Christmas presents in limbo as parcel delivery firm comes under fire in Ross-shire
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
GUTTED Ross-shire householders are facing Christmas without presents after parcels they had been counting on were not delivered.
While Hermes claims it has been hit by delays caused by a high volume of parcels and staff hit by new Covid self-isolation restrictions, furious customers have been left empty handed.
The delivery company has asked people to report missing parcels to the retailer who sold them the items - and not to Hermes themselves.
But scores of exasperated customers say that's simply not good enough and have been left with no one to follow up concerns with.
One mum, Rosalyn McInnes (26), from Tain said: "The fact is, Santa is not going to be delivering to our house this year - because Hermes can not deliver our parcels. I am completely gutted, and I do not have money to replace them before Christmas.
"Hermes are taking no responsibility for it. How can this be right?"
Reader Yvonne Miller Stoner, from Avoch, said: "Apparently Hermes don’t have any delivery drivers over the Black Isle way, I’ve got a parcel sitting in the local depot since the 10th, my husband has one since the 2nd of December and many others over here haven’t received any parcels since mid-end of November, they are all Christmas presents or birthday presents.
She continued: "Looking like lots of parcels will not being delivered before Christmas.
"They have put a advert up looking for staff but that’s as far as it’s got, is ridiculous."
Robert Mills (54) of Dingwall said: "I have six parcels all saying that they are out for delivery on the Hermes app. It has been saying that since December 14. How are they getting to me, I wonder, on the back of a snail?
"The service is just not good enough. Why on earth should we order in time and then the parcels are not delivered. If Hermes can not do the job then they should not accept it from the company.
"This is all about cost cutting and nothing to do with the company we are buying from.
"But it is them who are getting the bad name."
Julie MacLean (38), of Muir of Ord, who has been waiting for one of her parcels since early December said: "It is a great shame that some of my Christmas presents have already not arrived on time.
"I have presents from Santa that are not here yet.
"Every day I am refreshing the app on my phone to see if there has been any movement and there hasn't.
"If a company like Hermes can not deliver then the decent thing would be for them to post them at their own cost with Royal Mail.
"But I will now be very careful in the companies I buy from online from now on, if they use Hermes to deliver then I will simply not buy from them.
"It is a disgrace."
A spokeswoman for Hermes, said: "We are experiencing delays in parts of Scotland as a result of high volumes of parcels and this is being exacerbated by staff absence as a result of Covid and the new self isolation rules.
"Our couriers are working hard to address this and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.
"We ask that anyone who is concerned about their deliveries should contact their retailer/seller in the first instance, who will in turn contact Hermes if required.
"This is industry standard."
