Is there a big backlog at the moment?

[tinfish]

Hi folks.
I am just wondering what shipping is like at the moment, I have had an odd experience with several parcels I ordered over the weekend, I am slightly concerned about at least 1 of them.

I had two orders shipped on Monday the 3rd, one from an English Amazon seller with Standard delivery, I know they list a delivery date between 2-3 weeks for this, but ordinarily I receive them on the 3rd day, there is no sign of this one. I understand it is still well within its rather lenghty "arrive by the 18th" date, but commonly these arrive within days of postage.

Second order shipped first class Monday morning, this one there is no sign of and I would have expected it by Wednesday, Thursday at the latest. It was also sent from a UK company Models2U, I am quite concerned about this one as 1st class should really have been here by now.

Another order shipped Friday morning 1st class, has not arrived, this one I do not expect at all till next week, but that said even a couple of months ago shops further afield like Shopto.net, had no trouble getting me a 1st class parcel the next day.

Oddly an order placed with Play.com was not shipped till Tuesday, this was shipped first class aswell and arrived on Thursday, they missed the first post so effectively could be considered a Wednesday post on that one. Not to mention Play are dreadfully slow, so why did this arrive and nothing else that was shipped earlier?

I am just curious as to how likely it is that the first two parcels I mentioned are simply delayed? What would cause such a delay, merely the time of year?
Still does not explain why I received one parcel, but not the two shipped earlier :)

I am aware all 3 could arrive on Monday, but I am not overly confident in regards to the first two, the one shipped first class especially.

If neither arrives, what would be my best course of action? Asking the sorting office if they have them seems useless, if they did they would have left a note, not that I have missed a delivery time this week anyway. Sadly neither are recorded, given the worthless nature of a service that does not tell me it has arrived, till I am holding it and know it has arrived, I see little point in the added expense.

I should add that as a rule, 3 days is the longest I waited for anything I bought in the last year or two, first class has been next day 100% of the time till now, so if it seems like I am jumping the gun, this situation is not just rare, but a first for me.

And to think I used to get my post at 9 in the morning, not 2:30 in the afternoon and there was often a second post wich brought round parcels that the first post missed.

[TeeferTiger]

As the song goes... "It's Christmas time... there's no need to be afraid". RM won't consider it a lost item until it's been 15 working days and if it's still well within the date of arrival then I wouldn't worry too much.

As for the time of the post and loss of 2nd delivery, you can thank the higher ups in Royal Mail for the loss of those services

It also isn't a waste of time asking at the Delivery Office if it hasn't arrived in the next few days as, although a P739 should've been left, staff are only human and do sometimes forget.

[DGP1]

I delivered a packet that was dated 28th November today...........so yes, there do seem to be some delays in the system

[tinfish]

I could always ask in the local sorting office next week, see if they do happen to have anything that was not sent out for some reason, will probably try on Wednesday. I have been in for every delivery though, so I doubt that would be the issue. Still, cannot hurt to try. With one execption the postmen round here have been great anyways, they give you a reasonable time to answer the door and always leave a note, if you do happen to be out.

Only ever had one bad experience with RM that was actually down to a local postie, the rest have always been great. The rest of the problems are all down to the system that I have no doubt their staff cannot abide either.

I understand the schedule for the Standard parcel has not passed, I would say it has well passed for the first item sent first class however. (or has it these days?)
The 15 day wait is always a killer lol. 17th of Dec.. Even if the sellers beleive my claims and are even able or willing to provide a replacement, it will be too close to the final days of shipping before Christmas I guess.

Well, hopefully I am merely being paranoid and Monday will see 2-3 parcels arrive :D I could cope with the loss of one, the other two total about £70.
I got all excited when the postie knocked on the door with a big parcel today, only to realise it was for my mother lol, gutted.

Edit, I just realised the parcel sent Tuesday and received Thursday was not 1st class but standard, strange it arrived.

[TeeferTiger]

It honestly all depends where it's come from, the route it takes and the volume of mail on the day. There are so many variables that could affect timings-and that's if it was definitely sent out when they said it was and not just when they put it ready for dispatch. I know of some businesses around here who don't post every day, they'll take everything once or twice a week.

Ideally, first class mail should arrive next day if posted before last collection but I've rarely had a parcel or packet delivered next day from when they said it's been dispatched and I suspect that's because it wasn't actually posted when they said it was dispatched!

[tinfish]

Well, another day, nothing to show for it once more. I don't think it is because three seperate companies lied about shipping the parcels.

[TeeferTiger]

Well, another day, nothing to show for it once more. I don't think it is because three seperate companies lied about shipping the parcels.

Might be worth asking the sorting office to check for you if they've got a moment and can move for all the parcels awaiting collection! Used to be like an obstacle course in our callers office parcel store at this time of year

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Well, another day, nothing to show for it once more. I don't think it is because three seperate companies lied about shipping the parcels.

Might be worth asking the sorting office to check for you if they've got a moment and can move for all the parcels awaiting collection! Used to be like an obstacle course in our callers office parcel store at this time of year

I keep expecting to find in ours its so crowded.

[TeeferTiger]

Well, another day, nothing to show for it once more. I don't think it is because three seperate companies lied about shipping the parcels.

Might be worth asking the sorting office to check for you if they've got a moment and can move for all the parcels awaiting collection! Used to be like an obstacle course in our callers office parcel store at this time of year

I keep expecting to find in ours its so crowded.

Great, I've now got that theme tune on my head! If that keeps me awake tonight, I'm hunting you down!

[tinfish]

Had a walk down to the sorting office and they took a look for me, sadly no joy.
Just have to sit out the last few days and then see if I can get replacements or a refund for the missing stuff. Cannot afford to be this much out of pocket :(

[hantsman]

Had a walk down to the sorting office and they took a look for me, sadly no joy.
Just have to sit out the last few days and then see if I can get replacements or a refund for the missing stuff. Cannot afford to be this much out of pocket :(

You need to be a bit more patient.

[k979aaa]

Sound's like a delivery revision the poster never put where he/she was living.

[tinfish]

Would a revision effect parcels from 3 different parts of the country?
Only thing they have in common, absence asides, is that these are all supposed to be in Gateshead now.

LL55 4HX (standard parcel 3rd) I can accept this might be delayed, but in my experience Standard parcels have only ever taken 2-3 days.
Whittington (1st class 3rd) Not counting Saturday this is the 8th day, it is a 4 hour journey a day or two late I could have lived with.
Essex (1st class 7th) Also unnaceptable, should have been here Saturday, 4 days down it also has dissapeared.

One of those is comming in from the west coast, so unlike the other two, should really not even be hitting the same sorting office along the way, untill it reaches Gateshead at any rate.

[hantsman]

Would a revision effect parcels from 3 different parts of the country?
Only thing they have in common, absence asides, is that these are all supposed to be in Gateshead now.

LL55 4HX (standard parcel 3rd) I can accept this might be delayed, but in my experience Standard parcels have only ever taken 2-3 days.
Whittington (1st class 3rd) Not counting Saturday this is the 8th day, it is a 4 hour journey a day or two late I could have lived with.
Essex (1st class 7th) Also unnaceptable, should have been here Saturday, 4 days down it also has dissapeared.

One of those is comming in from the west coast, so unlike the other two, should really not even be hitting the same sorting office along the way, untill it reaches Gateshead at any rate.

Royail Mail can take up to 7 days to deliver parcels.

[Midnight+13]

Blimey, anyone would thinks its Christmas!