Royal Mail are appalling it’s true, but worse are the companies which still choose to use them when there are so many reliable alternatives available nowadays. Ultimately they are the ones who look bad when Royal Mail let them and the customer down! I have had several lost or late items which have ultimately been refunded to me, but that’s beside the point - my items didn’t arrive and therefore left me in a pickle! The worst incident was for my dads 70th birthday. I ordered party supplies 10days ahead of the party date. I paid first class with an arrival time of 3-5 working days. 7 days later they hadn’t arrived so on the Friday before the Sunday party the supply company mailed out (via special delivery guaranteed next day before 12pm), a second set of supplies. Guess what!? They didn’t arrive until the following Tuesday!!! It meant I had to do a last minute run around to find very sub standard party decs the day before the event…..absolutely terrible! I now make it a policy of mine NEVER to order with any company who uses Royal Mail! Not that they care lol