A number of big-name retailers have been forced to pull back their final ordering dates for Christmas amid the ongoing strikes being carried out by workers at Royal Mail. Some stores are telling shoppers they’ll need to order six days earlier than originally planned in order for their parcels to arrive in time for Christmas.
The home delivery expert ParcelHero says shoppers are abandoning expensive express services while strikes threaten to disrupt deliveries, which has led to some dramatic changes in retailers’ final order dates to ensure gifts don’t miss the big day.
Brands such as Boohoo,, Paul Smith, Selfridges and The White Company are among those urging customers to shop early to avoid pre-Christmas panic and disappointment if their gifts don’t arrive on time.
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It comes as CWU have notified Royal Mail of strikes for those who collect, sort and deliver parcels and letters that there is national strike action planned for December 1, 9, 11 and 14, with further strikes planned on December 15, 23 and Christmas Eve.
As a result, Royal Mail’s final postal dates for Christmas have been shared, with 2nd class post, 2nd class signed for and Royal Mail 48 services needing to be posted before Monday, December 19, and 1st class, 1st class signed for, Royal Mail 24 and Royal Mail tracked 48 being posted by Wednesday, December 21.
Retailers who have already pulled back their Christmas final order dates include:
Boohoo - was 23 December, now 21 December
Cath Kidston - was 22 December, now 21 December
HP - was 21 December, now 15 December
Paul Smith - was 23 December, now 19 December
Selfridges - was 24 December for London postcodes, now 23 December
The White Company - was 23 December, now 22 December
ParcelHero’s Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T., said: “Many of our favourite stores have woken up and smelt the eggnog and are rapidly dragging back their final order dates for Christmas. Already, stores such as Boohoo, Currys, HP, Paul Smith and PC World have pulled back their last order dates by several days.
“There are two main reasons why retailers are already revising their final order dates. Firstly, planned strikes affecting traditional postal deliveries just before Christmas could throw final order dates into disarray. Secondly, last-minute express and next-day deliveries can cost at least a fiver extra compared to standard delivery options. Cash-strapped Brits, facing higher bills and galloping inflation, simply don’t have the money to burn on expensive delivery options.
“Many retailers will also be trying to save money by slashing Christmas delivery times. They pay their delivery partners extra for faster service. That’s normally a worthwhile expense at Christmas, as these faster options can give them an advantage over their competitors. But this year’s Austerity Christmas will see shoppers spend an estimated £4bn less than in 2021. Stores will feel the impact of this reduced spending and cannot afford to waste money. As struggling retailers Joules and Wilco will confirm, times are hard.”
Shoppers can check retailers’ final order and final mailing dates using ParcelHero’s free online tool here.
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