Royal Mail chrisrmas delivery

[liamtoretail]

Hi everyone,

Just wondered if anyone could give their opinion with regards to shipping via Royal Mail over the festive period. At sort of what point as a seller would you be expecting delays in order deliveries to customers?

Im looking to change my dispatch time over chrisrmas to allow for such delays but wasn’t sure if to start earlier December or sooner.

Any thoughts please?

Thanks 

[jokers_toybox · Accepted solution]

Judging by the amount of late deliveries I have had to deal with this week I'd say now...

[liamtoretail]

How many days over the estimated delivery date have they been?

Mine have all been ok up until now touch wood but looking to start preparing for delays 

[vintage-emporium-jedburgh]

Delays usually start around January and last 12 months 

[thesmokingrunner]

There is no "at what point" these days; it's pretty much guaranteed that delays happen.

I've just been keeping an eye on a Tracked 48 parcel which was posted on 5th November. It was finally delivered on the 14th November. And no, that is not a typo: it took 9 days to deliver a Tracked 48 parcel. Tracked 216 more like...

If your change your dispatch time now at least you'll have another day or two leeway, then if you ship earlier than the last dispatch date given by eBay there's at least a slightly greater chance it will be delivered before the buyer can open a Not Received case. These days that's the best anyone can hope for.

[c_of_e84]

Deoends how much agro you want to set yourself up for.

[tribalgiftsuk]

From Black Friday onwards it becomes silly season with the post when you can expect anything not sent first class or tracked 24 to be subject to delays up to a week or two if ever arriving and even those 1st class taking up to three days.

[jokers_toybox]

tracked 48 have been 5 working days, 2nd class nearly 2 weeks 

super frustrating

[fribblecollectables]

Over the years, I have never had any major delays that have prompted a buyer to get too worried.

Saying that  though, I generally do not run any auctions finishing any later than about the 10th, giving 2 weeks to get there if paid for promptly.

Buy It Nows run as normal.

Closer to the 25th I might stick some out using 1st Class at my own choice, but depends on how I feel at the time. (Does it seem like a Christmass present, what is the value etc).

[kyanyama]

I used to stop selling around 15 Dec to cope with those who leave things to the last minute and then blame everyone but themselves when something arrives late.

But now I sell all through the festive season!

I had a Tracked 48 delivered next day (not eBay - a birthday gift for family member) and a Tracked 48 (eBay SD) was posted on Friday and delivered today (Tues) , although usually Friday post is normally delivered on Monday.

I have my dispatch window set at 3 days (cos I only work 2 days a week now).  I had a sale today which will only get posted on Friday as not prepared to use my petrol just for a parcel.  It is stated on my listings in bold I only post on Tues & Fri (unless I go out for something else and then I will post on other days).  If they don't read that then I can refer them to it if they complain.  My dispatch stars are 5* so most seem to understand things can't be teletransported!

[padanpcparts]

My usual process is to dispatch up until the last Friday of December. So this will be the 19th December this year. I then close until the first Monday in January, so the 5th January this year. I still allow buyers to purchase items BUT importantly I have a templated message that gets sent to them all letting them know that I am closed for dispatch until 5th January. 

I then do one day of packing and posting between Christmas and New year. (probably Friday 28th December), just to clear the backlog. Sure, I get a few problems with missing post and delays. That's life. I just deal with the problems as they arise. Normally this works quite well, and it means there is a good chunk of stuff to post out on the first Monday back in the New Year! Good way to get back in to it! 

[neil-simulant]

The short comedic answer is that royal mail can't be trusted to deliver on time at any point in the year,  they are laughable inconsistent. 

To be more charitable towards them I always find the end of October tends to be when some items start turning up a bit later than usual. It's just a theory but maybe this is caused by the influx of items being sent abroad in order to get there for the holiday season round this time. That's my own personal theory / opinion. 

Again they are inconsistent and i've had ones that were posted after the final posting dates, arrive next day for people in previous years. 

So short answer, extend your times now if you can.

Good luck to everyone in the coming weeks. 

[cbennissupplies]

Royal mail started late delivery's around december 2021

[vintage-emporium-jedburgh]

 I think  the 1600s  were their late delivery starting point