Royal Mail have announced extended opening hours in over 1,200 delivery offices in the main cities and towns across the UK during December to offer more convenience to its customers picking up parcels. Some of Royal Mail’s delivery offices are opening until 5pm on Christmas Eve. During December, large city delivery offices are open from 06.30 until 17.30 each day with late night opening days and many opening on Sundays.
The increased opening hours are part of Royal Mail’s substantial financial commitment at Christmas to handle the festive mail bag. Christmas opening hours details are available in each delivery office. The company has already recruited 19,000 seasonal workers and opened nine temporary parcel sort centres to deal with the festive mailbag.
Royal Mail’s 1,400 delivery offices currently open six days a week. Almost half already open later on Wednesday evenings for customers to collect items. Over 200 delivery office customer service points are already open on Sundays for collection of mail.
Whilst it would be churlish not to be grateful to Royal Mail for extended opening hours at Christmas, it does demonstrate how tricky it is to provide convenient opening hours. My local delivery office is open Monday to Friday 7am to 1pm and on Saturday 7am until midday. That pretty much means that if you work the only time you’ll be collecting parcels will be Saturday mornings.
It’s no wonder that alternatives such as eBay’s Click & Collect at Argos are attractive. In fairness Royal Mail also do their best to make deliveries convenient with delivery to neighbour and nominated safe places. Just pop down to your local Royal Mail Delivery Office on a Saturday morning between now and Christmas and it will be obvious it’s still not convenient enough for many people.
