Christmas Misses? ParcelHero points out many stores have stopped online orders

Home delivery experts ParcelHero says delays caused by recent bad weather and strikes mean some popular stores have already ceased taking online Christmas orders.

Last-minute shoppers may have left it too late to buy online from their favourite stores in time for Christmas, says home delivery expert ParcelHero. 

Strikes and backlogs caused by last week’s severe weather mean some retailers can no longer guaranteeing they can deliver in time for Christmas.

ParcelHero’s Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T., says: "From Ann Summers to Waterstones, many of the UK’s leading retailers have decided to call it quits on Christmas deliveries already.

"Even before Arctic weather conditions hit the UK, deliveries were backing up. Retailers and individuals have all been switching to couriers to avoid the impact of industrial action in the traditional postal network, and this unexpected extra volume of parcels has taken some courier networks by surprise.

‘Rather than disappoint customers, some stores have faced the problems head-on and declared that they can no longer guarantee delivery in time for Christmas. These include:

Ann Summers (last date was 19 December)

The Body Shop (last date was 19 December)

M&S clothing (“Christmas delivery is no longer available.”)

Paul Smith (last date was 18 December)

Pets at Home (last date was 18 December)

The Conran Shop (“Delivery in time for Christmas can no longer be guaranteed due to external factors.”)

Waterstones (last date was 19 December)

"The Christmas countdown shows no sign of stopping. Stores that will stop taking orders on Tuesday 20 December include:

Harrods

Harvey Nichols

Superdry

"Also, a significant number of stores stop taking their final Christmas orders on Wednesday 21 December. These include Boden, Gap, House of Fraser, New Look and The White Company.

"Retailers have had to react quickly to the escalating issues and problems in the delivery network. For example, back in November, Harvey Nichols gave a deadline of 23 December for final orders; now its last order date is today. This is a far more sensible approach than some other stores, which still don’t include final Christmas cut-off dates on their websites, leaving customers to order in hope."

He went on to say: "It’s not just  the impact of the strike in the traditional postal industry that created knock-on delays. There was already a shortage of seasonal staff like delivery drivers and warehouse workers following Brexit. It’s fortunate that the Amazon strike called at its Coventry distribution centre is not expected to take place until the new year, or there would be a lot of disappointed faces on Christmas Day around the UK.

"With all this Christmas confusion, ParcelHero has re-launched our popular Christmas tool in the nick of time. You can now discover retailers’ final online order dates in time for Christmas, find out the last mailing dates for presents to UK and international destinations, and see handy packaging and Customs clearance hacks to help ensure gifts reach their destinations in time."

 To check the easy-to-use retailers’ final order and final mailing dates tool, see: https://www.parcelhero.com/events/christmas-gifts-delivery