Amazon UK - slow to dispatch.

Gran Hermano · 10-09-2013 6:06pm #1

For the last few years I'm a frequent shopper on Amazon UK, ordering everything from groceries to electronics. I tend to stick to items sold by Amazon or at least fulfilled by them. In the past items would despatch roughly within 24 hours and I'd receive them 3-5 days later using the free super saver delivery.

Unfortunately this no longer seems the case. I've placed four orders over the last fortnight - all items listed as in stock - and on average they are now taking between 3 and 7 days before Amazon even mark them as despatched and handover to the delivery company.

Has anyone else encountered this recently? If I was a tad more cynical I would wonder whether it is an attempt by them to promote the newer and chargeable shipping option for Ireland they launched over the summer. I've no problem with shipping time, it is the time they are taking to get the items out of their warehouses that's annoying. Especially when I preorder an item.

nava · 10-09-2013 7:07pm

Gran Hermano wrote: »

For the last few years I'm a frequent shopper on Amazon UK, ordering everything from groceries to electronics. I tend to stick to items sold by Amazon or at least fulfilled by them. In the past items would despatch roughly within 24 hours and I'd receive them 3-5 days later using the free super saver delivery.

Unfortunately this no longer seems the case. I've placed four orders over the last fortnight - all items listed as in stock - and on average they are now taking between 3 and 7 days before Amazon even mark them as despatched and handover to the delivery company.

Has anyone else encountered this recently? If I was a tad more cynical I would wonder whether it is an attempt by them to promote the newer and chargeable shipping option for Ireland they launched over the summer. I've no problem with shipping time, it is the time they are taking to get the items out of their warehouses that's annoying. Especially when I preorder an item.

I have to say most orders arrived within 7 days, my latest order placed on Tuesday 3rd arrived on Friday 6th estimated delivery was for Today 10th.
what date do you see on the Delivery Estimate in your order? are they arriving at the given date or later?

recipio · 12-09-2013 1:53pm

I agree, dispatch time has slowed down. I make sure to order over £25 to get supersaver delivery which surprisingly is available on some of their non Amazon items ( look for 'facilitated by Amazon' ).
I've joined Parcel Motel and now search for free delivery to the UK on everything - great !.

MBSnr · 12-09-2013 2:24pm

Yeap I notice that they are "Preparing for Despatch" a lot longer than they used to. Also funnily enough I have found lately (with any online order, not just Amazon) that large parcels tend to arrive quicker but smaller parcel/packet items take longer - go figure?! I guess that could be down to stuff coming by ferry instead of air (guess it has to be screened) or just being loaded onto a different truck at the depot. Even stuff to Northern Ireland via Parcel Motel has been incredibly slow of late.

Perhaps a lot of Royal Mail staff take their holidays in August, when the kids are off school, so leaving a bit of a backlog...?

L1011 · 12-09-2013 10:12pm

MBSnr wrote: »

Perhaps a lot of Royal Mail staff take their holidays in August, when the kids are off school, so leaving a bit of a backlog...?

Very little of what I get from Amazon has ever been near Royal Mail. Most of it has An Post Dublin postmarks on it, it appears to be bulk-shipped over and then re-posted. Would affect your Parcel Motel via NI stuff, but not direct.

The Glass Key · 12-09-2013 10:25pm

I find its best to make several smaller orders that qualify for free postage rather than one big one. Bigger orders always seem to be slower to arrive.

TheBandicoot · 16-09-2013 12:23pm

I haven't had any trouble. Marketplace sellers are beyond dire, I have had stuff not arrive, no tracking numbers, shipping from the US with US versions of games that I bought through Amazon.co.uk, etc. Whereas I preordered a game sold by Amazon, due for release for last Friday, they dispatched it Thursday evening and it arrived just before I left for work on Friday morning.

The Glass Key · 16-09-2013 1:34pm

Just noticed I have a slow delivery with a current order. Sent out on the 11th and still not delivered on the 16th, that's crap, but when I ordered I didn't know that Amazon were going to send the item by courier from Germany! If I'd know I wouldn't have bothered. If possible I avoid using any courier services at they are totally rubbish when it comes to delivery in the country. Time taken to dispatch was quick enough though.

TheDriver · 18-09-2013 10:18am

i purchased one item from them (not fulfilled or anything but from Amazon direct). It spent a week in Balby at the courier (other issue, I thought everything would come via An Post) and then eventually started the 4 day trek to here. Wasn't impressed.........

The Glass Key · 18-09-2013 10:41am

I can beat that direct for Amazon, I'm still waiting for that item I previously mentioned that has been in transit for 5 days from Carlstadt, 7 days if you include all the delivery hops after dispatch? Anything from the UK coming via An Post takes a max of 3 working days once its been sent.

foggy_lad · 20-09-2013 11:28pm

I have noticed recently that the few orders i placed some months ago all were delivered way before the expected delivery date but the last two items took almost two weeks for a mobile phone case and a spare battery and charging dock. OP I would also think it has a lot to do with them wanting people to choose the paid for delivery.

pleasant Co. · 21-09-2013 3:43pm

Ordered a couple of things on saturday, delivered on tuesday...i'm sure there are plenty of variables within amazons setup that could cause certain combinations of orders to be delayed and we do have issues this side to contend with too..

...but yeah, they want a bad reputation for being slow to deliver just so you'll pay for standard delivery rather than get it free..makes sense :pac:

The Glass Key · 21-09-2013 6:18pm

My problem is that if i-parcel are used for the delivery then the service is SH!T, doesn't matter if its paid for or not. An Post all the way and its normally 2-3 working days for delivery.

TommiesTank · 21-09-2013 6:22pm

I placed an order yesterday using free shipping, it has shipped in 2 parts today.

foggy_lad · 22-09-2013 7:15pm

What really annoys me about the Amazon service now is when you chose the free delivery option in your basket and proceed to checkout they change your choice to the paid delivery during the whole checkout and payment process.

pleasant Co. · 22-09-2013 7:24pm

foggy_lad wrote: »

What really annoys me about the Amazon service now is when you chose the free delivery option in your basket and proceed to checkout they change your choice to the paid delivery during the whole checkout and payment process.

How do you select the delivery option in your basket?

foggy_lad · 22-09-2013 7:31pm

pleasant Co. wrote: »

How do you select the delivery option in your basket?

At the start of the checkout procedure you are asked to pick the delivery option and then later at the last stage when you confirm the order it has changed from free super saver on the last 4 of orders I have placed.

The Glass Key · 22-09-2013 7:45pm

foggy_lad wrote: »

What really annoys me about the Amazon service now is when you chose the free delivery option in your basket and proceed to checkout they change your choice to the paid delivery during the whole checkout and payment process.

Never happened to me, I have to choose free delivery because its the cheaper paid for option by default but once I have picked free delivery thats it job done.

pleasant Co. · 22-09-2013 8:39pm

Yeah, that happens to me whenever there may be a delay in them getting any one item ready for dispatch, but I get the option to wait and group the items for delivery when the delaying item becomes available - in that case I would expect Amazon to be slow to dispatch.

foggy_lad · 23-09-2013 11:56am

I got 4 of 5 small packages from my last two amazon orders this morning. Ordered on 16th and 17th so quite pleased. The last item which is being tracked was handed to carrier on 19th and arrived in Peterborough UK and is now in Grimbergen in Flanders. Maybe iParcel_eu needs to get a compass or map of Europe?

lazeedaisy · 23-09-2013 11:59am

I have moved to the sunny south east - and holy god - delivery times on my amazon orders is 6 - 8 days - I always got them within 4 days, and thats the longest, I have changed my address to the folks who live in Dublin now - as I would be up there weekly - too slow for me to bother really,

The Glass Key · 23-09-2013 12:00pm

foggy_lad wrote: »

I got 4 of 5 small packages from my last two amazon orders this morning. Ordered on 16th and 17th so quite pleased. The last item which is being tracked was handed to carrier on 19th and arrived in Peterborough UK and is now in Grimengen in Flanders. Maybe iParcel_eu needs to get a compass or map of Europe?

I've just contacted Amazon to complain about i-parcel. Waiting 10 days for the last mile carrier Fastway to deliver for them. Fastway - enough said!

The Glass Key · 23-09-2013 5:22pm

Amazon seemed to agree that 10 days was too long waiting for delivery (12 days total) and issued an immediate refund. So if it does turn up now I can accept it and pay Amazon or just refuse it so it gets sent back to them.

foggy_lad · 23-09-2013 8:54pm

My small parcel has visited Germany for a few hours.

Tracking Details:
Date Time Location Event Details
23 September 2013 11:13:00 AM Carlstadt Parcel left the carrier facility
23 September 2013 08:43:00 AM CARLSTADT Parcel arrived at a carrier facility
20 September 2013 07:00:00 AM GRIMBERGEN Parcel arrived at a carrier facility
19 September 2013 05:45:14 PM Kingston Park Peterborough UK Parcel has been handed over to the carrier and is in transit

So instead of travelling from the UK to Ireland it has gone to Belgium and Germany and god only knows where else these wasters will send it!

The Glass Key · 23-09-2013 9:12pm

@ foggy_lad, that looks more like its made its way back to Amazon then got routed back out again?

The outward route from Amazons warehouse at Bad Hersfeld DE can be > Gimbergen > Carlstadt but you get no update from Amazons tracking once it leaves Carlstadt untill it arrives unless you put you tracking number in to i-parcels tracking site https://tracking.i-parcel.com/secure/track.aspx assuming its gone by i-parcel.

foggy_lad · 23-09-2013 9:25pm

That tracking site shows something different!

Tracking Events
Event Event Date City State / Province Country Code
Exported i-Parcel and in transit to country of destination 2013-09-23 T11:13:00-05:00 Surrey GB
Received at i-Parcel 2013-09-23 T08:43:00-05:00 Surrey GB
Package details received electronically from Seller 2013-09-19 T13:50:27-05:00 IE

The Glass Key · 23-09-2013 9:30pm

foggy_lad wrote: »

That tracking site shows something different!

Tracking Events
Event Event Date City State / Province Country Code
Exported i-Parcel and in transit to country of destination 2013-09-23 T11:13:00-05:00 Surrey GB
Received at i-Parcel 2013-09-23 T08:43:00-05:00 Surrey GB
Package details received electronically from Seller 2013-09-19 T13:50:27-05:00 IE

It always does

When it hits "Hawkes Bay Couriers (Hub)" you'll hear nothing until it gets delivered as from Hawkes Bay Couriers (Hub) it goes to the i-parcel last mile carrier which afaik is Fastway

foggy_lad · 24-09-2013 8:42pm

Consolidation Arrived - Pending Customs Clearance and inbound scan 2013-09-24T00:00:00-04:00 IE

does this mean it will be delivered soon?

The Glass Key · 24-09-2013 9:42pm

foggy_lad wrote: »

does this mean it will be delivered soon?

My still undelivered package was there of a couple for days then the next stage was "Entered into local delivery system 2013-09-16 T14:33:09-05:00 Hawkes Bay Couriers (Hub)".

So I would guess you should have it by Friday or next Monday unless they keep screwing up.

The problem for me is that Fastway are the "local delivery system" and they don't like to deliver out in the country without a phone number to call first which Amazon won't have put on the package.

Gran Hermano · 25-09-2013 2:12pm

I placed another order on Monday morning.
(Item in stock and sold by Amazon).
Item still not dispatched 48 hours later.

This was not the norm in the past - I've placed 22 orders in last 6 months -
and am very familiar with how they operated until recently.

Cabaal · 25-09-2013 4:02pm

Gran Hermano wrote: »

I placed another order on Monday morning.
(Item in stock and sold by Amazon).
Item still not dispatched 48 hours later.

This was not the norm in the past - I've placed 22 orders in last 6 months -
and am very familiar with how they operated until recently.

Are your orderings missing the estimated delivery date?

If your only going with super save the orders will always dispatch slower then any sort of paid for delivery service.

Penny Dreadful · 25-09-2013 4:07pm

I've been shocked at how high the postage charges are from Amazon (well companies that sell through Amazon) of late. If fact I have back out of certain delieries at the last minute due to the fact that they wanted to charge €95 to deliver something to Ireland. Crazy stuff.
The delivery is also taking a long long time too.
I think I'm going to pull back on the amount of things I order on Amazon as a result.
I logged onto their site yesterday to query the overly high charges but couldn't find anywhere on the site that would direct me to a customer service email address. There are lots of things to help with tracking, feedback on orders, etc but no straight forward customer service email address. A little too Ryanair for my liking.

King Krib · 25-09-2013 4:15pm

The Glass Key wrote: »

I've just contacted Amazon to complain about i-parcel. Waiting 10 days for the last mile carrier Fastway to deliver for them. Fastway - enough said!

It's funny you should mention Fastway. I had an item arrive in their depot last Friday morning for delivery on Monday. It never made delivery on Monday and was taken off the van Monday evening for Tuesday delivery. I wouldn't mind but the depot isn't 10 mile away from me. There's no substitute for An Post in this country.

foggy_lad · 25-09-2013 4:31pm

My order has now reached this stage

Entered into local delivery system 2013-09-25T11:33:13-05:00 Hawkes Bay Couriers (Hub)

So I can hopefully expect it tomorrow morning?

pleasant Co. · 25-09-2013 4:47pm

Penny Dreadful wrote: »

. A little too Ryanair for my liking.

Not even remotely in the same realm as Ryanair customer service though are they :P

The Glass Key · 25-09-2013 4:49pm

foggy_lad wrote: »

My order has now reached this stage

So I can hopefully expect it tomorrow morning?

I glad you said "hopefully" because hopefully you are correct.

Mine still says:

Entered into local delivery system 2013-09-16 T14:33:09-05:00 Hawkes Bay Couriers (Hub)

But at least I got my money back

fl4pj4ck · 25-09-2013 4:50pm

what I noticed is the ParcelMotel deliveries take way longer than if I have to pay for them and have delivered straight to my address

The Glass Key · 25-09-2013 4:51pm

Cabaal wrote: »

Are your orderings missing the estimated delivery date?

If your only going with super save the orders will always dispatch slower then any sort of paid for delivery service.

So you are saying if you don't pay for delivery Amazon deliberately wait a bit before processing your order?

I've found it makes no difference if you pay or don't pay for delivery, it also makes no odds how big the item is provided the item arrives via An Post. With An Post 3 working days is the average time from ordering until the item is delivered. Orders on a Friday afternoon are often dispatched on Saturday or Sunday and arrive on Tuesday.

Recent examples were one book that was just under the super saver value and required in a hurry which was delivered on the third working day after being ordered and two massive toolboxes that I didn't pay for delivery which also arrived on the third day after ordering both were dispatched within 24 hours of placing the order.

The issue is that there seems to be no obvious reason why sometimes there is a long delay before items that are in stock are dispatched and other times there isn't.

Then again some of us are just having problems with crappy couriers.

Gran Hermano · 25-09-2013 5:10pm

Amazon claim their free super saver delivery is 4-5 business days.
The order I placed on Monday morning is advising delivery will take 6-7 business days.
Until recently orders were taking 3-5 days for me, now there are taking 7-10 days on average.

Cabaal · 26-09-2013 10:35am

Gran Hermano wrote: »

Amazon claim their free super saver delivery is 4-5 business days.
The order I placed on Monday morning is advising delivery will take 6-7 business days.
Until recently orders were taking 3-5 days for me, now there are taking 7-10 days on average.

3 to 5 business days after dispatch

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_left_cn?ie=UTF8&nodeId=10790441

Has your order dispatched yet?

nava · 26-09-2013 11:15am

Last 2 orders placed arrived in about a week, both were with tracking numbers

Order placed on 18 Sep 2013 arrived on the 25th exactly a week,
Order placed on 21 Sep 2013 arrived today 26th

Daemos · 26-09-2013 4:39pm

Haven't ever had any problems with Amazon

Most recently I placed an order on the 15th, one item they had in stock and another on pre-order, with Super Saver Delivery. On the 17th they sent out the first item separately. Delivery estimate was the 25th; it arrived on the 20th

foggy_lad · 26-09-2013 4:50pm

Nothing from Fastway or any other courier today, it's only a small item but is being "tracked" if you could call it that. Order placed on 17th Dispatched on 19th but nothing yet, that is too long for delivery from the UK or Europe. Item should have been in Dublin/Ireland by the 21st and delivered 22nd or 23rd.

Update as of 8am got an update from the iparcel tracking site that saye my item is out fpr delivery so I'm hopeful it will arrive today.

Edit: Just had another look at the tracking information and it now looks like my item has been sent to the USA as well as Germany.
Event Event Date Event Location
Out for delivery Sep 27 2013 6:41AM South East IE
Entered into local delivery system Sep 25 2013 11:33AM Hawkes Bay Couriers (Hub) IE
Consolidation Arrived - Pending Customs Clearance and inbound scan Sep 24 2013 12:00AM IE
Exported i-Parcel and in transit to country of destination Sep 23 2013 11:13AM Carlstadt NJ US
Received at i-Parcel Sep 23 2013 8:43AM CARLSTADT NJ US
Package details received electronically from Seller Sep 19 2013 1:50PM IE

foggy_lad · 27-09-2013 11:35am

it arrived half an hour ago:D

The Glass Key · 27-09-2013 11:36am

foggy_lad wrote: »

it arrived half an hour ago:D

Fastway?

foggy_lad · 27-09-2013 11:42am

The Glass Key wrote: »

Fastway?

yes b ut item came from America so delay was with that.

The Glass Key · 27-09-2013 11:50am

foggy_lad wrote: »

yes b ut item came from America so delay was with that.

I don't think you can be sure it comes from America, mine looks like its gone from Germany to America on Amazons tacking system but on i-parcels system its shows it as being in Surrey all the time before it landed here.

foggy_lad · 27-09-2013 11:55am

The Glass Key wrote: »

I don't think you can be sure it comes from America, mine looks like its gone from Germany to America on Amazons tacking system but on i-parcels system its shows it as being in Surrey all the time before it landed here.

Where ever it went it took far too long to get here and that is down to the sender and their choice of carrier.

foggy_lad · 27-11-2013 8:01pm

The Glass Key wrote: »

Fastway?

FAST - NO WAY!

I ordered from Amazon on the 19th and immediately the Kindle tablet was dispatched and handed to courier on 20th, It is now in Ireland somewhere but not yet on the Fastway system!

Tracking Events
Event Event Date City State / Province Country Code
Entered into local delivery system 2013-11-26T18:16:37-05:00 Hawkes Bay Couriers (Hub) IE
Consolidation Arrived - Pending Customs Clearance and inbound scan 2013-11-26T12:00:00-05:00 IE
Exported i-Parcel and in transit to country of destination 2013-11-25T08:31:00-05:00 Surrey GB
Received at i-Parcel 2013-11-25T05:18:24-05:00 Surrey GB
Your shipmenti has been flagged for review of the contents prior to export 2013-11-20T16:03:15-05:00 Surrey GB
Package details received electronically from Seller 2013-11-20T16:02:51-05:00 GB

4 other items on the same order were dispatched by Amazon 4 days later on 24th and received this morning from an post!

This proves once again that Iparcel and Fastway couriers are rubbish!

chasm · 28-11-2013 1:47am

foggy_lad wrote: »

FAST - NO WAY!

I ordered from Amazon on the 19th and immediately the Kindle tablet was dispatched and handed to courier on 20th, It is now in Ireland somewhere but not yet on the Fastway system!

Tracking Events
Event Event Date City State / Province Country Code
Entered into local delivery system 2013-11-26T18:16:37-05:00 Hawkes Bay Couriers (Hub) IE
Consolidation Arrived - Pending Customs Clearance and inbound scan 2013-11-26T12:00:00-05:00 IE
Exported i-Parcel and in transit to country of destination 2013-11-25T08:31:00-05:00 Surrey GB
Received at i-Parcel 2013-11-25T05:18:24-05:00 Surrey GB
Your shipmenti has been flagged for review of the contents prior to export 2013-11-20T16:03:15-05:00 Surrey GB
Package details received electronically from Seller 2013-11-20T16:02:51-05:00 GB

4 other items on the same order were dispatched by Amazon 4 days later on 24th and received this morning from an post!

This proves once again that Iparcel and Fastway couriers are rubbish!

Going by that tracking it looks like the courier didnt receive the item until 25th, as it was only "package details received electronically from Seller" on the 20th not the physical package.

foggy_lad · 28-11-2013 3:48am

chasm wrote: »

Going by that tracking it looks like the courier didnt receive the item until 25th, as it was only "package details received electronically from Seller" on the 20th not the physical package.

Just re-read that now and wondering why amazon sat on my order for 5 days? That is really odd because the same happened with the last delayed order. Would it be that they are waiting for a collection by iparcel or waiting to fill a container for shipping to Ireland?

Amazon UK - slow to dispatch.

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