Royal Mail Special Delivery unaffected by strikes

During last weeks strikes we noted that Royal Mail were suspending delivery guarantees for their premium services – Royal Mail Special Delivery and Royal Mail tracked.

Following last week’s performance in delivering Special Delivery and Royal Mail Tracked during industrial action (98% delivered on time) they are maintaining the Special Delivery guarantee this week. This is great news if you have a customer that needs an urgent delivery – although the cost is higher if your customers are willing to pay a premium you can be confident in meeting their expectations.

4 Responses on "Royal Mail Special Delivery unaffected by strikes"

1. 1
   Andy says:

   October 30, 2009 at 2:58 pm

   The guarantee may be in place but all twenty we sent yesterday aren’t even showing up on the system. And none have been delivered.

   And having just rung Royal Mail business was told the guarantee is never in place on strike days. I must have imagined reading this then?

   ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/public/ctf/rm/IA/small_medium_business_industrial_action_FAQs_291009.pdf

   Those were the last ever urgent packages we sent with Royal Mail. God knows where they are but there won’t be any more.
   • 1.1
     VP says:

     October 30, 2009 at 10:45 pm

     Andy – Royal Mail’s PDA tracking system is undergoing a major overhaul this weekend. It started at 2pm today and is due to finish at 8am on Monday.
     I’ve been told (but haven’t checked) that the online tracking won’t be available between those times for items delivered today and tomorrow.
     From Monday morning you should be able to see when your items were delivered.

     It is pure coincidence this is happening at the same time as the strikes – it’s been planned for a while. I’m surprised there’s nothing about it on the website. Hope I’m not divulging ‘commercially sensitive’ information!
2. 2
   Bunchy says:

   October 30, 2009 at 3:23 pm

   According to postie who brings the Special Deliveries in my area, they are only supposed to carry 40 at a time (in a van). He was complaining last week that he had 60 to deliver before 1pm. I suppose if delivery offices are working to rule then the first 40 are the lucky ones and the rest are left until “tomorrow”.
3. 3
   Debs says:

   October 31, 2009 at 3:24 pm

   I thinking the timing of sending items special delivery during strike action days is crucial, though.

   All my ‘specials’ were getting there next day IF I posted them before 3pm as opposed to the usual 5.20pm in my area, so I think the earlier you post them the better.