Royal Mail unveil Christmas delivery plans
15/11/2008 at 11:36
Royal Mail have unveiled a package of Christmas initiatives designed to cope with the estimated £13.16 billion* online spending by 28 million buyers in the run up to Christmas.
Across most parts of the UK, Royal Mail will undertake extra delivery rounds on the morning of Sunday 21st December and between 6pm and 9pm on Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd December to give customers a second chance to take delivery of parcels we were unable to deliver during the standard deliveries.
Opening hours at delivery offices will be extended from the 15th December and for the first time ever will open on the afternoon of Sunday 21st December. Customers waiting for parcels can also arrange redelivery to a neighbour or local Post Office.
“Royal Mail is prepared for its biggest online Christmas ever and has taken steps to help people get their items as quickly as possible – even if they are not at home when we first try to deliver.”
Mark Higson, Royal Mail Managing Director
Royal Mail is sending an information card to every UK address, with the first landing on doormats from Monday 17th November, telling them of the seasonal delivery initiative. Customers will receive more detailed information on the options available to them, including the opening hours of their local delivery office if they are not in to receive an item when Royal Mail attempts delivery.
It’s all good news for online sellers both on and off eBay. Even with the Credit Crunch people are still spending, but more than ever before that spending is online as buyers look for the best deals available.
* Source: IMRG predict online sales in the final quarter of 2008 will rise 15% on the same period last year to £13.16bn
theknickermafia says
12:25 pm on 15/11/2008
Sounds good.
Its great that they are starting to actually ‘work’ with senders and receivers of mail and have obviously started to listen to the needs of their paying customers.
This happened with a delivery to me yesterday. I missed the morning delivery, and the delivery man came back again around 4.30pm to redeliver, albeit in his normal car as opposed to the RM delivery van!
northumbrian says
12:26 pm on 15/11/2008
as long as they deliver is all I care about
it is a constant mystery to me why an item that has not been delivered, with a clear return address , and a tracking number is never seen again,
surely it has to be in one place or the other, I cant believe that so many of our missing packages are stolen,
we thinke its the lack of organisation, and poor management
northumbrian says
12:31 pm on 15/11/2008
and here is a very interesting artical on royal mails compenstion policy
http://www.antiquestradegazette.com/news/6933.aspx
Chris Dawson says
1:38 pm on 15/11/2008
#3 Oh that’s VERY interesting! Especially as I buy mixed goods by the pallet load so even if I had the time or inclination to put in a claim I never have an invoice showing a per item cost in the first place!
northumbrian says
2:46 pm on 15/11/2008
there is quite a hoo ha going on about this in the Antiques trade gazette and many further examples are being quoted
http://www.antiquestradegazette.com/news/6937.aspx
Sue Bailey says
2:50 pm on 15/11/2008
I’m really surprised this is news – I’ve been putting claims in to Royal Mail for 15 years, and they have NEVER covered your profit; it’s always been on purchase price for the seller.
northumbrian says
2:54 pm on 15/11/2008
Like Chris I buy in bulk
many items in a Job lot ,how on earth can RM decide what the individual item price of purchase was
northumbrian says
2:59 pm on 15/11/2008
I am currently claiming 3 international Air sure items missing and 4 Uk signed for items missing
and the joke is
the claim form and letter we sent is now missing too
Chris says
4:58 pm on 15/11/2008
Most of the items I’m selling were either inherited from my parents, or I bought them long ago with no thought of re-selling and threw the receipts away. So Royal Mail can lose every item I send out and never have to pay a penny in compensation. Methinks something smells a little!
Ironically, if I had kept the receipts, in nearly every case the purchase price would have been higher than the sale price.
northumbrian says
6:02 pm on 15/11/2008
Royal mail seems to proud of the fact their delivery stats, in percentage terms are good
they feel they lose little considering the volume they handle, though if its your package thats lost thats is no great comfort,
we have lost more in the last 6 months ,than we have lost in the last 10 years
so somethings gone wrong somewhere