UK and worldwide postage delays

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UK Deliveries

Due to the ongoing cold weather Royal Mail are advising that there were some difficulty with operations yesterday and on their overnight network. In the affected areas deliveries and collections will only be attempted where it is safe for Royal Mail workers to perform them; however they are working hard to return service to normal in these areas as quickly as possible.

UK to US Deliveries

There are also delays in US post following an incident with an improvised explosive device on a US bound aircraft, all packages to the US will be subject to stricter screening by US authorities.

eBay advise that if you sell to the US, you should:

* Amend your listing description to point out that delivery may be delayed for the above reason
* When a sale is made, manage your customer’s expectations by reminding them about why delivery may be delayed
* Contact your delivery company (eg Royal Mail service) to obtain up-to-date information on delivery services to the US.

Royal Mail advise that some items will not be allowed on passenger flights and will be transferred onto cargo planes. Delays could be up to an additional 4 day transit time. It is definitely worth monitoring the situation especially as Monday 13th December (the last Royal Mail Airmail recommended last posting date for Christmas to the US) approaches.

Australia to US Deliveries

Similarly to the UK there will be delivery delays to the US. However due to additional security measures, Australia Post have advised that articles over 453g and all Express Courier International and Express Post International services will be subject to an additional $9 security surcharge and may face transit delays of up to 48 hours.

If you use the shipping calculator on your eBay.com.au listings then you need to be aware that the additional $9 charge will not be included in the calculation.

31 Responses

  1. Do you have any further info on the Australia issue? How is the $9 to be charged? – is this something the customer will be asked to pay (ouch)

    I looked on their website and couldn’t see but tbh I’m having a very blonde day ;-(

  2. Linzi, I’m in Australia and yes, unless the seller is prepared to wear the extra cost then the customer will be asked to pay. A lot of my fellow booksellers have just stopped selling to the US because of this.

    Here’s the link to the eBay AU announcement

    https://www2.ebay.com/aw/au/201011.shtml#2010-11-24095938

    Sellers with an Australia Post account do not have to pay the $9 surcharge, however the delay in processing US-bound parcels will still apply across all delivery options (Airmail, Express Post, Registered Post etc)

  3. I don’t post anything like the volumes of BigPoppa but on the whole I have good experience. I have had one go missing(although I still believe that the customer did receive it but wanted a second copy). I have had three items damaged all cheap items which I replaced without question. Apart from that I have only good experiences with RM.

  4. Old Hand…To be honest, I think you’re doing a poor job of promoting Royal Mail, clearly you have a vested interest.

    The people out on the streets doing the work are to blame, not the managers as you put it. That argument simply doesn’t hold up.

    We use Dispatch express so all orders, regardless of value are labelled and packaged in exactly the same way in new jiffy bags or new boxes.

    The recorded service is an invitation for theft, more recorded items go “missing” than non- recorded.

    Where items are returned to us as “not called for” because the postie didn’t bother to card, the package is normally ripped open a bit where someone has had a look.

    Birthday cards arrive opened (about 30% of the time). Maybe our sorting office has some rogue people, I don’t know. What I do know is that I only use Royal Mail because I have to, no other reason.

  5. Chris, going back to your original post, you state that eBay advise sellers who ship to the US to alter listings and contact buyers to lower their expectations of delivery times.

    Are eBay actively informing potential buyers of these delays on the site?

  6. Our lovely Postie, just popped in on his way to the sort office to see if we had anything to go..

    A hot toddy & a £20 note for Christmas, but hey, his worth it..

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