Evri customers have been impacted by parcel delays after the closure of a major UK delivery company, which has been operating for the last 14 years.
Oxford residents have faced waiting longer for letters and items after Evri’s e-cargo bike delivery partner unexpectedly went out of business.
Pedal and Post, which handled deliveries within Oxford’s Clean Air Zone on behalf of the courier giant, announced it was “ceasing trading without notice”.
The sudden shutdown left packages stranded at depots, causing disruption for customers awaiting their orders.
Evri customers are complaining about delays after a major delivery company closed down
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Evri confirmed the collapse of its collaborator was responsible for the hold-ups affecting the city.
The e-cargo bike firm operated in both Oxford and London before closing down entirely. Its failure came after the company lost a significant client earlier this year. Its failure came after the company lost a significant client earlier this year.
Carol Leonard, who lives in Grandpont, Oxford, experienced the disruption firsthand when several packages she ordered in late January failed to reach her.
The parcels, which contained specialist cat food and litter, sat undelivered at a depot despite being marked for dispatch.
Customers are annoyed over the latest delays
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Oxford resident have been impacted by the delays
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Her items eventually arrived on February 10, two weeks after she had placed her orders.
Evri has since contacted Ms Leonard directly to apologise for the inconvenience she experienced during the disruption.
A spokesperson for Evri pointed to the company’s strong track record, stating: “We successfully deliver more than 900 million parcels each year, with industry-leading on-time delivery rates.”
The courier firm expressed disappointment at learning its Oxford e-cargo bike partner had shut down without warning, acknowledging this created temporary problems for some local customers.
Evri’s delivery partner is now out of business
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Evri said it had swiftly restructured its delivery operations in the affected area. The company confirmed Ms Leonard’s parcel had been successfully delivered following their conversation with her.
“We have quickly re-organised deliveries in the area, and our local team are working hard to resume normal service,” the spokesperson added.
Pedal and Post’s chief executive Christopher Benton confirmed around 60 workers, including both employees and self-employed contractors, had lost their positions as a result of the company’s demise.
Speaking to Zag Daily, Mr Benton reflected on the challenges of maintaining ethical employment standards in an industry dominated by self-employment.
“Lower operating costs of cargo bikes really helped enable this to be able to pay better,” he said.
