Outgoing International Post delays

Beanybabog · 23-12-2020 11:11pm #1

I sent packages just over 4 weeks ago to Canada, with an post, have given up hope they’ll be delivered by Christmas. Someone else sent ones the week before me and they haven’t shown up
Either.

Edit!! Arrived this afternoon! Christmas eve- Down to the wire

ACitizenErased · 01-01-2021 10:27pm

Anyone after sending packages to Germany? Sent mine about 4 weeks ago now. No sign. Fairly shocking.

Cheshire Cat · 01-01-2021 10:31pm

ACitizenErased wrote: »

Anyone after sending packages to Germany? Sent mine about 4 weeks ago now. No sign. Fairly shocking.

I sent 3 parcels on December 2nd. 2 arrived on the 16th, 1 on the 30th.
Also sent some cards to Germany around the 8th, half arrived before Christmas the others are still missing in action.

ACitizenErased · 01-01-2021 10:37pm

Cheshire Cat wrote: »

I sent 3 parcels on December 2nd. 2 arrived on the 16th, 1 on the 30th.
Also sent some cards to Germany around the 8th, half arrived before Christmas the others are still missing in action.

There's some fairly valuable clothing items in our one and no sight so far, raging to be honest.

ACitizenErased · 01-01-2021 10:39pm

ACitizenErased wrote: »

There's some fairly valuable clothing items in our one and no sight so far, raging to be honest.

Just to add to this, parcel was sent on the 8th of December

newbie18892 · 01-01-2021 10:56pm

Update: A Christmas card I sent to the Netherlands in December 15th arrived yesterday. I'm still waiting for my parcel from the U.K. though.

Nicolas_Bandon · 02-01-2021 10:03am

ACitizenErased wrote: »

Anyone after sending packages to Germany? Sent mine about 4 weeks ago now. No sign. Fairly shocking.

I have the same issue with a letter sent to France. On the 7th of December I sent the letter to France with Express Post. On the 11th of December my letter was sorted in DUBLIN MAIL CENTRE, DUBLIN 12 but today my letter is still in Dublin!

ACitizenErased · 02-01-2021 2:20pm

Nicolas_Bandon wrote: »

I have the same issue with a letter sent to France. On the 7th of December I sent the letter to France with Express Post. On the 11th of December my letter was sorted in DUBLIN MAIL CENTRE, DUBLIN 12 but today my letter is still in Dublin!

That’s shocking, unacceptable really

gerard2210 · 02-01-2021 3:52pm

Nicolas_Bandon wrote: »

I have the same issue with a letter sent to France. On the 7th of December I sent the letter to France with Express Post. On the 11th of December my letter was sorted in DUBLIN MAIL CENTRE, DUBLIN 12 but today my letter is still in Dublin!

Was your letter scanned since the 11th?

CosmicSmash · 02-01-2021 4:26pm

Nicolas_Bandon wrote: »

I have the same issue with a letter sent to France. On the 7th of December I sent the letter to France with Express Post. On the 11th of December my letter was sorted in DUBLIN MAIL CENTRE, DUBLIN 12 but today my letter is still in Dublin!

I've a package that I posted on 30th of November and it's sorted since the 3rd, it's still in Dublin. I'm having similar issues with a package bound for Germany too. I was on to customer service twice and they're absolutely useless.

They're saying it's a backlog because of the coronavirus. I posted other items to France in early December and they have already arrived. I asked how can a similar size package that's posted later arrive earlier, they had no answer. They couldn't even tell me when they would leave Ireland but I'm hoping it's sometime next week.

le_girl · 02-01-2021 5:20pm

I sent an Express envelope to the US on the 3rd of December which hasn't been scanned since the 5th in Dublin, almost a month ago. Normally express takes 4 days max. I'm having to give a full refund and take a loss on that one.

I sent over about 1500 orders in small envelopes (standard post) in the weeks coming up to Christmas. More than half to the US. Some from late November/early December are still only turning up now. The quickest that's arrived so far is from the 12th of December I think. Some from early November never arrived so I'm having to refund or replace them.
For some reason, around the 3rd of December dispatch date seems to be a black hole. Loads from that date are not arriving. Same date as my Express one that completely disappeared.

Germany seems to be the worst in Europe, followed by Italy and Belgium. I have lots of Germans emailing me even today and I'm asking them to wait another week before I replace their orders.

Canada is just as slow as the US but Canada Post are slow in normal times. At least Canadians are generally polite about it.

Asia and Australia, nothing seems to have arrived yet but that's to be expected with minimal fights and they're all understanding too.

I've had this small business for almost 10 years and it's the most stressful time I've ever had. Some people are lovely and patient (I did warn them all that this might happen), while others are absolute demons. So many Karens. I'm giving refunds most days which is pretty painful and I'm scared to reopen now and have more issues so I'm shutting down for January at least.
I hope things start to improve and that all of these delayed orders are not actually lost for good.

Nicolas_Bandon · 02-01-2021 9:47pm

gerard2210 wrote: »

Was your letter scanned since the 11th?

No. It was the last scan.

Darc19 · 03-01-2021 12:32am

le_girl wrote: »

I sent an Express envelope to the US on the 3rd of December which hasn't been scanned since the 5th in Dublin, almost a month ago. Normally express takes 4 days max. I'm having to give a full refund and take a loss on that one.

I sent over about 1500 orders in small envelopes (standard post) in the weeks coming up to Christmas. More than half to the US. Some from late November/early December are still only turning up now. The quickest that's arrived so far is from the 12th of December I think. Some from early November never arrived so I'm having to refund or replace them.
For some reason, around the 3rd of December dispatch date seems to be a black hole. Loads from that date are not arriving. Same date as my Express one that completely disappeared.

Germany seems to be the worst in Europe, followed by Italy and Belgium. I have lots of Germans emailing me even today and I'm asking them to wait another week before I replace their orders.

Canada is just as slow as the US but Canada Post are slow in normal times. At least Canadians are generally polite about it.

Asia and Australia, nothing seems to have arrived yet but that's to be expected with minimal fights and they're all understanding too.

I've had this small business for almost 10 years and it's the most stressful time I've ever had. Some people are lovely and patient (I did warn them all that this might happen), while others are absolute demons. So many Karens. I'm giving refunds most days which is pretty painful and I'm scared to reopen now and have more issues so I'm shutting down for January at least.
I hope things start to improve and that all of these delayed orders are not actually lost for good.

If you are sending 1500+ items surely you should be keeping a very close eye on every delivery announcement both here and in the countries you are sending to.

Germany suspended ALL shipments from Ireland and UK a week before Christmas (loads of media coverage) and the USA has been an issue all year.

An post use airmail, so with massive curtailment of flights, there are massive delays.

You need to understand this and your customers need to understand this too.

If you are using standard post I'd be saying 2-3 weeks delivery for Europe and 4-6 weeks delivery for USA until more normal flight schedules are in place

As for Australia, forget it.

le_girl · 03-01-2021 10:13am

Darc19 wrote: »

If you are sending 1500+ items surely you should be keeping a very close eye on every delivery announcement both here and in the countries you are sending to.

Germany suspended ALL shipments from Ireland and UK a week before Christmas (loads of media coverage) and the USA has been an issue all year.

An post use airmail, so with massive curtailment of flights, there are massive delays.

You need to understand this and your customers need to understand this too.

If you are using standard post I'd be saying 2-3 weeks delivery for Europe and 4-6 weeks delivery for USA until more normal flight schedules are in place

As for Australia, forget it.

I'm fully aware of all of that. I'm simply sharing my experience and giving feedback on post delays on a thread about post delays in case it's helpful for someone?

I spent hours every day contacting every customer to make them aware that delays were likely. Some people don't care and will blame me regardless. I wish it was as simple as you make it out, but it's just not. Even if these issues are not the fault of An Post or anyone in particular, it's still a nightmare situation for some small businesses.

Darc19 · 03-01-2021 6:45pm

le_girl wrote: »

I'm fully aware of all of that. I'm simply sharing my experience and giving feedback on post delays on a thread about post delays in case it's helpful for someone?

I spent hours every day contacting every customer to make them aware that delays were likely. Some people don't care and will blame me regardless. I wish it was as simple as you make it out, but it's just not. Even if these issues are not the fault of An Post or anyone in particular, it's still a nightmare situation for some small businesses.

You and others will save a lot of hassle by informing customers of delivery delays at every stage of the order process.

Front page, delivery page, order page and also on the order confirmation. A few minutes of work will save you an huge amount of grief.

And at 1500 packages in December, I presume you have an account with an post and get bulk rates, label printing and free tracking?

If not, get onto them now and organize it. You will also get information directly about service interruption and your own account manager who can chase things up if required.

le_girl · 03-01-2021 7:03pm

Darc19 wrote: »

You and others will save a lot of hassle by informing customers of delivery delays at every stage of the order process.

Front page, delivery page, order page and also on the order confirmation. A few minutes of work will save you an huge amount of grief.

Yes, that's pretty obvious. And exactly what I've been doing all year.

I'm not asking for and I don't need any business advice, not really what the thread is about and pretty patronising to be honest. Just sharing my experience (as I have a lot of it) on some timeframes for recent delays in case it helps someone.

MarkY91 · 03-01-2021 7:05pm

I psoted a parcel to Mexico on 18th of December. The tracking page hasn't updated since that day. It just says that it was accepted at the GPO, which was done by me. Literally nothing else. 2 emails to an post have been ignored.

What should I do guys?

le_girl · 03-01-2021 7:09pm

MarkY91 wrote: »

I psoted a parcel to Mexico on 18th of December. The tracking page hasn't updated since that day. It just says that it was accepted at the GPO, which was done by me. Literally nothing else. 2 emails to an post have been ignored.

What should I do guys?

The live chat function on the website during business hours generally seems to be a faster way to speak to someone, rather than email. They weren't able to hep me out very much but maybe they'll have more insight than your tracking page shows.

Darc19 · 03-01-2021 8:39pm

le_girl wrote: »

Yes, that's pretty obvious. And exactly what I've been doing all year.

I'm not asking for and I don't need any business advice, not really what the thread is about and pretty patronising to be honest. Just sharing my experience (as I have a lot of it) on some timeframes for recent delays in case it helps someone.

I certainly wasn't patronizing, but you have gone on about having to deal with hundreds of customers regarding delays and refunds and if you have done all you said, then you should just point it out to them that you published the info about the delays and refuse a refund.

On internal post, delays have all but gone. We had near 70% delivery on Thursday of last Wednesdays dispatch, but international airmail is still particularly bad especially around Europe. (UK seems to be OK)

le_girl · 03-01-2021 9:04pm

Darc19 wrote: »

I certainly wasn't patronizing, but you have gone on about having to deal with hundreds of customers regarding delays and refunds and if you have done all you said, then you should just point it out to them that you published the info about the delays and refuse a refund.

Refusing a refund to someone who has been waiting weeks longer than normal (no matter how much you warn them and keep them informed, even the nicest people are losing patience) means that they can file chargebacks, open cases and leave negative reviews. On sites like eBay, Amazon, Etsy, etc that's massively damaging, will undo years of hard work and can get your accounts shut down overnight.

You're simplifying it way too much with the most obvious advice as you have no idea what you're talking about.

I'm done "going on" about it now (not patronising, really?) and will let the thread go back to the actual relevant source of info that it was before you chimed in to mansplain my own business to me.

MarkY91 · 04-01-2021 11:54pm

miggle wrote: »

In fairness to An Post they are doing a fantastic job when you consider the colossal increase in mail this year.
They've never once lost a parcel on me.

I've had 3 vanish into thin air just this winter. They're a joke.

Have a parcel bound for Mexico on the 18th of December. Haven't had a single update yet other than they accepted my parcel from me at the GPO.

DarceyEllie · 08-01-2021 10:03am

hi there,
In general i buy on line all the time and rarely run into problems. I posted a package 11th of December to the uk via An post (item being returned for a reefund). It was sent standard post, so no tacking number (my mistake). Clutching at straws but any idea as to what to do? The vendor on the other side has been most helpful but the package just has not arrived. Value of around 150 euro.

Pen Rua · 11-01-2021 2:31pm

International mails continue to experience delays.

https://twitter.com/franmcnulty/status/1348622349579526144

Lobsterlady · 14-01-2021 6:23pm

I'm having the same problem, posted items to both the UK and Belgium start of December via regular post, still no sign of either. Lucky for me the items weren't very expensive, but obviously things are still majorly delayed. I posted an item to the US track and track, 31st December and it's still 'in transit' and not picked up by USPS yet. So delays all around it seems.

An post latest news update

https://www.anpost.com/Media-Centre/News/News-update-%E2%80%93-Monday-11-January,-2021

jarvis · 18-01-2021 10:59am

Looking for some advice

On 8th January I went to my post office and sent a parcel using a German company’s pre paid return slip. It was free for me and DHL we’re named on the logo but the slip was for the post office.
When o track it I can see is been accepted at the post office but hasn’t moved. I couldn’t get through on the phone but did live chat with anpost. They said it will be in our depot but hasn’t been scanned yet so we can’t track it. It’ll eventually be scanned but if I fill out an online enquiry they may help. The online form was sent Friday 15th and it says it can take up to 60 days.

Surely this is unacceptable and I shouldn’t be expected to wait? Anyone know what I should do?

The package contains an IPhone.

47akak · 18-01-2021 9:25pm

Sent something to Greece over 4 weeks ago. Stuck in Heathrow since then. Has anybody had something shift from Heathrow beyond 4 weeks or should I consider it lost? Is this normal?

MarkY91 · 18-01-2021 11:24pm

Waiting exactly 1 month now for my parcel to arrive to someone in Mexico. Tracking page shows no information other than when It was accepted from me at the post office.

Shambles.

Hogzy · 18-01-2021 11:36pm

MarkY91 wrote: »

Waiting exactly 1 month now for my parcel to arrive to someone in Mexico. Tracking page shows no information other than when It was accepted from me at the post office.

Shambles.

Assuming its not priority mail and just regular mail, one month to mexico, over the christmas period, with COVID in play isnt totally mad. No idea what the mexican postal service is like. It can take that long to get to the states.

spix · 19-01-2021 12:46am

Lobsterlady wrote: »

I'm having the same problem, posted items to both the UK and Belgium start of December via regular post, still no sign of either. Lucky for me the items weren't very expensive, but obviously things are still majorly delayed. I posted an item to the US track and track, 31st December and it's still 'in transit' and not picked up by USPS yet. So delays all around it seems.

An post latest news update

https://www.anpost.com/Media-Centre/News/News-update-%E2%80%93-Monday-11-January,-2021

I posted something to the US mid November.
The buyer was refunded in full by ebay end of December.
Luckily the buyer was honest and repaid me once the item arrived in early Jan. Almost 2 month delivery whereas I've had items delivered to US before in under a week.

oneweb · 19-01-2021 8:31am

Just to give an idea of a package sent to The Netherlands. I was so lucky the buyer was incredibly patient, otherwise I'd have had a refund to deal with.

24 December 2020 09:17
We delivered your post NETHERLANDS

24 December 2020 08:29
Your post is out for delivery NETHERLANDS

24 December 2020 08:04
Your post is out for delivery NETHERLANDS

23 December 2020 21:19
We have your post and are getting it ready for delivery NETHERLANDS

23 December 2020 21:18
Your post is with our delivery partner in NETHERLANDS

23 December 2020 21:17
We have your post and are getting it ready for delivery NETHERLANDS

23 December 2020 21:17
Your post is with our delivery partner in NETHERLANDS

23 December 2020 21:16
Your post is with our delivery partner in NETHERLANDS

23 December 2020 21:16
Your delivery has been sorted in NETHERLANDS

23 December 2020 21:15
Your post is with our delivery partner in NETHERLANDS

23 December 2020 21:14
Your delivery has been sorted in NETHERLANDS

30 November 2020 21:43
Your delivery was received in NETHERLANDS

18 November 2020 04:53
Your post has left An Post DUBLIN MAIL CENTRE, DUBLIN 12

17 November 2020 01:02
Your delivery has been sorted in PORTLAOISE MAIL CENTRE, CO LAOIS

16 November 2020 13:48
Your delivery has been sorted in WEXFORD D.S.U., CO WEXFORD

16 November 2020 11:53
Your post was accepted in WEXFORD, CO WEXFORD

zell12 · 19-01-2021 8:36am

What was it doing resting for 24 days in Holland?

Darc19 · 19-01-2021 8:49am

Can everyone simply understand that international mail and parcels go by air and with the majority of flights simply not happening, you will have delays.

It really is as simple as that.

Not the fault of an post, not the fault of Mexico post, not the fault of DHL post, not the fault of Australia post.

Unless you live under a rock, we have a WORLDWIDE pandemic and it is affecting the world.

Accept it or use FedEx / ups who have their own cargo aircraft and will charge you handsomely for the privilege.

jarvis · 20-01-2021 4:15pm

Don’t know where to put this but looking for advice.

Santa got my daughter an iPhone X and we had an issue with it. It’s under warranty from the website we bought it (was refurbished previously) they sent us a Dhl return label that we take to the post office and it’ll be delivered by DHL back to the supplier who is in Germany.
I returned it in local post office on January 08th. It’s now 12 full days and tracking still says ‘received at post office’.

I understand they’re under pressure at the moment but I used live chat and a few days later I called. Both times they said it will be in the Dublin depot but just has not been scanned yet. It’ll eventually be scanned and then start to move.
She then said the post offices are cleared out every night and when they stuff arrives at the depot the lads just pile it on to the existing stuff. So my item must be near the bottom and each night more stuff piles onto it because they’re not clearing the depot each night!!!

They can’t tell me even an estimate as to when it’ll be scanned, that I’ll just have to wait but I can fill out an online enquiry which because it’s an international package can take 60 days to be investigated.

I’m lost as to what to do. I’ve tweeted them private messages. 6 now and no reply.

What’s my options here?

My daughter keeps asking when Santa will bring back her iPhone.

AmberGold · 20-01-2021 4:44pm

Sent some expensive trainers using a DHL return label to the UK via a An Post / DHL label back in early November.

Local Post Office said they couldn't scan the label but still took it. Might as well as brought it outside and put it in the bin.

An Post blaming DHL and vice versa. Still no update... small claims court me thinks but who to claim against?

whiterebel · 20-01-2021 4:51pm

Too late now, but I wouldn't have left without a scan, or at the very least a receipt. You have no proof of anything now.

ACitizenErased · 22-01-2021 6:14pm

Anyone here still waiting for parcels to Europe from Christmas to be delivered? Sent 2 on the 7th of Dec to Germany and no sign

grogi · 22-01-2021 7:09pm

ACitizenErased wrote: »

Anyone here still waiting for parcels to Europe from Christmas to be delivered? Sent 2 on the 7th of Dec to Germany and no sign

Me! Me! Me!

skipjack1 · 23-01-2021 9:16am

Sorry for the rant but I sent two parcels registered post to France and Italy before Christmas

Both ebay sales one for a decent amount of money.

Both parcels stopped tracking around Dec 21 and I am facing having to refund the buyers

Rang an post multiple times and was told about the backlog they said they were in airports in France and Italy waiting to be sorted.

Contacted French and Italian post and both said no backlog and never received the parcels.

Started investigation with an post but nothing happens.

Wondering where are all these parcels. They all go to the UK first apparently

I reckon they are sitting forgotten somewhere in Heathrow and no one gives a monkeys!

Ronan|Raven · 23-01-2021 11:25am

ACitizenErased wrote: »

Anyone here still waiting for parcels to Europe from Christmas to be delivered? Sent 2 on the 7th of Dec to Germany and no sign

Same, sent a parcel on the 10th of December ot Germany.. Scanned leaving Ireland on the 15th and nothing since..

RuckingSwimmer · 23-01-2021 11:49am

Not Europe, but I sent a parcel to Australia on the 4th December. It tracked as departing the UK on the 10th December. No updates on the tracker until the 13 January when it finally made it to Australia and was delivered the following day.

So don't give up hope; it will eventually reach it's destination

AmberGold · 23-01-2021 4:03pm

skipjack1 wrote: »

Sorry for the rant but I sent two parcels registered post to France and Italy before Christmas

Both ebay sales one for a decent amount of money.

Both parcels stopped tracking around Dec 21 and I am facing having to refund the buyers

Rang an post multiple times and was told about the backlog they said they were in airports in France and Italy waiting to be sorted.

Contacted French and Italian post and both said no backlog and never received the parcels.

Started investigation with an post but nothing happens.

Wondering where are all these parcels. They all go to the UK first apparently

I reckon they are sitting forgotten somewhere in Heathrow and no one gives a monkeys!

Same here, sent to Italy in late Nov / Dec, no sign... €475 down.

23-01-2021 8:24pm

In fairness to AP for once they seemed to shift the parcels out of ireland quick, its the other carriers with delays for a change. I sent something to Germany around the 19th and it was delivered on Thursday gone, there seems to be woefull delays there

Darc19 · 23-01-2021 11:53pm

Anyone sending parcels abroad should use DPD or GLS parcel shops.

They use road and sea and no delay

Near Europe is 3-4 days, Italy 7 days, Poland, Slovakia, Czech 4-5 days.

VG31 · 24-01-2021 12:00am

Darc19 wrote: »

Anyone sending parcels abroad should use DPD or GLS parcel shops.

They use road and sea and no delay

Near Europe is 3-4 days, Italy 7 days, Poland, Slovakia, Czech 4-5 days.

I use UPS for posting abroad. I find them the best value in most cases. DPD can sometimes be cheaper but GLS never are. There's no extra charge for collections either.

The Young Wan · 26-01-2021 8:37am

My parents and my brother sent my Christmas gifts to me in Germany (I didn't go home this year) on December 7th. Most recent update is the 10th December. One is in Portlaoise, one in London Heathrow.

Neither have arrived yet, and An Post on Twitter have been the exact opposite of helpful trying to recover them or send them on their way.

brightkane · 26-01-2021 3:14pm

I sold a phone on ebay and posted it with tracking on 8th Jan.
Its still stuck in Dublin Mail Centre.
I posted a return to Reebok on the same date. It left, went to the UK, onto Germany and has been delivered.
I have bought small packages from China since the 8th Jan which have been delivered.

Buyer filed a non receipt of item and got a refund.
An post cant retrieve my parcel without a Garda warrant.

Nightmare.

whiterebel · 26-01-2021 4:01pm

Being a phone they may have stopped it for the battery. An Post won't take them usually.

brightkane · 26-01-2021 4:02pm

whiterebel wrote: »

Being a phone they may have stopped it for the battery. An Post won't take them usually.

It's listed as electronic goods. But customer service said anything up to 20 working days delay at the moment before it leaves ireland

Lobsterlady · 26-01-2021 4:59pm

brightkane wrote: »

I sold a phone on ebay and posted it with tracking on 8th Jan.
Its still stuck in Dublin Mail Centre.
I posted a return to Reebok on the same date. It left, went to the UK, onto Germany and has been delivered.
I have bought small packages from China since the 8th Jan which have been delivered.

Buyer filed a non receipt of item and got a refund.
An post cant retrieve my parcel without a Garda warrant.

Nightmare.

I posted a parcel, tracking to the US 31st December. It was processed 'through Dublin facility' on the 5th Jan. Arrived NY facility 22nd Jan, and now is at the local post office as of today for delivery. So very very slow. This is a replacement item for a previous one I posted end of November without tracking.
Also posted a parcel to Belgium 12th December, it arrived today. I run an Etsy shop, but have closed it for now as post is just too slow and unreliable from Ireland.

ACitizenErased · 26-01-2021 7:08pm

Still waiting for 2 parcels to Germany sent first week in December to arrive.

Darc19 · 26-01-2021 7:43pm

brightkane wrote: »

I sold a phone on ebay and posted it with tracking on 8th Jan.
Its still stuck in Dublin Mail Centre.
I posted a return to Reebok on the same date. It left, went to the UK, onto Germany and has been delivered.
I have bought small packages from China since the 8th Jan which have been delivered.

Buyer filed a non receipt of item and got a refund.
An post cant retrieve my parcel without a Garda warrant.

Nightmare.

Phones with batteries are prohibited items to send by post (here and most countries)

I suspect that's the problem.

Or Brexit and a false declaration on the cn22 form

I'm surprised the post office accepted it unless you didn't say it was a phone and therefore made a false goods declaration.

You can send phones via DPD or GLS and they'll be fully tracked

Outgoing International Post delays

Comments