I can remember when the mail deliveries were several times a day in the run up to Christmas, including Sundays. Now it's the worst service of the year. At the moment we're getting our daily delivery at 7.30pm each evening. Farcical. The Royal Mail needs a boot up the arse!

Surely Christmas mail deliveries these days must be a fraction of what they once were?

In fact, does anyone know (or care) when last posting day is???

I'd say, with online shopping and divine Amazon, Christmas deliveries are busier than ever.

The 'divine' Amazon are persuading lots to invest in their 'Prime' scheme, which for about £50 a year you're supposed to get 'guaranteed' next day delivery, except you don't, because unless it's a big item they use Royal Mail, and it takes as long as usual, if it arrives at all. They also use DPD and the wretched Yodel, who struggle to find addresses and often leave packages elsewhere without putting a card through your door. So, no, I doubt they are really busier than ever, although they're probably causing more problems than ever before.

Don't most online retailers use private courier firms, rather than Royal Mail?

My Amazon goodies arrive via Royal Mail very efficiently, fast (and postage and packing free); for around £3 a film or book, I adore it - the range available is stupendous; even the marketplace stuff has been 100% efficient.

Postit Note wrote:
The 'divine' Amazon are persuading lots to invest in their 'Prime' scheme, which for about £50 a year you're supposed to get 'guaranteed' next day delivery, except you don't, because unless it's a big item they use Royal Mail, and it takes as long as usual, if it arrives at all. They also use DPD and the wretched Yodel, who struggle to find addresses and often leave packages elsewhere without putting a card through your door. So, no, I doubt they are really busier than ever, although they're probably causing more problems than ever before.

I'm 100% with JK on this one. I joined Amazon Prime and even if ordered at about 7pm the vast majority of stuff arrives next day. Anytime I've had a problem with faulty goods it has been dealt with pomptly and in my favour without any quibbles.

My only (small) complaint is their packaging policy. They are not very green and need to consider enviromental issues as sometimes it feels like I'm unwrapping a set of matryoshka dolls while trying to get to the goods ordered .

JK2006 wrote:
My Amazon goodies arrive via Royal Mail very efficiently, fast (and postage and packing free); for around £3 a film or book, I adore it - the range available is stupendous; even the marketplace stuff has been 100% efficient.
Same as me, JK. The postman is very good & if i'm nothome, always leaves my things with my neighbour. Nothing but praise to the Royal Mail team, who have had it hard in the last few years. The Reading sorting office was closed down & now, all our mail passes through the Swindon sorting office. As many have been made redundant (by cuts) then I still believe the postman do a great job.

Hopefully there are not too many criminal types in sorting offices, that nick stuff, as there once apparently was.

Good grief, it's like Radio 4 in here! There ought to be a tape loop playing of china tea cups clinking. You lot don't know what charmed lives you lead! Ask around, the mail service is dire, and the CDs I ordered via Prime five days ago for 'next day delivery' still haven't arrived.

Amazon are under tremendous flak for using Yodel, and I'm not surprised. I was due one CD next day delivery last Friday. It finally arrived today - or rather it didn't. Rather than pop it through my letterbox the idiots left a card telling me to pick it up next week, when I won't be around and it was for a present anyway. They are shockingly inept.

In truth though...Does it just depend on where you live? It would look that way. Postcode Lottery again. Or then maybe certain areas have taken to employ immigrants that just don't give a toss?

bh wrote:
Or then maybe certain areas have taken to employ immigrants that just don't give a toss?

Very racist.

Why immigrants? Asians make very good businessmen (ask Uganda !) as do the Chinese. Many immigrants take full advantage of their opportunities here - unlike many British.

Why not students?
Temporary Christmas staff (ie dolers !)?

In The Know wrote:
bh wrote:
Or then maybe certain areas have taken to employ immigrants that just don't give a toss?

Very racist.

Why immigrants? Asians make very good businessmen (ask Uganda !) as do the Chinese. Many immigrants take full advantage of their opportunities here - unlike many British.

Why not students?
Temporary Christmas staff (ie dolers !)?
I agree, that Chinese & Asians are very good businessman...infact they don't usually work in the Post Office, they usually work in accountancy.

But I do believe you need to actually spend time in Factories, Department Stores & the like, to see how British People are treated in the workplace...Then you may understand, why it is difficult to actually get work if you are British. Open eyes are required. Not off the cuff remarks, I feel.