For orders received before midday, we always do our best to ship the same day, however, that is not always physically possible. You will receive an email notice to tell you when we have dispatched. Shipping estimates are based on when your order is dispatched, not when it was received by us.
Delivery Services
Once the Order is in the postal system we lose control of it. We always obtain certificates of posting so we can demonstrate to the postal services that we did our bit and to be fair, the Royal Mail is very good when you consider the job they have to do - very few packages actually go astray. Many Orders are sent using a receipted delivery system - so you need to sign for them. If you order is large or heavy it will normally be sent by Carrier in which case the shipment is often trackable online.
LATE DELIVERY?
It's inevitable that things will occasionally go awry but even when this happens, the package usually turns up after a few days.
Here is what you should do:
1. Make sure your order has actually been despatched. You will receive a despatch confirmation on the day it is sent but you can also login and check the status of your order - If the order has a status of 'Complete' this means it has been despatched.
2. Be aware that although the Royal Mail aim to delivery 1st Class mail the next working day, this will depend on where you are. They don't consider a package late until 7 days have passed and do not consider a package lost until 15 days have elapsed. Unfortunately we can't do anything about a late order until after those 15 days have past.
3. Some packages will not fit through a standard letter box or need to be signed for and if no-one is at the delivery address when delivery is attempted, the delivery agent will will put a card through the door and indicate what you need to do in order to get your package. With the Royal Mail, you can usually arrange redelivery but with carrier services you may need to arrange to collect the package yourself.
4. If you package is 3 or 4 days late, it is always worth contacting your local Royal Mail Sorting office to see if they are holding a package for you (just in case you were out when delivery was attempted - you'd be surprised how often that is the case). PLEASE NOTE: It is the sorting office you must contact, not your local Post Office.
NOTE: WE RECOMMEND YOU CHOOSE A 'SIGN FOR' SHIPPING OPTION WHERE POSSIBLE - 'Sign For' almost never go astray.
Also worth knowing:
Another little known piece of information: - You can generally claim compensation for lateness if a package is sent by Royal Mail (so long as it wasn't caused by you not being available to accept the package of course) - Please see the Royal Mail website for details because the rules do change from time to time.
Postal Instructions
We are occasionally asked to put instructions on a package to tell the delivery agent to 'leave it by the back door' or Leave it at No 16' etc. if no-one is home. Most delivery agents will ignore all such instructions so only under very rare conditions can we do it.
WARNING - If you ask us to put instructions for the posty on your package we can accept no responsibility or liability if it gets lost.
Please see the Royal Mail website for details of their delivery times, rules etc.