Five Christmas parcels, five couriers: one arrived on time and unbroken

A Christmas-time parcel test across five major couriers found that only one of five identical gifts arrived on time and unbroken, underscoring the pressure on holiday delivery networks.

The test tracked five identical packages sent from central London to Cardiff, each containing the same Marks & Spencer wine glass wrapped in bubble wrap and tucked inside a padded envelope. The sender used Royal Mail, Parcelforce, Evri and DPD, with Royal Mail First Class and Second Class included as separate options. The packages were posted on Tuesday, December 15, at 3:14 p.m. from Kensington High Street in London, with one exception for Evri that required sourcing from a different store because the initial location no longer offered its service. The packages were prepared with the same destination details and a similar weight class, around 200 grams, to simulate a typical small gift.

The tester reviewed the options at the counter, where staff explained available delivery speeds and prices. With ten days to Christmas, the clerk noted that next-day delivery was not strictly necessary, but the goal was speed and reliability for the experiment. The five options and their listed costs were: Royal Mail First Class at £5.09, promising next-day delivery; Royal Mail Second Class at £3.99, with an expected three working days; DPD at £6.96 for next-day delivery; Parcelforce at £14.15 for next-day delivery; and Evri at £7.49 plus the cost of printing a label elsewhere. All parcels were placed into bags and handed to staff at 3:14 p.m. on December 15. Evri required the tester to print a label at a corner shop using a QR code.

Across the five parcels, results varied markedly. Royal Mail First Class delivered about 48 hours after posting, but the wine glass arrived shattered. The Royal Mail Second Class package arrived exactly three days after posting and intact. Parcelforce delivered three days after posting and also arrived in one piece, offering what the tester described as the only positive outcome among the tested services. DPD charged £6.96 for next-day delivery but arrived three days after posting with the glass broken. Evri, which did not arrive within the initial test window, required the tester to travel to additional locations to print the label, adding time and inconvenience; its parcel was still not delivered by the time the others had completed their journeys. In all, the test found that only the Royal Mail Second Class and Parcelforce options delivered on the stated promises and in good condition, while several other services failed to meet expectations on speed or item integrity.

The tester notes that Evri’s experience was the least convenient due to the need to print a label at a separate vendor, and that the overall cost did not always correlate with reliability. The results also highlighted how small, delicate items can be vulnerable to breakage even when packaging is standard for courier shipments. While the test used a single glass item and a limited sample, it illustrates the variability consumers can encounter during the peak shopping season when couriers operate under heavy demand.

Aside from the outcomes on delivery speed and condition, the exercise underscored the importance of understanding service levels and delivery guarantees before purchasing holiday gifts. For those seeking guaranteed next-day delivery with minimal risk of damage, Parcelforce offered the strongest demonstrated performance in this specific test, while Royal Mail Second Class provided a reliable, lower-cost option that arrived intact within the three-day window. The test also raises questions about the best ways to balance cost, speed and reliability during the holiday rush, particularly when shipping fragile items across long distances.

Couriers contacted for comment on the test did not immediately provide additional input beyond standard service descriptions. Consumers planning last-minute orders may wish to consider both price and service commitments, and to adopt extra protective packaging for fragile items when sending gifts.