Whats going on with Royal Mail? Just me?

[smarts-gaming]

Everything im sending lately 48 hours tracked is taking around two weeks to arrive? And ive now had my third package turn up to a buyer completely empty... I am well aware this is likely more the result of scammers, but their accounts seem very legit with 100s of positive feedbacks, 100% positive overall. The first time it happened I thought they were a scammer, but now the 3rd time in a month im beginning to suspect royal mail are actually stealing my items. The most recent one has immediately made a chargeback on their card. 

Ive already been left negative feedback for late delivery, despite me dispatching it the day after it was purchased... 

Just seems to me Royal Mail are having an absolute nightmare lately, but im not seeing the same sentiment online, am I the only one facing these issues? Its ruining my account and turning me off using ebay.

[style_wise]

You seem to have left eBay, but just in case it helps other Sellers and Buyers:

In the event of empty box deliveries, Royal Mail asks you to contact RM Customer Service.

With Tracked service, you can Appeal a defect or late delivery with eBay Customer Service.

If  using Simple Delivery's Tracked 48, then eBay protects you from defects and feedback for lateness.

[jckl1957]

Lots of issues here.

I use Royal Mail large Letter or RM Tracked 48 and I am currently finding the service is as reliable as ever.

I post from the Norfolk coast but do send all over the country and genuinely have not had any standard second class or Tracked 48 items taking more than 3 days, generally, it is 2 days.

In over 20 years of selling, I have never had a buyer report an empty package.  

You may already do this, but simply sticking a bit of strong brown tape across the stuck down flap of a padded envelope might help.

Remember, buyers can only receive positive feedback.  Sellers who have a negative experience with a buyer just won't leave any feedback.

If buyers leave unfair negs for you, send them a request for removal from your feedback page - they may decide they acted in haste and remove it.

If you think a buyer might be a bit dodgy, have a look at the feedback they have left for others - do they seem to have a lot of empty packages?  If they do, cancel the sale.

[smarts-gaming]

Thanks chatgpt. Not what I was asking though. 

[smarts-gaming]

I really wish I had your luck, my local depot are disgraceful it seems. Thanks for the advice, I am an experienced ebayer so I do already follow all of this and know the procedures etc by now. It doesnt make it any less frustrating when things go missing or get stuck in the system, and also leaves a sour taste in the mouths of what couldbe been future customers. Im looking for people who have had issues royal mail to share their experience, I know there are many out there. 

[smarts-gaming]

I have found a thread currently on reddit ebayuk page with loads of people having exact same issues as me the past month :

https://www.reddit.com/r/ebayuk/comments/1mtgos1/something_i_sold_stuck_in_out_for_delivery/