With the Post Office now not collecting on a Sunday from former designated boxes and even Saturday collections ( the next to go??) often taking place before noon, crosswords completed at the weekend eg the one above will not be picked up until Monday. Particularly for those living north of the border a delivery in London by Wednesday even with a first class stamp can be dicey at times. Should not compilers make Thursday the earliest day for delivery and give all the country a chance.? Otherwise Southern England despatches stand the best chance of being received on time.
Fully agree with you Minoru. We are up in Scotland and have absolutely no chance making a Wed in London arrival time. Our earliest collection here is Monday eve. Most first class mail from here takes at least 3 days - doubtful if it would arrive by Thurs first post. Also, we do not usually get our paper until 0945 on Sat which rules us out of all the bonus points on the link game!!
To whom should we address our concerns?
I live in Derbyshire; last post goes at 12 noon on Saturday; barely opened the crossword by then.
I agree Thursday would be good to open entries.
Paprika
A couple of weeks ago we posted a jiffy bag to our son in Denmark; it went on Monday afternoon and he got it on Wednesday morning. Not a crossword, I know, but it shows what can be done.
I never get my DT before 1100 on a Saturday and risk it by posting all crosswords for the Monday 1600 collection.
Greetings Scotland! Here in County Antrim the best we have is 5.30p.m. Mondays. I have no option but to use this and HOPE it gets to London by Wednesday morning. I agree that Wednesday morning seems unreasonable. Thursday would give a little more leeway. Perhaps, like me a lot of people would settle for getting their results delayed a week, like in the Mail on Sunday.
P.S. Even worse is sending a letter first class and European post rates from Northern Ireland to Dublin. This takes 5-7 days! Why? Because all mail to the Republic of Ireland is sent to London first!
Clearly the concept of a postal SERVICE is a dying one in the modern age. It's the usual choice of offer - use the electronic methods or settle for something slower and less certain than the pigeon post!
(Don't get me started!)