RETAILERS including Topshop, New Look and Superdry are warning online Christmas shoppers of delivery delays, with some bringing forward last-order dates.
It’s estimated an extra 200million parcels are being processed this year as customers turn to online shopping amid the coronavirus outbreak.
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Since the first lockdown in March, the number of shoppers turning to the internet to buy goods has soared.
The latest lockdown in England, along with further restrictions in Wales and Scotland, has forced shoppers away from the high street.
But the delivery system is struggling to cope with the influx, despite huge recruitment drives from services such as Post Office, Amazon, Yodel and Hermes.
There are also fears that severe weather, such as ice and snow, could delay Christmas deliveries even more.
Can I return a Christmas order that arrives late?
IT can be really frustrating if you order a Christmas present and it doesn’t arrive on time.
If you want to return your gift, for example, because you had to buy something else, we explain your rights.
For presents ordered by the store’s last delivery date – the one it advertises online – you will be entitled to your money back if you no longer want the item.
You’ll need to have proof of when you placed your order, such as an email confirmation.
The retailer will also expect you to return the item. According to Resolver, the store you purchased the product from will usually be responsible for covering return costs, but this does depend on its terms and conditions, so read carefully.
If you want to keep the gift, you may be able to claim back some cash from the delivery costs. Contact the retailer to see what it can offer you.
If you paid extra for specific-day delivery, and it arrived after this date, the retailer should off you money back on the delivery cost.
Or at the very least, you’ll get the difference in price between its standard delivery and premium delivery.
It comes a month after retailers issued a warning to ministers that festive gifts wouldn’t arrive on time unless shops were given more clarity over lockdown restrictions.
Shops have also been urging customers to start Christmas shopping as early as September this year to make sure gifts arrive on time.
David Jinks of courier firm ParcelHero said last year, 387million of the 462million Christmas peak deliveries were online shopping orders.
This year, that is expected to jump to 592million in the weeks before Christmas as families turn to posting gifts to loved ones they won’t be able to see over the festive season.
Mr Jinks told the Daily Mail: “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.”
Topshop – which fell into administration on Monday, The White Company and Agent Provacateaur have moved last-order date to December 21 – two days earlier than the original December 23 deadline.
Evans Cycles customers must now place orders by December 17, five days earlier than the date it had first set, which was December 23.
Some have suspended next-day deliveries altogether.
Cath Kidston – which still operates online after collapsing earlier this year – has temporarily paused speedy postal services, while New Look warns customers delivery dates are “subject to change during our busy periods”.
Topshop is no longer offering its “express to home” and “express to parcel shop” service and as well as scrapping next day delivery, The White Company is warning shoppers of possible delays of up to 14 days.
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Meanwhile, Superdry is quoting customer two delivery dates depending on whether its sourcing the products from its UK or Belgian warehouses.
Mr Jinks added: “Some retailers are struggling in the face of unprecedented demand.
“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.”
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