ParcelHero is warning of a Christmas delivery meltdown as online orders continue to skyrocket.
Despite high street stores re-opening, the home delivery expert ParcelHero is warning of a Christmas delivery meltdown as online orders continue to skyrocket. It says many retailers are now advising standard delivery times of up to 14 days, scrapping express delivery options and making their final order dates for Christmas even earlier.
The return of high street shopping has not slowed the surge in online shopping. As a result, some retailers are struggling in the face of unprecedented demand, warns ParcelHero. Its popular shoppers’ Christmas deadline tool is recording many stores’ last order dates being brought forward significantly to ensure delivery in time for the big day.
ParcelHero’s head of consumer research, David Jinks MILT, explains: “It’s too early to say if it will snow at Christmas, but we can forecast a delivery meltdown if stores don’t pull back final order dates dramatically. That’s why it’s good to see many stores taking early action.”
Many stores have brought forward their Christmas final order dates, including Disney Stores, which has bought its final order date forward to 22nd December, instead of 23rd as originally planned.
Several stores are taking further action, such as Cath Kidston and The White Company, which have both suspended next-day deliveries.
“Due to Covid, Christmas was always going to stretch retailers and their delivery partners. Last year, 387 million of the 462m Christmas peak deliveries were online shopping orders,” says David. “This year, retailers’ deliveries alone will put an estimated 592m parcels in the system in the weeks before Christmas. That’s in addition to all the parcels people are sending to their friends and relations during lockdown.”
He adds: “Given the strain on delivery services already, we won’t be at all surprised if many more retailers change to even earlier final order dates as Christmas nears. That’s why our continually updated Christmas deadlines tool is so useful for keeping shoppers in the know with all their favourite retailers’ final order dates.”
Click here to check the easy-to-use retailers’ final order and final mailing dates tool.
