Would you Trust RM to deliver by Christmas if you posted on 23rd December?

Would you be that the RM would deliver the day before Christmas?

  • Yes

    Votes: 5 11.9%

  • No

    Votes: 37 88.1%
  • Total voters
    42
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KidsBeeHappy

KidsBeeHappy

Free Member
Oct 9, 2007
7,371
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Sunny Troon
  • #1
    Royal Mail today criticised businesses for not selling right up to 23rd December and using the Royal Mail's special delivery service to ensure that customers received their goods in time for Christmas.

    So, as business owners - would you be confident that the packages/parcels that you sent out with the RM Special Delivery on Thursday 23rd December would be properly delivered to your customers on Christmas Eve?
     
    Last edited:
    Naughty Vend

    Naughty Vend

    Free Member
    Aug 5, 2007
    942
    179
  • #3
    ...by Special Delivery, it's as good a service as most courier companies and in some instances better although more expensive. We use UK Mail and already our driver is coming in at just after 5pm to collect, some businesses are closing around then and over the festive period it will only get worse. If the drivers are late into us then they are late back to depot, late for the trunker and the knock on effect is inevitable...
     
    Upvote 0
    J

    Jeff Knows

  • #5
    No. I don't post stuff out often, not in retail, but on occasion we get freebies for readers or we handle sending out of some test products to community members. Used RM once a couple of years ago for it, they failed horribly. Everything goes by FedEX now. Not that I wouldn't use RM again, one bad experience doesn't define them.. all the crap I buy from Play.com seems to arrive just fine by RM. I just haven't had a reason to stop using FedEX yet.

    Also, over there -->> Is a Royal Mail ad. lol.
     
    Last edited by a moderator:
    Upvote 0
    deniser

    deniser

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    Jun 3, 2008
    8,081
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    London
  • #6
    Yes, we've always done it and never had a problem. They do go to great lengths to clear everything by Christmas regardless of how it was posted but especially Special Delivery. This is for 23 December only though (not so sure about other times of the year!)
     
    Upvote 0
    KidsBeeHappy

    KidsBeeHappy

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    Oct 9, 2007
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  • #7
    I notice that they've got a new set of Special Delivery T&C which reserve the right to suspend the next day guarantee at will. Effective from 1 Dec 2010.

    LOL! Talk about wanting to have your cake and eat it.

    Personally, I think that Special Delivery is very good, and do use it. But I don't think that i'd have faith to use it on 23rd December.
     
    Upvote 0
    deniser

    deniser

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    Jun 3, 2008
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    London
  • #8
    sandiep said:
    I notice that they've got a new set of Special Delivery T&C which reserve the right to suspend the next day guarantee at will. Effective from 1 Dec 2010.

    LOL! Talk about wanting to have your cake and eat it.

    Personally, I think that Special Delivery is very good, and do use it. But I don't think that i'd have faith to use it on 23rd December.
    Click to expand...

    They suspend it from time to time anyway already but this does seem to be at times of bad weather etc.
     
    Upvote 0
    KidsBeeHappy

    KidsBeeHappy

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    Oct 9, 2007
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    Sunny Troon
  • #12
    88% percent say No.

    I think that maybe them putting this press release so close to suspending the first class delivery targets over christmas reduces their creibility.

    Whats very interesting though is that RM see themselves as the friend of the small business, whilst small business seem to very obviously view them in a completely different way.
     
    Upvote 0
    A

    Astaroth

    Free Member
    Aug 24, 2005
    3,985
    278
    London
  • #13
    Didn't read the special delivery bit until after voting.

    I would hardly Trust RM to deliver before Xmas if I posted it in January, if it isnt recorded/ special delivery.

    I've had a lot less issues with SD and I am sure their overall reputation probably is a little undeserved but I would be concerned on the 23rd for next day
     
    Upvote 0
    Indigo Cherry

    Indigo Cherry

    Free Member
    Nov 6, 2008
    1,063
    222
  • #15
    I have only ever had cause to use Special Deliver (Next Day) on 2 occasions and on BOTH occasions Royal Fail Ballsed it up! the first one was 2 days late and the second was lost completely! Both incoming mail by the way.

    As far as I'm concerned RM customers service is one of the worst I have dealt with, on a par with BT! When I say Customer service, I mean the WHOLE service, not just the call centers etc...

    Matt
     
    Upvote 0
    kulture

    kulture

    Free Member
    • Aug 11, 2007
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    www.kultureshock.co.uk
  • #17
    I send out thousands of parcels. I have tried many different companies. I always return to the Royal Mail. The vast majority of my mail is sent 2nd class. 99% arrives within a couple of days. Over 50% arrives overnight. I have only once had a parcel damaged by them.

    The same cannot be said for any of their competitors. Since most of my mail is about 1Kg, I find that the TNTs of this world tend to crush such parcels. They are much better at 5Kg+ deliveries.

    I hear all the time about Royal Mail's poor reputation. All I can say is that the facts do not reflect the reputation.

    p.s. The reason I try other companies from time to time is to see who i can rely on in the event of a strike.
     
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    LianneF

    LianneF

    Free Member
    Jul 18, 2007
    798
    53
    Oxford, UK
  • #18
    We've sent out specials on the 23rd last couple of years and they haven't all arrived. The one to isle of wight missed the boat and so did the one to Ireland. Customers didn't seem to mind too much though as they got the postage back and an extra present to open for someone after xmas!
     
    Upvote 0
    S

    Saurav

    Free Member
    Mar 25, 2009
    41
    1
    Manchester
  • #28
    Not really. They cannot guarantee it. I posted something via 1st class recorded last month and it took nearly 10 days to arrive! Although its not SD, if they cannot do next day in October, I do not trust them to do it on 23rd Dec.
    I will most likely check with Interlink Express to check what their last absolute guaranteed date is.
     
    Upvote 0
    A

    arcon5

  • #29
    What gets me is why people order items so late to the deadline then whine because it doesn't arrive on time! Seriously? What do you expect?

    I received an order late yesterday then got an email saying just "about order XXX, please have it with me by friday for a birthday" - this is a custom-made product sent via RM Standard Parcel which can take "3 full working days".
    May be different if they phoned, asked and I could send via 24hr courier. No doubt I will receive an email tomorrow complaining the item isn't there.
     
    Upvote 0
    S

    sinclairsea

  • #32
    Voted know like the majority of folk here, I have a very good friend that has worked with Royal Mail for years and its not the humble postie (as I would like to think everyone else agrees) but the bureaucrats that make them wait for sometimes hours after sorting and bagging before they can go out a deliver the mail due to working laws with the company - before it was job and knock, not anymore.

    But no, would not rely on them at all. Post early or send an e-card!
     
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