Had an email from a customer this morning item sent 28/11 not yet received. Have noticed delays for all post that goes out of the area is building up and up to 12 days delay.
3 Likes
I was just going to make a post about this and ask if anyone is going to shut their shops early this year because of it?
I’ve got a couple of parcels in the system somewhere from 27th and a few from the 30th that haven’t arrived yet. Obviously it’s understandable because of the extra postal burden due to online shopping and also staff shortages due to staff isolations etc, so there’s no blame but I don’t want my customers to be disappointed if items don’t arrive before Christmas.
I’ve got a notice in my shop to say that there may be delays but I’m not sure if every customer takes notice of that.
1 Like
I send items over a certain price now with tracking so I can prove to the buyer when it was posted. I am thinking of shutting up a week early on all sites as I don’t want the worry of it or risk having bad feedback from upset customers.
1 Like
I think will shut early as not worth the stress. Always find quiet nearer Christmas any way and judging by the images everyone is at the high street stores, looking for bargains.
Hi!,
Is everyone thinking of stopping orders this Friday?
I am not very busy but if I have any orders - I will say last post day Friday (for Christmas presents) I think.
Or are people saying earlier?
What does everyone think? Thank you, Linda & Mo x
I am seriously think Friday, need to do a big sort out in my shop anyway so yes will close early Saturday morning when I wake up.
I was thinking of Wednesday or Friday this week to close my shop. It’s a shame as some orders are arriving within 24 hours as usual but some are taking over 10 days now.
I would love to stay open but stresses me out so much when things do not arrive on time. May sound stupid but cannot deal with stress.
I’m planning on closing shop early this weekend but then I usually shut earlier than other’s anyway for this reason. 
1 Like
I’m also closing this weekend, and will reopen at Christmas.
The post is a little erratic, understandably with the high volume they must be receiving at the moment. Last week I sent two parcels to family members. The ‘Tracked 48 with Signature’ took three days to be delivered from Devon to Staffordshire but a ‘Second Class with Signature’ was delivered the following day from Devon to Scotland!
I had an order arrive to me on Friday that took FOURTEEN days to get to me, within the UK, sent second class.
Delays are definitely building up, but so are customers expectations.
Twice last week I was emailed about parcels not arriving, one within a week, the other after just two days!
Had my first email this morning about item not arrived, normally I stay open through Christmas but think I may close this year.
Have offered option of postage upgrade to Special delivery, but reckon few read the shop announcements.
Don’t want to be sending refunds for delayed items, and could do without the stress, some customers are very abrasive!
Me too, there seem to be delays.
Made the decision closing tomorrow, not worth the agro.
1 Like
I’m staying open but making it clear that once the item leaves my hands, it’s literally out of my hands. Most of my customers are really chill and understanding so if I have one of those customers, I’ll just roll my eyes and tell them thank you, here’s a refund, byeee.
1 Like
So true, I placed an order on 19th which has not beedn received yet either.
Sending out all orders via special from now on.
I hope they will be delivered much quicker.
I heard at the post office that parcels can take 15 plus days to arrive, so think I’m going to close my shop over the weekend until Christmas.
My parcel that has been missing since the 27th has just arrived…yay…10 minutes after I just got back from sending her a replacement order by 1st class tracked delivery! lol…Always the way!
I’ve had one customer contact me yesterday about something posted on 2nd, I apologised and asked if she could give it a few days and it then arrived just after.
I think it’s areas like the sorting offices that are struggling and creating a bottle neck as one case of covid takes a whole team out.
Makes you wonder if it was wise for Royal Mail to start collecting and inviting more volume by taking business from the couriers at this time, but I suppose they have to compete. I also notice they’ve not brought last posting dates forward yet, so must think they can catch up. There have been issues other years where they’ve chucked everything at it last minute to get it all through.
I have a notice on my account alerting people to delays but I don’t think people will see it so I’m emailing anyone who orders to let them know that I’m posting 1st class same day (or next if post office closed) and that there could be delays - if they come back to me straight away to cancel that’s fine. I think all post services are struggling as I’ve also noticed delays with couriers and a disappearance of chat functionality to chase things up so think they are all groaning at the seams.
I take the view that unless someone can / wants to go out to the shops and can then give their gifts in person, they’ve got to contend with postal services in some form or another. It’s therefore better that they have the option to order and take their chances that it could be delayed than not be able to at all so I’m staying open - may regret this
1 Like