Meanwhile FedEx aren't too far behind. An item was stranded in Singapore for an "operational delay" then got going and arrived early to the final distributing depot. A day before the estimated delivery date I received SMS and emails all proclaiming an early delivery. Wait in all day for a must sign delivery and nothing! Ring FedEx who said despite the delivery by 1700 mantra, if there were parcels on the truck the driver would work until 1730 to clear the truck. Then an email from FedEx saying the parcel returned to base, not delivered nor any attempt to deliver, time stamped 1634. Hmmm. Next morning no SMS or email proclaiming delivery on time, nothing. Wait some hours and then ring again, "we forgot to load it on the truck, but it's not our fault, beyond our control".
I have more than plenty of sympathy for the situation all the delivery guys are in but it's a fail for their system when you needlessly promise an early delivery then compound it by forgetting to load it the following day. Unfortunately, reading the lead story makes you a lot more hesitant in moving stuff around by Post and rail.