UK’s largest parcel delivery firm confirms final send dates to ensure Christmas presents get delivered on time

THE UK's largest parcel delivery firm has announced final send dates to ensure Christmas gifts arrive in time.

Evri has warned to send Christmas gifts as early as possible and not leave it to the last minute.

As the festive season approaches, Evri has announced its final send dates to ensure Christmas gifts reach loved ones in time.

With the busy Christmas period ahead, Evri - the largest dedicated parcel delivery firm in the UK - is encouraging customers to send their parcels as early as possible to avoid any last-minute rush.

Thursday December 19 will be your last chance for courier collections.

The deadline for sending standard delivery parcels from ParcelShops will be on Friday, December 20, by 11am.

And the final cut-off point for next-day parcels being drop off at a ParcelShop will be 11am on December 21.

Additionally, in preparation for the busy Christmas season, Evri has extended its successful partnership with the Post Office.

Starting in November 2023, this partnership allowed customers to send Evri parcels from 2,000 branches for the first time in the Post Office's long history.

By the end of October 2024, more than 3,200 Post Office branches will offer Evri parcel drop-off services - significantly expanding Evri’s network to over 16,800 locations across the UK.

This includes Post Offices, Tesco Express stores, lockers, and many independent convenience stores.

Depending on the weight and size of your parcel, you could send your parcels from as little as £2.62 with Evri.

Find your nearest Evri ParcelShop on the Evri website.

It comes as Royal Mail is set to make a major change to second class postal services as part of a new shake-up.

Under an overhaul being considered by the industry watchdog, the postal service could be allowed to ditch Saturday deliveries for second class letters.

Regulator Ofcom, which has been consulting on the future of the universal postal service since January, said it is now focusing efforts on changes to the second class service while keeping first class deliveries six days a week.

Under the plans being considered, second class deliveries would not be made on Saturdays and would only be on alternate weekdays, but delivery times would remain unchanged at up to three working days.

Ofcom said no decision had been made and it continues to review the changes, with aims to publish a consultation in early 2025 and make a decision in the summer of next year.

Royal Mail - the UK's largest parcel delivery firm by volume - has urged the Government and Ofcom to review its obligations, arguing that it is no longer workable or cost-effective, given the decline in addressed letter post.

In its submission to Ofcom in April, it proposed ditching Saturday deliveries for second class post and cutting the service to every other weekday.

Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom's group director for networks and communications, said: "If we decide to propose changes to the universal service next year, we want to make sure we achieve the best outcome for consumers.

"So we're now looking at whether we can get the universal service back on an even keel in a way that meets people’s needs.

"But this won't be a free pass for Royal Mail – under any scenario, it must invest in its network, become more efficient and improve its service levels.”