How bad is Royal Mail service?

[Andyphilisani]

Hi there everyone,
I need assistance on getting to know whether my package still safe or lost? Wednesday I sent very important and time sensitive documents to Dubai that may cost someone else's job if they don't receive them. I sent them Wednesday 8 November 2023 under internationally signed and tracked. They have been showing the same status since Wednesday last week that they were Received at London Gatewik MC. Royal Mail is not replying my enquiries or calls. I even now go as far as commenting on their social media posts hoping to get some attention but they seem very ignorant. Please assist, this is getting me depressed

 

[fisicx]

Royal Mail delivered to Gatwick. The next step is the freight forwarders not RM. They are the ones being tardy not RM. If they are that important get them couriered.

 

[Andyphilisani]

Royal Mail delivered to Gatwick. The next step is the freight forwarders not RM. They are the ones being tardy not RM. If they are that important get them couriered.

Thanks so much how fast is the process of getting them back from Gatwik? It's been 5 days now stuck at Gatwik. Which courier would you recommend.

 

[fisicx]

No idea what happens at Gatwick. They could be there for weeks. Or even lost.

Most of the major couriers offer next day delivery worldwide.

 

[Andyphilisani]

No idea what happens at Gatwick. They could be there for weeks. Or even lost.

Most of the major couriers offer next day delivery worldwide.

Okay can you give me the names of such couriers

 

[fisicx]

Okay can you give me the names of such couriers

FedEx, DHL, DX…. There are loads of them. Or buy a plane ticket and go get the documents yourself.

 

[Nick@Daydot]

Royal Mail delivered to Gatwick. The next step is the freight forwarders not RM. They are the ones being tardy not RM. If they are that important get them couriered.

Isn't the contract with Royal Mail? They should still have a customer service response. You're probably right in practical terms about using a different service but I don't think it excuses RM for poor service.

 

[fisicx]

Isn't the contract with Royal Mail? They should still have a customer service response. You're probably right in practical terms about using a different service but I don't think it excuses RM for poor service.

I agree, but RM are fulfilling their part of the contract in reporting the last known location. They have no control over when the documents will be shipped.

 

[Andyphilisani]

Atleast the status changed this morning to In Transit. So I hope they will get to Dubai in time.

 

[Andyphilisani]

No

Isn't the contract with Royal Mail? They should still have a customer service response. You're probably right in practical terms about using a different service but I don't think it excuses RM for poor service.

Now I believe I no longer have the option of changing because the new status update is In Transit. Which I am not really sure of the interpretation.

 

[fisicx]

It’s possible they will arrive on time. They will be in Dubai sometime tonight. Then be picked up tomorrow morning and taken the the distribution centre. Then possibly delivered on Wednesday but more likely on Thursday.

 

[Andyphilisani]

It’s possible they will arrive on time. They will be in Dubai sometime tonight. Then be picked up tomorrow morning and taken the the distribution centre. Then possibly delivered on Wednesday but more likely on Thursday.

I will be happy If it happens that way. Royal Mail has kept me on my toes for far too long. Thankyou so much for your time and assurance. You have been so helpful

 

[scstock]

To answer the question in the title:

Royal Mail fined £5.6m for missing delivery targets

First and second class postal targets were missed by a "significant" margin, the regulator says.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[DontAsk]

Delivery target is 5-7 working days, you are only on day 3. What are your expectations?

Did you try the RM website? Did you see the neote at the top of this page https://www.royalmail.com/help/lost-items-parcels-letters ?

 

[14Steve14]

We have learnt that with RM international deliveries that even if you have used a tracked and signed service the package is not really tracked at every stage of the delivery. Our first scan of the barcode takes place at the large distribution centre not local. The next is non arrival at the international departure. The next may not happen until the international country destination has the parcels, and it can sit in customs for what feels like a long time.

We now go to the international countries postal service and use their tracking as it seems to give more information. These sites can be reached by clicking a button o=n the RM tracking site I believe.

Many times the parcel has been delivered and no updates on the RM tracking site so we claim for not getting signature or something like that on delivery, and always get a pay out for the postage costs.

 

[DontAsk]

We have learnt that with RM international deliveries that even if you have used a tracked and signed service the package is not really tracked at every stage of the delivery. Our first scan of the barcode takes place at the large distribution centre not local. The next is non arrival at the international departure. The next may not happen until the international country destination has the parcels, and it can sit in customs for what feels like a long time.

Ours are scanned at the PO, or on the doorstep if collected. This shows up on the tracking history.

A typical tracking history (pretty comprehensive, I would say) is

Tuesday 14 November 2023
15:09
Delivered
Winterthur, Switzerland
Friday 10 November 2023
09:01
Arrived at Delivery Office
841100
Thursday 09 November 2023
11:03
Delivery Attempted - No Answer
Winterthur, Switzerland
Wednesday 08 November 2023
10:27
Item has left the overseas International Processing Centre
ZURICH 1, Switzerland
10:22
Released from Customs
Switzerland
Thursday 02 November 2023
23:01
Your item is currently with Customs in the destination country.
ZURICH 1
19:50
Your item is currently with Customs in the destination country.
ZURICH 1, Switzerland
19:48
Item Received
ZURICH 1, Switzerland
Wednesday 01 November 2023
04:22
Item Leaving the UK
LANGLEY HWDC
04:21
Item Received by Royal Mail
LANGLEY HWDC
Tuesday 31 October 2023
17:34
Item received at
South Midlands MC
11:34
Item Collected
Leamington Spa DO
Monday 30 October 2023
14:43
Sender preparing item

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Where your consignment is of high value or is part of a high value contract. Use alternative delivery methods

 

[eteb3]

if you’re sending via RM then delivery will be made by the local post office, and in the Arab world they barely exist.

Aramex always had a good rep while I was living in the Middle East. Our experience was, better to send from UK through them even though DHL etc easier to access here, because the delivery end is harder to get right.

But this was 10 years ago. somewhere like Dubai may have got itself a working post office to go with its symphony orchestra and ski slopes.

 

[fisicx]

Now I believe I no longer have the option of changing because the new status update is In Transit. Which I am not really sure of the interpretation.

What's your alternate plan if the documents don't arrive?

 

[Martin Patfield]

As someone else mentioned above. I'd send pallets of educational books to Dubai and similar countries. This was done with a trusted 3rd party who had knowledge of the delivery routes in these countries.

DHL for single books was used, rarely had a problem and good service too.