An Post Christmas backlogs grow as customers wait a week or more for parcel deliveries

An Post issued the statement to the 'Irish Examiner' on foot of numerous reports of parcels facing much longer-than-expected delivery times, with tracker apps indicating parcels remained at a depot for a week or more for some households purchasing Christmas gifts online. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

An Post has said “some things can take a little longer to make their journey”, as anxious consumers await their festive parcels, for more than a week in some cases.

The company has said it may not have the capacity to help businesses that had previously used Fastway, which ceased operations in October, while parcel volumes from existing customers are up by a quarter during the busiest season of the year for deliveries.

An Post issued the statement to the Irish Examiner on foot of numerous reports of parcels facing much longer-than-expected delivery times, with tracker apps indicating parcels remained at a depot for a week or more for some households purchasing Christmas gifts online.

“Following the unexpected closure of Fastway some weeks ago, An Post made it clear that we would do everything possible to support affected businesses but that we may not have the capacity to service all requests from new business wanting to partner with us,” it said.

“We are doing everything possible to support SMEs in need of delivery solutions by putting arrangements in place to handle additional volumes.” 

Concerns had been raised at its capacity to meet all Christmas deliveries after the demise of Fastway, and as part of its bid to ensure all post arrives on time for Christmas, An Post has also made changes to its final delivery dates for both businesses and individuals.

“Also, An Post has brought forward to December 16 the latest parcel posting date for delivery within Ireland and to the UK in time for Christmas,” it said.

US tariffs affecting Kerry craft businesses

It comes as a meeting of Kerry County Council has heard traditional parcel exchanges with America and West Kerry are particularly bumpy this year, with goods ordered from crafts, jewellery, pottery and other businesses being returned because of unexpected tariffs and new regulations.

“The big worry is the focus has been on big companies and help for these,” Fianna Fáil councillor Breandán Fitzgerald said. “But small shops and producers exporting to America, taking orders online and from tourists, are badly affected."

Louis Mulcahy Pottery in West Kerry told the Irish Examiner some of the tariffs were much higher than it anticipated, particularly when they contained food items. Mugs sent in parcels with coffee were sometimes levied with up to €60.

“Some are paying the tariffs, but others are returning goods,” a spokeswoman said. She said there was widespread confusion, partly because the tariffs had changed so often.

An Post confirmed that "unfortunately" a percentage of parcels were being returned.

Changes by the US administration mean some goods are now prohibited altogether. The procedures are “complex”, and An Post is working with a partner in the US to advise those in receipt of parcels on charges and tariffs.

"The days of dropping a parcel into a postbox or a mailbag without the necessary customs declaration are long gone," it added.

This article was partly funded by the Local Democracy Scheme