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AN POST IS asking customers to bear with it as it deals with a 130% increase in the volume of packages and parcels compared to 2019.
Parcel volumes have “peaked beyond Christmas volumes” but An Post stressed that “everything is under control” as it moves through the busy period.
The move to Level 5 almost three weeks ago meant that non-essential retailers had to shut their doors. They are set to remain closed until 1 December at the earliest.
And, ahead of the busy Christmas period, online sales are booming. An Post has faced a slew of queries on social media regarding the status of parcels, with customers saying they’re facing delays receiving them. The company says it has been handling a huge volume of parcels in recent weeks.
A spokesperson for An Post told TheJournal.ie: “Covid-19 has accelerated the move to online shopping on top of which there is a huge early rush on Christmas shopping and a move to purchasing everyday essentials online due to the Level 5 retail restrictions.”
The company said that from the retailers themselves dispatching items, to processing items and to eventually delivering them is all taking slightly longer this year. It said this is being felt by all carriers including An Post.
As well as the large volume, public health guidelines such as social distancing mean that extra measures have to be taken in postal depots to ensure the safety of employees. The company said that the current delays are due to the sheer number of post it’s processing, and is not being caused by any staff absent due to Covid-19.
Its commerce MD Garrett Bridgeman said: “There has never been parcel volumes like this, up 130% on the same time last year – a total of 8 million items a week between letters and parcels.
Due to a huge spike in volumes and ensuring the safety of our staff, everything takes longer. It’s taking retailers longer to despatch, and it’s taking longer to process items and longer to get out on delivery so we are asking customers for their patience. We will deliver your parcels. Please bear with us as we’re working around the clock to sort and deliver. We’re out delivering in the evenings and at weekends too.
An Post said there had been a large increase in Irish retailers trading online and this was creating its own logistical challenges.
The company added the opening of a new automated parcel centre in the coming weeks in Dublin will help to relieve the pressure heading into December.
Bridgeman said: “To ensure the safety of staff, we are working with staggered start times, socially distanced work-spaces and in accordance with all guidelines.
We’re seeing a mobilisation of An Post’s workforce like never before and we assure customers that we will get your parcels to you, just please, be patient. If you normally get your items next day it may take 2 -3 days to get your parcel.
With reporting from Órla Ryan
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I think the delivery people deserve a tip this Christmas
@Cathal: I would suggest, if possible, to always give your post-person and regular/known couriers a gift each Christmas. They do tremendous work, often in horrendous weather.
@Cathal: are you a post man? Lol
@Felicity Hensen: And some of them even leave your parcels out in the horrendous weather and claim you signed for it! Thanks DPD, and thanks for not responding to my complaint!
@Kevin Farrell: Coming up to 4 weeks since I’be my package has been with a DPD driver. No response from them to any communication from me so cancelled with the retailer this day last week. They have to source the package with DPD (I assume to ensure that I didn’t actually get it) and then I’ll get a refund. Unbelievable stuff.
@Alan McArdle: by way of contrast…..my package from China and via An Post was a mere two days late and that was a shipping problem in the UK.
@Kevin Farrell: DPD, fastway are a joke for doing this. The An Post lads always drop our parcels into shelter and hidden.
@Cathal: for doing their job ?
@Christy Dolan: always one :(
@Cathal: our postman is a gent goes above and beyond always gets a bottle of wine of us at Christmas well deserved
@Christy Dolan: yes Christy.
@Cathal: It used to be common practice, I must remember to do something this year.
@Christy Dolan: Loads of people get tipped for doing their job. Are you new to earth?
@Alan: and it’s generally Christy!
@Cathal: don’t eat yellow snow this Christmas! That’s my tip !
@Alan: you are virtue signalling over people who are simply doing what they are contractually obliged to do in return for payment . Should we give them Blue Peter badges while we are at it ?
@Lee Galiezitte: who are these “loads of people” ? Tipping culture is rare in Ireland bar the odd service personnel at Christmas . So what on earth are you waffling about ? Each to their own , but not when they fail to deliver within a reaosnable time, manage to lose your post or do nothing over and above their job . Id feel sorry for any postman in Cavan
@Christy Dolan: yikes, what louse crawled over your liver this morning?
@Christy Dolan: Actually they do a lot more and have for years. The finding of people with address that make no senses for example.
The average postal staff delivery person goes out of their wat to help their people. Always has been the way always will be.
I know it as I was one and I know the lengths we went to deliver the mail.
Its more than a contract it is a responsibility and we took it seriously
@Christy Dolan: Tipping Postmen was a tradition for many years and if you do not know that well that says more about you than the tradition.
@Gary Kearney: Some people are just mean and will find any excuse not to tip.
@Cathal: Totally agree. I have been doing that every year as I truly appreciate their service. You cant drive up to my house, so the extra hike in any weather needs to be rewarded.
@Gary Kearney: yup always and binmen too.
I’m delighted for them they where on their knees for years I just hope this trickles down to the small rural postmasters
I love An Post :)
In fairness the Postmen and Women are doing a great job,it’s just a pity that the only mail I seem to recieve these days are bills.
Fair play to them. This year especially we would be lost without them
item sent 30/10 in dublin for wicklow still not delivered 9/11 with an post. Item sent 7/11 derry for wicklow arrived 8/11 with dpd go figure.
@Dean Cinnsealach: That’s one parcel out of thousands, so to use your Americanisim ” go figure ”
Gwan An post!
@Mr Brightside: 7 parcels posted same day same time same office 30/10 from dublin to destinations across country not one has arrived yet figure that.
@Dean Cinnsealach: I dont have that problem to be fair and i post a lot and get a lot of delivery from An Post !, go figure
@Dean Cinnsealach: did u read the article at all?
8 million items a week, with staff social distancing in depots?
Give them a break.
@Dean Cinnseala Go figure what?
@Sam Greene: they are taking too many breaks , that’s the problem ! Business can’t be waiting around for their failure to parcels and orders out to customers on time !
get enough staff and improve the Covid working environment . They had 6 months to do that . This scenario was foreseeable since the summer
@Dean Cinnsealach: Item sent from wicklow, was it address correctly? was it packaged properly. Loads of things can cause an item to go astray, some are AnPosts fault most are not.
@Christy Dolan: you haven’t a clue what us postman are at do you? This morning in the lashing rain I went out on route with 4 times my normal volume of parcels, I’ve spent all day delivering them and you’re begrudging is a break or staggered start times because of covid? Thanks for that.
@Christy Dolan: Why wouldn’t they take breaks if they’re working three times as hard, and around the clock? Nobody can work flat out, nor should they. People understand that.
I was drying my hair today when I noticed the post van pulling up. I didn’t get any deliveries but my neighbour did. It took at least 5 minutes for him to scan the parcels and notify my neighbour they were delivered. The postal staff will be getting a nice little pressie from me this year.
Get some more staff lots of people need work.
@Braonain Proinseas: they can only have certain amount of staff in the depots due to social distancing… brain box aren’t you ?
@Sam Greene: Brainy Princess….
@Sam Greene: have the depot opening 24 hours a day seven days a week , with the required level of staff
This would require additional staff
Don’t speak out of turn next time , save yourself the embarrassment of showing your s t u p I d I t y
@Christy Dolan: if u ever want to be a professional troll u need to try harder. Maybe try a bit of wit
@richard fennessy: Richard my boy, you are devoid of any qualifications to lecture or advise anyone
You don’t even have the intelligence to understand what the term “troll” means . Invest in a dictionary , perhaps order one on line ! It’s not a catch all term , which you and the 19 odd genuises who upvoted your comment clearly believe that it is . Bless
@Christy Dolan: we are open 24/7….
This is the worst thing about ordering online. It’s the wait the long long wait
@hasnooneasked: But its kinda exciting when you get that knock on the door, and then realise its the cr.p you ordered after a few beers
Large online retailers seem to start bypassing post altogether and send it with couriers straight away. Ordered something from Next online yesterday around 11 am, received it through UPS today at 1 pm…
@Lotta Rossler: unless its Mark’s and spencer . They take 10 days to even dispatch your order, so its usually 2 weeks before you recieve anything. Next are very good at getting it to you the next day.
@Allison Smith: Agree Marks very slow by post. If you live within 5km of a shop use click and collect instead to get orders very quickly.
@Mairead Jenkins: I ordered something on 23rd hoping to actually receive it this week from Mark’s and Spencer. Unfortunately my nearest one is about 30km away. Makes me wonder how they can be so slow. Every other company I order off like next or dunnes , or stuff from uk has it delivered within week. Really dont know why Mark’s and Spencer is so slow
I love my postman soundest bloke ever, used to work in recruitment in Air Lingus and lost his job due to covid so he joined An Post. I look forward to our chats in the morning, a friendly face means a lot these days, time, its the best present you can give anybody!
Oh you guys and your first world problems, nevermind the guys in the sorting centers and the drivers on the road….oooh my package was late…boo bloody hoo
@Anthony Edward Healy: ah poor Anto , too poor to be in a position to buy on line
People pay extra money for delivery , they are entitled to expect delivery as per the stated time on the website – it’s for the company to cite possible delays on Covid et all
An post et all are incompetent , their Covid excuse is not legitimate . They had 6 months to plan for this foreseeable situation
@Christy Dolan: My name is not Anto you moran.. and yes people have to expect delays, your comment is actually insulting when you can’t even call someone by their real name, jog on.
@Anthony Edward Healy: Oh dear , remedial class is needed . It is spelt M -O -R -O -N . Not Moran . You should know
Your name is what I deem it fit to be boy. Know your place . Your comment merited being kicked back into your box .
You are the only person who will be jogging on! Illiterate t w I t
@Anthony Edward Healy: “Moran” ? Lol . Go back to school son. Thanks for the laugh ! God /Allah Bless the simple people
@Christy Dolan: Actually an act of God is a legitimate excuse and you cannot plan for a pandemic as the rules change almost daily.
I get a feeling shopping malls will be a thing of the past in a few years, which is quite sad. This online shopping experience for most people during covid is the business albeit a late delivery that fecks things up. But as night follows day that will be soon sorted. Technology will take over. Teens today are the future entrepreneurs and that’s fair enough. I just hope they can send me ashes to the moon.
@Paul Gorry: shopping malls ? When did this become America ?
Anyway, if it means an end to rip off prices good riddance
Some retail will still keep open. People want to touch and see the product that they wish to buy . They want to test it . Nothing worse than buying stuff and trying it on only for it to be the wrong size – the hassle of sending it back . Some people want to get their product immediately .
On line still has a delay of 2-7 days in delivery and incompetence from half wit delivery men is always high
@Christy Dolan: Delivery men, An Post staff and Postal Delivery staff and are trained, unlike the couriers.
Amazon have started using couriers instead. Shame an post didn’t keep up with demand.
@Conor J Linnane: I miss the predictability of my postman’s arrival times. The new Irish Amazon delivery drivers seem nice, and still bring things to my building entrance, and they have Sunday deliverys too, unlike some couriers dropping to apartment developments not willing to pass the main gate.
@Conor J Linnane: this morning s nothing to do with as n post not keeping up with demand.
Amazon use their own couriers in France, Germany, UK, USA etc
@Sarah-J. Mc Hugh: The rule is to deliver to the first point of entry, otherwise you are trespassing.
If an post did not spend 20 million on a machine that can’t do the work as quick as the four people that did it they would have been better off
@Ivan Genockey: did you read thr article, or did you not get beyond the headline? The delays are to do with the requirement for personnel to socially distance and stagger start times. In fact, the €20 million euro machine you deride may in fact be reducing the delays.
@Ivan Genockey: please read the article
I accept that they’re busy, as are many services at the moment, but they should at least give you time to get to the door when they knock! By the time you’ve got to the porch they’re already trying to fob it off with a neighbour or have already done a runner leaving it on the step. Also,
expecting others to take responsibility for anyone’s parcel is not fair in the current climate when self isolation or the desire to social distance may be a factor.
@Liz O’Neill: less contact by leaving on step. I knock walk away. If nobody picks it up though I do not drive away.
@richard fennessy: mine just knocks and leaves it on the step then delivers the rest of the post on our street then comes back to check it’s been picked up.
@richard fennessy: Well clearly not all are as conscientious as you.
Perhaps if the distribution centre in cork hadn’t been closed down they might be able to handle the volume of post. Here’s an example of the inefficient system. An item is posted in Cobh to cork city, tracking the item a week later it’s sitting in portlaoise distribution centre, come on that’s crazy!!
@Edmond Mc Grath: If its trackable ring their customer service centre, there is a problem most likely with the address.
@Gary Kearney: you only get Sorry we are really busy… reply
This was all foreseeable since the summer . It was well publicised and argued that a second wave would arrive at Winter . An Post et all had plenty of time to prepare for the foreseeable increase in online shopping . It’s not like there is a shortage of people looking for work (keep depot open 24 hours)
They should not be allowed to charge full price on their service charge if they are late delivering
@Christy Dolan: You really do not have a clue about the postal delivery business do you. None at all.
I delivered the mail, I sorted the mail and then I listened to people like you complain about the mail.
The volumes of mail and the price charged the service is brilliant
@Christy Dolan: again you’ve no clue have you…. the depots are open 24/7… we can only have half the staff in the building at any one time… now stop trolling us postmen good lad
Funny how the likes of DPD and GLS still manage to hire more and be prepared… An Post however, just apologise for being late
@thomas patrick: No they did not and when you pay peanuts well you know what you get. Not that An Post pay particularly well either.
Get to know your postman and delivery drivers a little tip every now and again ye hungry aul yolks goes a long way.
@richard fennessy: most people are too busy on the road on their way to work. Nice to see some have the luxury to float around the house in the morning waiting for Postman Pat
I love online shopping especially for clothes. As I have an account with one , I just choose a few items, I try them on and if they are not suitable I can just bring them up to the local shop to be scanned free of charge and returned. As no payment had been made what’s not to like. Reminds me of the era 60 years ago when you could choose a few outfits from the shop, they sent them to your home on approval to try them on and have a second opinion from your family and friends ,and the following morning the van would collect them , no obligation to buy.
I’m sure closing shops and banning the sale of such non essentials as clothes has led to this. I very much doubt small retailers are behind the upsurge
No post at all for two weeks recently, rang local post office and they stated the had a COVID case and staff were isolating, I’m guessing it’s hard to get any staff cover, gpo were unaware of any delay
The level of outrage from the fear factors when they don’t get all their Christmas presents will be amusing.
@Machiavellian: Its nit when you work in customer Service 28th December Royal Mail deliver in 4 40ft containers of bikes. Yep santy missed a lot of bies that year.
Ireland has a high rate for international deliveries but they have to arrive, they will say disapatched but that ofen means sitting on a dock awaiting loading onto a boat.
Brace yourself AnPost. 11.11 and Black Friday orders on the way… ;)
I ordered something online 4 months ago, got sick of waiting so contacted the seller,he sent me the tracking history and aparently it was delivered on the 4th of August, but not to my house……nobody in An Post can give me an answer as to where my parcel is or who delivered it…best answer so far is maybe the postman threw it in the ditch…..
@Brendan Hoey: Was it a signed for item, accusing you postman of doing something when he may never have received the item is low.
Meanwhile Amazon grows from strength to strength leaving the little ppl behind
@Kieran Hayes: who are these little people ? They have been ripping off customers for decades
@Christy Dolan: You are an really angry person about An Post.
@Kieran Hayes: Its not Amazon’s fault though is it? Its a free market economy and they can “do E Commerce” in a way that so many other businesses cannot. And how many Irish businesses don’t even do E Commerce or have really terrible websites, how many have crazy prices by comparison to an Amazon option.
While buying local first, then Irish . . .if you can . . . is a GREAT idea, its also worth pointing out that Amazon employs something like 5000 people in Ireland, and the nature of their business means they also contribute revenue and employment to An Post & courier services.
I don’t work for Amazon or anything even like it, but its not their fault their business is booming. Its easy to see why it is.
simply boils down to i’ll always bye irish by choice. every time. After 3 or 4 weeks and still trying to buy Irish and getting nowhere, I’ll still try to buy Irish by choice. then I’ll give up and just buy the damn thing on amazon because i simply can’t buy Irish :(
@Trevor Donoghue: why are you getting nowhere trying to buy Irish?
@Eadaoin_Ni_Loingsigh: I would guess that he may be getting no where at times trying to buy Irish because too many Irish companies are very very bad at E Commerce.
Revolute recently released figures that showed Irish online purchasing has jumped from 30% of purchases to just over 50% of purchases (iirc) . . . .no doubt linked to Lockdown.
Yet there are still numerous Irish shops whose websites and E Commerce is very poor and even non existent in some cases.
I know exactly what he means, and there does come a stage where you have looked and looked for the product you want ( as opposed to settling for just what these shops have in stock) and you can’t get it. So you resort to Amazon and you have it bought and on the way in minutes.
Whilst I do appreciate AnPost deliverers, there is definitely room for improvement! Last week I ordered a product from the U.K. online, Thursday morning, received the item Friday morning. As someone below stated, “AnPost (like the rest of us) could have foreseen the situation now occurring, and should have been prepared”. That is their job; that is why they receive their pay.
@Tee Carr: how do you suggest we process all this extra mail with half the staff allowed? Work twice as fast? Grow extra arms?
I sent a parcel from Carlow to Dublin on 6th Nov. its been sitting in the Dublin sorting office since 8th Nov and still not delivered today!!!!
Scaremongering at it’s best !
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