(edit title) Long postal delivery times from UK Since Royal mail Charges went up Options

[Rick Methven]

As of the 30th April Royal Mail charges increased by 30% a lot of online companies are looking for cheaper ways to send goods to customers.

I have been buying supplements such as Omega 3 tablets from Healthspan.co.uk for a couple of years now. They are based in Guernsey and so do not charge VAT. They delivered free to the UK and charged £2 per order for shipments to Europe, irrespective of how many packets there was in the order. Delivery was very fast. sent first class from Guernsey, an order arrived in 3/4 days and I was very pleased with them.

THEN they moved their distribution from Guernsey to Holland and put it in the hands of a company called PostDirect.

On the Saturday 31th March I ordered some tablets which they debited my card on the Monday 2nd April. When the tablets had nor arrived by the 14th I emailed customer care who emailed back to say that they were out of stock until the 17th when they would be dispatched. On the 26th I noticed that on their web site it said that the order had been dispatched so I asked them again as to why I had not received them. They replied that they did not get the new stock until the 24th and they had been dispatched immediately and I would get them within 21 days on or before the 15th May. I also queried why the delivery charge had nearly doubled from £2.00 to £3.95. this is the charge that Post Direct charges to deliver in 21 days compared to Royal Mail £2 in 4 days.

Today 6 weeks after they took my money I got another email from them

We understand that you are unhappy and by way of an apology we have issued a full refund for your order. We are positive that your order will arrive by the 15th May, however, in the event that it does not arrive by this time please do inform us and we will be happy to issue a replacement order.

They must have training to be a politician with the phrase:

We are positive that your order will arrive by the 15th May, however

Anybody else found extended delivery times on goods? I have noticed that goods that I ordered from Amazon.co.uk have been dispatched from Amazon Germany

[byke]

In Stockholm, its been really hit or miss regarding deliveries from the UK.
I am not sure (so deep speculation here), but I have a feeling that deliveries from the UK to Sweden are no longer done by just one company. As the delivery speeds vary greatly and I believe (not 100% sure) this is in part due to an outsourcing deal with multiple postal delivery companies.

I am pretty much sure that almost 100% of post from the UK royal mail to Stockholm is outsourced to Schenker. But I also believe that other parts of Sweden may have different deals with other companies. And thus the very different delivery times depending on location in Sweden.

I will say though, the cost of shipping from sweden to anywhere in the world just can't compete.
The prices are just too high ...

[helan007]

Thanks for post. It’s really informative stuff.
I really like to read.Hope to learn a lot and have a nice experience here! my best regards guys!

[Puffin]

Certainly some of my birthday presents from Amazon have still not arrived but were shipped 3-4 weeks ago

[entry]

Not for nothing, but I think you can avoid the delays and repetitive monthly costs for your Omega 3 dietary supplements by purchasing a healing crystal or rosary beads instead.

[Hamsterdam]

Or eat more fish and basil. Or pay the two quid extra.

[Flygger]

I find delivery from UK to Sweden is fast enough and generally takes 6 days for parcels to arrive and about 4 days for letters.
Sweden to UK is altogether different and normally takes two weeks to arrive in the UK.