Updated 12/30 Royal Mail EU Suspended Service and Delays

[RainasMagicShop]

Updated December 30, 2020: Royal Mail and Parcelforce services to Europe have been reopened and are now fully operational. For items posted today, customers should expect a delay up to 2 working days for some countries. Royal Mail shipping labels have resumed and are available to purchase in all impacted areas.

Hello,

We’re here to help you as you run your business during these uncertain times. Due to the temporary closure of French borders and the temporary ban on all imports from the UK into selected countries, you may have heard that Royal Mail and other carriers have suspended service to Europe with the exception of the Republic of Ireland until further notice. Royal Mail is keeping the situation under close and constant review and are ready to open services as soon as they are able to, once the restrictions have been lifted.  Items that are already in the system will be processed as normal and made ready for dispatch. Royal Mail has informed us that these items will be held securely until we are able to get them to their relevant destinations.

There may be delays to domestic delivery times and the Special Delivery Guaranteed policy. You can find more information and updates on this evolving situation on the Royal Mail website: www.royalmail.com/internationalupdates

Due to Royal Mail temporarily suspending all mail services to Europe, with the exception of the Republic of Ireland, Etsy has suspended the purchase of Royal Mail shipping labels to the EU for the time being.

Here are a few suggestions on how to handle these delays and communicate with your customers during this challenging time.

1. Include an update in your shop’s announcement section. Let shoppers know that their orders may be delayed. If you choose to put your shop on vacation mode, reassure your customers that you’re still fulfilling open orders Here’s an example of a message you can share: “I wanted to keep you updated on the status of your order. Due to disruptions and temporary bans on all imports from the UK into selected countries impacting Royal Mail and other carriers, there’s a chance your package may not arrive on the original estimated date. Rest assured I’ll keep you updated along the way as I get new information from the carrier. Please feel free to message me if you have any questions.” Note: During COVID-19, we’ve temporarily moved the shop announcement section to the top of your shop home for increased visibility. For more information on how to share an update to your shop announcement section, go here: https://help.etsy.com/hc/articles/360000343708
2. Send your buyers a message about any outstanding orders. If you have any orders in progress that you’ll no longer be able to send for delivery, send a message to the buyer letting them know. Ask if they’re willing to wait a little longer to receive their order. If they’re not, consider offering them a refund. Either way, we suggest you work with your buyer to come to a solution together. 
3. Pause your shop temporarily. Consider turning on vacation or holiday mode for your shop during this time. When you’re on vacation mode, buyers won't be able to view or purchase items from your shop. You’ll be able to add a message that your buyers will receive as an auto reply if they send you a message. Buyers can also sign up to be notified when you return. For more information on how to use vacation/holiday mode, check out Etsy’s Help Center: https://help.etsy.com/hc/articles/115015662947

If you’re looking for more advice on managing your shop during this time, we’ve put together a whole guide just for you. Check it out in the Seller Handbook: https://www.etsy.com/seller-handbook/article/the-ultimate-guide-to-running-your-shop/788561216704

Thank you for being a valued member of the Etsy community. 

Best, 

The Team at Etsy