Worldwide shipping updates
Please find below our latest update regarding the impact of the Coronavirus on our global transport & delivery networks.
25th June 2020
Big news! As you all know we are closely monitoring shipping times to see if there are any changes in the duration of our plushies being shipped. In the few days since our last update, we can confirm the following:
- Shipping times can be as fast as 4 days for a plushie to reach the US (excluding processing time and clearing customs). This is amazing news for all of our US customers!
- Many of our UK customers are receiving our plushies within a week, which is quicker than ever before.
- Customers from Europe are also receiving their plushies faster than we had expected.
Although we might still be experiencing some delays, this is a huge step forward in improved shipping times. Very soon will we be able to see them return back to normal, thanks to the postal services, for all of our customers to be united with their plushies. We would like to thank you for continuing to be patient and understanding with us as we battle these delays!
21st June 2020
We hope you all had a lovely weekend!
Since May, the team at Kawaiies have been regularly monitoring your packages and its delivery times whilst making necessary updates to the shipping times on our checkout page and policy pages. Unfortunately, for those who ordered in April and early May, we were unaware of the delays that you have been experiencing so we could not warn you in advance that the delivery time may take up to 60 days, if not longer. We sincerely apologise for this, so if you are still waiting for your parcel, please email us at info@kawaiies.com with your order number and we will see what we can do to make it right.
We do have some good news for those who would like to place an order now, shipping times have definitely sped up for those living in the UK and EU. Unfortunately, we are still seeing major delays to the US and CA with a lucky few receiving their plushies within 2 weeks of ordering. We would love to discuss the problems further, but we think we've explained the situation enough so we won't bore you with the details any further.
Attached below is the tracking information for one of our parcels. As you can see we processed the plushie and shipped it out to the logistics team on 26th May and it arrived in the US on 11th June, which is considered very fast during this pandemic. Unfortunately, since the 11th there have been no updates because the postal services in the US and CA are experiencing an overwhelming amount of parcels as well as not being able to work efficiently due to lockdown regulations. In some situations, our parcel may arrive at your country, but the system has not updated. This is exactly why it is impossible for us to accurately track our parcels, so please bear with us and the postal services.
17th June 2020
"Why are some of my parcels arriving quicker than my plushie?" 🤔
12th June 2020
Although shipping delays are inevitable due to the ongoing disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak, we are starting to see improvements in shipping times. For our customers who live in the UK and EU region, shipping times can be as fast as 5 business days, but can also take as long as 25 business days. There are just too many factors involved to have one perfect answer for all our parcels.
For our customers who live in the US, CA and AUS there are still minor shipping delays that can go on for as long as 2 months, which doesn't happen often, but it is good for everyone to know that it is possible. So if you have any doubts that your items have not been shipped or are lost during transit, please do not worry your items are just taking much longer than usual. On the other hand, if you are one of our lucky customers your parcel can arrive in under 3 weeks.
Information from postal companies:
1. DHL: https://www.dhl.de/en/privatkunden/kampagnenseiten/coronavirus.html
2. USPS: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/
3. Royal Mail: https://business.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5317/~/international-incidents-update
4. CanadaPost: https://www.canadapost.ca/cpc/en/our-company/news-and-media/corporate-news/news-release-detail.page?article=2020/05/26/record&cattype=announcements&cat=newsreleases
5. Australia Post: https://auspost.com.au/about-us/news-media/important-updates/coronavirus/coronavirus-international-updates
2nd June 2020
The Postal Service values the wellbeing and safety of their employees and the public safety while they focus on handling shipments such as medicines, supplies and benefits checks.
Just as we thought the situation could not get any worse postal staff now have to work around the protestors where streets are being blocked off, keyworkers are refusing to work, USPS vehicles being stolen and many other problems that come with protests. Nobody could have predicted these events, so please be patient with the postal services as they try their best to continue operating.
If you would like to find out more about the bogged down delivery services in the US please read here:
1. https://www.wsj.com/articles/postal-package-deliveries-bogged-down-with-delays-backlogs-11590836400
2. https://www.easyship.com/blog/how-coronavirus-affects-shipping
1st June 2020
The long-awaited news that we have all been waiting for... It is predicted that free movement should resume from 15th June whilst airlines have been planning on resuming flights early-June!
"But how does this impact shipping times?"
Well... in simple terms the more planes that fly around the world the more packages that get shipped around the world. This is one of the biggest issues that our postal services have been facing since February 2020.
Therefore, even if postal staff are processing parcels as fast as they possibly can, the parcel will eventually end up sitting on the other side waiting to be dispatched because there is simply not enough planes going to and from China. This is one of the main reasons why it is taking so long for our plushies to leave China.
Once our plushies dispatches and arrives at your local courier, please expect further delays as people all over the world 'continue to ramp up and diversify their online shopping,' postal services are 'responding to unprecedented parcel volumes while maintaining important physical distancing measures' in all their facilities.
Canada Post - 'Processing record parcel volumes in plants that were never designed to keep people two metres apart takes more time.'
We understand how frustrating it may be waiting several weeks for a parcel, so thank you so much for your patience, understanding and cooperation during this epidemic. Rest assured that your plushies will arrive.
Related articles:
1. https://www.businesstraveller.com/features/airlines-planning-to-resume-some-flights-in-june/
28th May 2020 [Update]
As you all know, our vision has always been to spread smiles a plushie at a time, but the current pandemic situation is creating serious shipping delays making it increasingly impossible for us to achieve this. At these times, we have taken the initiative to reduce the prices of our plushies for those who are needing our plushies the most but may not be able to get one otherwise. Since 1st May 2020, shipping couriers have had to increase their shipping costs by over 4x and we have decided as a company that we will absorb this cost for as long as we can.
We would like to kindly remind all of our customers that we are experiencing shipping delays to the United States and Canada due to the lack of planes and lockdown restrictions in the past several months. You are probably wondering how long is this delay? Well, the truth is ... we don't really know. Coronavirus has changed the landscape, causing many problems for the logistics industry and businesses like Kawaiies who rely on international shipping.
We totally understand how frustrating it is waiting over a month for a parcel - we have all been in that situation before. As much as we would love to fly to each and every one of you and hand you your plushies to your doorstep (whilst maintaining social distancing of course), please remember that we are doing everything we possibly can to help speed up processing times and working around the clock to reply to every inquiry about shipping delays. However, once a plushie is dispatched to the logistics team, we cannot contribute to speeding up shipping times and we cannot be sure whether you are going to receive your plushie next week, the week after or 5 weeks later - there are unfortunately too many problems and factors that contribute towards shipping times.
Thank you for understanding and being patient with Kawaiies, our goal is to spread smiles one plushie at a time and will continue to do so even during these uncertain times. Stay safe, everyone!
26th May 2020 [Update]
During these uncertain times, we want to proactively provide updates and additional transparency around shipping times that we are currently experiencing along with many other brands.
First, we would like to sincerely apologise for those who are waiting for their plushies to arrive and also a massive thank you to those who have been patient with our team and the postal services who have been working around the clock. Postal staff around the world have recently been under immense pressure due to the huge backlog of parcels that built-up during the lockdown. Not to mention online orders have soared over the past few weeks by over 100% worldwide.
So how long should I expect to wait?
Our plushies usually take 10 to 25 days to arrive with 3-day processing time, but with the current situation, these shipping times can be stretched out especially for our US customers as the number of coronavirus cases still rise.
On the other hand, shipping times have recently improved for our customers living in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Shipping times can be as quick as 8 business days and can take up to 18 business days. Again, this is subject to change depending on the situation in each country and how fast your plushie processes during customs.
Announcements from USPS
"The Postal Service has so far experienced only minor operational impacts in the United States as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We do continue to have a temporary suspension of the guarantee on Priority Mail Express International destined for China and Hong Kong, which has been effective since Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, due to widespread airline cancellations and restrictions into this area."
"In addition, customers may see delays in mail and packages destined to China as well as from China, as well as to and from European countries subject to restricted passenger airline travel. The Postal Service is undertaking all reasonable measures to minimize the impact to our customers."
For more information please read here: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/
How US postal services are operating during COVID-19 pandemic
"The global pandemic of COVID-19 has impacted our country in ways that were unimaginable months ago. It is changing how people across the U.S. and around the world are working, shopping, even interacting with one another. States have ordered many stores and businesses to close. Businesses that continue to operate are faced with protecting their employees and customers while coming up with creative ways to market and deliver their products.
The Postal Service continues to serve the public, operating on the front line, fulfilling the universal service obligation to deliver to every house and business every day. USPS is finding itself serving a population that is relying on it now more than ever. For many home-bound and quarantined people, home delivery is the only source for medicine and other vital supplies. During this time, the Postal Service has also prioritized the safety of its employees and customers.
We recognize the reality of the pandemic and have adapted our operations to maintain continuity while ensuring the safety of our employees. We are taking abundant care to minimize exposure to both our employees and Postal Service employees, using technology whenever possible. As we have told our employees, we also ask you to follow CDC guidelines, remain home as much as possible, and stay safe."
Summary
- Postal employees are now working from home, which means a reduced workforce to process an increasing amount of orders.
- Online orders have rocketed since February 2020 resulting in postal services having to cope with a massive influx of deliveries.
- Our US & CA customers are experiencing longer shipping times than those who live in the UK, EU, AUS, and NZ.
- A backlog of parcels has built up in warehouses and fulfilment centres due to strict lockdown regulations worldwide.
For more information about your order please send us an email at info@kawaiies.com and we will try to get back to you within 2 business days.
