Over the past couple of months, we’ve experienced a significant increase in customer queries regarding Royal Mail tracking – specifically the frustrating message:
“Tracking information is not available for this service.”
This issue is affecting Special Delivery and Tracked24 shipments – services which, we must stress, are fully tracked and paid for accordingly. However, despite the tracking numbers being generated, Royal Mail’s website and app are failing to display tracking updates, making it appear as though your item doesn’t exist in their system.
We completely understand how vital tracking is — especially when it comes to live bee shipments. It’s not just a parcel; it's livestock. The ability to follow your package in transit brings peace of mind and reassurance that your bees are on the way and handled with care. Unfortunately, this transparency has been disrupted — and we’re as frustrated as you are.
What Have We Done About It?
We’ve raised the issue formally with Royal Mail and received the following (somewhat unhelpful) response:
“We aim to resolve this as soon as possible... Regrettably, I cannot provide a timescale for resolution.”
(Case Number: 05490149, Royal Mail)
Their IT and technical departments are aware of the fault affecting both the Royal Mail website and app, but no ETA has been given for when this will be fixed.
Why Can't We Use Another Courier?
This is a question we often receive — and the answer is simple: Royal Mail is the only courier that accepts live bees. No other carrier offers the infrastructure, legal acceptance, or handling process to deliver them within UK postal guidelines. While this issue is undeniably frustrating, there is currently no viable alternative for sending live bees safely and legally by post.
🐝 What You Can Do
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Don’t panic if tracking doesn’t show – it does not mean your bees haven’t been sent.
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If your dispatch email has gone out from us, your order is on its way.
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Keep an eye on your letterbox or porch – Royal Mail deliveries often arrive without warning during this tracking outage.
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If it’s been more than 48 hours with no delivery, get in touch with us and we’ll do our best to assist.
We’re Just as Fed Up as You Are
This situation is out of our hands — and believe us, if there were a workaround, we’d be the first to implement it. We appreciate your patience, understanding, and continued support while Royal Mail (eventually) sorts this out.
As always, thank you for choosing BS Honey Bees — and for bearing with us while we work through these irritating technical hiccups that are beyond our control.
Daniel & Tristan
