for the ones they lose. For me, the average delivery time using their standard service is 2-4 days.

[padanpcparts]

We dropped RM for EVRI at the start of the year after doing a study of our postal services. It was the best decision we ever made. If any other courier did LL and Letter at a reasonable price we would drop RM completely. Horrible horrible horrible company for businesses. Their business customer services might be the worst on the planet, they used to be cheaper (they arent anymore), tracking useless, Don't pay claims...I could go on. 

[charleysshop]

Many thanks, I think I will be switching! 👍

[charleysshop]

Hi, many thanks for your reply. I am going to make a switch then, im not putting up with a late service, no compensation, and also no way for eBay to remove the defects on my account despite it not being my fault!

The Royal Mail company were sold a few months ago so it looks like there are going to be many changes so I'll opt out now and hope that Evri can deliver safely. 👍

[1902elder]

Royal Mail has NOT been sold, it may be in the next few months,  unless the government blocks it.  Evri offers no compensation on breakable items, there is an extensive list of categories which have no protection.

[Anonymous]

I would guess it must be a staffing issue at the branch in your area.

They have been reliable for me and that hasn't changed in the last few weeks, items sold and purchased are still arriving on time.

If I were in your situation I'd just give them a swerve for a few weeks until they get themselves back on track.

The posties are often in the know and completely honest, some even criticises RM, so you could just ask the next one who brings you a parcel.

[padanpcparts]

Haha great example. Just had an item come back to me from RM, sent to Germany. They attempted delivery after 58 days.....

[everyfone-uk · Accepted solution]

I use RM48 Tracked..I also had issues in the last 2 weeks with RM48 Tracked taking a long time..this has now been resolved and was caused by delays at my local royal mail Mail centre ( Jubilee in west London). For my business its not about the compensation that you get with EVRI when they lose a parcel its about the royal mail delivery offices that atleast give customers a place where they can pick up post...EVRI dont have any such places...also EVRI has a different driver every week...whereas with royal mail its normally the same postman..which makes a big diff to customers. What woule be better and would solve ALL of this is if we as sellers coiuld specify our own delivery timesclaes ( im not talking about dispatch times) ie items can take between 2-7 days to arrive and then this is reflected in the estimated delivery timescales shown to customers.

[237ben]

To me, this is nothing new. RM's service has been dreadful since Covid became the go-to excuse for people not doing their jobs. 

We get many, many late deliveries and some nearby villages get only one delivery day each week. I’ve also noticed items being held for several days at the so-called "Superhubs". Worse still, a lot of items are delivered to the wrong address, and many simply don’t arrive. In many cases, the posties will scan items to 'prove' delivery, then steal them. This is particularly the case where premium postage services leads them to believe they have a higher-value item. 

I was previously led to believe this this was a localised problem affecting my area, but it appears to be becoming more widespread now.

[messier44000]

I know many have different experiences with RM compensation.

But for me with regards late deliveries outside their own estimates (not FDDs) they have 

been quick to compensate , both RM and Parcel force.

[charleysshop]

Hi,

Thank you for your reply, I completely agree with you. Also with regards to specifying timescales, this would ease much pressure for the sellers and not create angry or disappointed customers when it arrives later than the time estimated.
Customers like consistency, and my postie for RM always has a smile, something that often goes amiss with other couriers!

[juliamaud]

I'm having problems with Royal Mail too. 

One item I sold got held up so long the buyer requested a refund for non-delivery via Ebay guarantee without letting me know there was a problem. I paid the refund immediately but am unable to claim compensation from Royal Mail as they appear to have removed that option!

The other is an item I purchased. Was due to be delivered by 8th october but never arrived. Contacted the seller who claimed, although tracking shows it is still intransit, it was delivered on 4th! Contacted Royal Mail who confirm it was never delivered and is still in their system - although they dont know where and I should contact the seller again and get then to make a claim for compensation. Presumably after paying me a refund as the parcel never arrived.

Am going round in circles with ebay trying to get a refund for no receipt. 

Am so fed up with Royal Mail non delivery both as a seller and as a buyer. 

And ebay are not making things any better!

[danieledwardsmall]

Evri 100% for all low value parcels - never had a problem with them.  Under Hermes I had late deliveries and some missing.

The in-store label print is a massive plus point for me as I have no printer nor any intention of getting one.

I think Evri have improved massively; the fact that their compensation coverage is poor is mitigated by RM's now reduced compensation on similar services.

To be honest, all Evri has to do is revamp their CS to make it more accessible, add an option, say £2.50 to cover items not covered and have a £1 letter option and RM will be finished.

[ashley*and*ollie]

Two Evri questions for those that have switched - I am having a terrible time with RM for the last 2 weeks and what with eBay delivery estimates it's hurting.

1.  The postables say 250 g to 1Kg.  Can you used under 250g - is there any issue with this?

2.  Have you just removed all RM postage options in your policy?  I was wondering what would happen say with the Channel Islands as I have a few customers there.  I do appreciate I can just send to them by RM without issue, but I was worried they wouldn't see the listing in the first place?

Thanks x

[juliamaud]

I put in a buy now bid for the asking price and added I'd like postage via Evri or Yodel not Royal mail. I explained the problems I'd had sending and receiving via RM and the seller rejected my offer. So some people will only use Royal Mail.