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Sorry to hear about your problems Mel, but please don't be put off shopping online just through this experience.
Sometimes there are reasons for delays, there's a lot of websites selling that actually don't have stock in hand, don't foresee demand or possibly ran out then had to wait for delivery of stock themselves. You the customer should always be kept informed of the situation. I see the Royal Mail getting a lot of stick for delivery delays.
The majority of packages (above 99%) sent out for UK delivery are delivered the next day, and they've been doing so throughout this time of expected delays. That including from this end of the country to Aberfeldy. Next morning, delivered!
From communication I've had with Royal Mail, and from customers, they're doing a splendid job with deliveries. Never have much of an issue with delays or missing packages. That said, a package sent 7 December to the US arrived with the customer 13 December yet a package sent 30 November hasn't!
These things happen, around the beginning of this month was when the first wave of weather came and caused hold-ups. Yes, packages do occasionally go astray, you have to accept that, if it happens then the first thing to do is send a replacement and do the best you can to keep that customer happy. Then follow up with where the missing package may be.