An post problem

If you don't receive it then get onto the seller. It's up to them to follow up and refund you if necessary.

I would keep on their case and register a formal complaint. In my opinion and experience, An Post deliveries are not the safe dependable service that they used to be.

Recently I have had registered letters that require signatures, delivered without requesting a signature. A work parcel was left in a re-cycle bin outside the office, with a note pushed through the door to tell me it was in there... ironically the note was on the back of the official notice form that should have been issued to tell me that the package had been safely returned to the sorting office for personal collection. On another occasion, the same note was left hanging out of a wall mounted ashtray in our car park, to say that a package had been left with another business, down the road. I have also had packages left out on my home doorstep on rainy days. I have had to call to the sorting office to tell them to stick to their own formal procedure that if delivery can not be completed, leave the collection form and bring the package back to the sorting office.

A house on my road is long vacant and has its letterbox sealed, I have taken official correspondence addressed to the named previous occupier that the postman just left the doorstep, and reposted them marked 'return to sender - address unoccupied"

It is a pain to do, but I always raise a complaint, just so that there is a paper trail record , when something inevitably does go missing on me. I don't know what is happening at An Post , but these examples are from two separate locations that I operate in. I can only assume it is down to falling training standards. I know that private courier deliveries are far worse with their drop and run approach, but you would expect better from An Post, or has the increased competition in the sector just resulted in a worse service for the consumer, just like with insurance, electricity, and broadband etc - a race to he bottom for service and to the top with prices?

It is not the sellers fault. If he posts something to to an address, at your request, and the seller normally will not be there, then it is the buyers problem. They are taking the mickey asking for a delivery that is not really possible. Unless you pay for the insurance or registered post, then tough luck.

I can see why the OP doesn't want to lay this at the door of the seller, they sent it with An Post in good faith.

I occasionally order stuff online, and have no way of knowing who the package will be sent with. Some are far better than others, and only once ever can I recall knowing in advance who will be delivering. I would definitely tailor my purchases according to delivery channel if I could.

An Post has a very efficient "collect from depot" system which just involved filling out a small card if they can't actually deliver a parcel inside a door - why was this not used?

It is rarely possible to know when a parcel will be coming - on the occasions when they do text you in advance, it's often only an hour or two in advance, and even then it's not always reliable.

Some companies offer a re-direct service if you know you won't be in - I have used this, and every single time the package was still delivered to my house (or next door, or three doors up to people I've never even met, or dropped in the porch). I wasted hours in each case calling to the shop where it was supposed to be delivered (confirmed by text, on one occasion I even got a text confirming it had been delivered to the shop), and then hunting around the neighbourhood to see if it had been delivered elsewhere because it never showed up where it was meant to.

Online purchasing is fantastic, but I rarely do it for all of these reasons.

So you want a silver service level of service for a couple of quid from an post.

You are not their customer (spelt "their" not "there" - now THAT is condescending (I make plenty of spelling errors myself - this is just an example of what condescending means)), the sender is.

Both being sent from Dublin makes absolutely zero difference. Many Dublin sub offices have early collections and you are also taking a strangers word that it was posted at a certain time. It could have been posted in your local post office, but it still takes that same journey to a central sorting office and back.

It was sent "standard" post. If you wanted next day guaranteed, you need to pay for that service.

If you live in an apartment block, organise a simple system for packages or be available when the package arrives.

Yes, if I was face to face I would tell you the same in the same manner. I don't fluff about afraid of hurting someone "feelings" with a direct no nonsense answer.

Well I'd love to be able to track my letter to its final destination. My contract is with An Post, and them simply advising that the letter has left their depot is not really good enough... I paid €10.50 for registered post to be able to track it, and have seen no updates for 6 days now.

Maybe the issue is not with An Post at all, but I've noticed postal services in general have gone to sh1te lately... My OH sent a small package to Lithuania last December and it still has not arrived. I used to be able to send a letter to my mother (Dublin to Dublin) or to my sister (Dublin to Waterford), and it would arrive the next day, but now it can take anything up to a week.

Maybe An Post need to get onto their international partners and ask why the service is gone so sh1tty lately? I don't really know, all I know is Postal services (both internally and externally) have gone to absolute pot in recent times! is it covid related, war related? I just dont know, but I do know I have absolutely zero faith in postal services these days compared to just a few short years ago.

My OH is flying to Lithuania on Thursday to hand deliver another copy of the letter I sent this day last week, because I have absolutely zero confidence the copy I sent will arrive there before she does.