Since the announcement of the Royal Mail strikes in the UK, the retail industry has been preparing for the backlash as much as possible.
The retail industry more than ever, relies on the service of Royal Mail to keep our customers happy. The UK population has become very accustomed to an exceptional level of service with our postal system, and although we like to complain in England, we really shouldn't moan too much when we compare our postal service to the rest of the world.
That said, it can still be extremely worrying for retailers who are stranded and helpless trying to get orders processed and delivered on time.
Satin and Sox remain one of the more competitive retailers because we include Free Postage on all UK and EU orders. This means when you are shopping online and are comparing prices, you must be mindful that most retailers do not include free postage. By the time you reach checkout, suddenly the cost of your shopping can be noticeably higher, due to the delivery charges incurred. Each retailer will have their own shipping and delivery policy. For those of us who want to keep costs down for our customers, it is essential for us to use the Royal Mail service.
When customer's orders are delayed, it can effect their whole outlook and emotional feelings towards the retail company, and sometimes, an apology on behalf of Royal Mail isn't enough. Customers expect refunds and compensation for delayed and lost items now. Some customers will only make payment via paypal, so they can raise a refund request before the postal system has even had time to deliver the item.
This can obviously be very damaging to small business.
Royal Mail have issued the following advice in this current situation:
Services during Industrial Action
10 August 2022
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has called on its members who collect, sort and deliver parcels and letters to take strike action on 26 and 31 August and the 8 and 9 September 2022.
We’re really sorry for the disruption that this strike action is likely to cause to you. We want to reassure you we will do everything we can to minimise disruption and get our services back to normal as quickly as possible.
Royal Mail has well-developed contingency plans, but they cannot fully replace the daily efforts of its frontline workforce. We will be doing what we can to keep services running, but customers should expect significant disruption.
On days when strike action is taking place:
- We will deliver as many Special Delivery and Tracked24 parcels as possible
- We will prioritise the delivery of COVID test kits and medical prescriptions wherever possible
- We will not be delivering letters (with the exception of Special Delivery)
What you can do:
- Post your items as early as possible in advance of the strike dates
- Continue to post your items at Postboxes or Post Offices, however collections will be less frequent on days when strike action is taking place
If you have an order with us at this time and are worried about your delivery date, please get in touch and we will do our best to resolve your concerns.
You can view our standard shipping policy here