Updated 10:56 5 Nov 2025 GMTPublished 07:22 10 Dec 2024 GMT

Delivery driver has warning for anyone who wants Christmas presents to arrive on time

An Evri delivery driver has shared tips on how to ensure your parcel gets delivered by Christmas Day

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Christmas can be a stressful time of year when the time comes to order presents.

Keeping track of all your shopping orders, delays, wrapping paper, and more is easier said than done, and we all want to ensure our loved ones get their Christmas presents in time for the big day.

This is how you can ensure you get your parcel this Christmas (Getty Stock Image)

The Christmas season is notoriously one of the busiest times for delivery drivers, so there can be delays to consider.

But Evri delivery driver Vince Carr has revealed to Wales Online the five things you need to know to ensure your parcels arrive by Christmas Day:

Share your delivery preferences with delivery drivers

Vince recommends 'having a chat with them and letting them know a bit about you'.

"If you’re someone who works from home, you might want your parcel left in your porch, if you’ve got a newborn and want us to knock quietly or if you’re out and about regularly but want your parcel left in a safe place it’s great to know what customer’s preferred safe place is. It makes everything so much simpler, and no amount of technology can replace that human connection.”

He adds: “Evri and other companies have invested in technology to help make sure you can still get your parcel even if you’re out. I love it when a customer has chosen a preferred neighbour or safe location and perhaps even chosen a neighbour to avoid, because that way, I know the neighbour they’ve chosen is probably someone that’s going to accept the parcel without any hassle meaning I can get on with my day and my customer can get their parcel and have a chat with their neighbour at the same time.”

Have a clearly visible house number

“This should be an easy one for most people, pop to a local DIY shop and pick up a cheap house number sticker, or better still, if you can get a personalised one which has your house number and street name, it means delivery drivers know they’re at the right address,” Vince explains.

“We have such a complex network of roads in the UK and house types can vary so much from maisonettes to flat blocks and gated estates to estates with identical houses and no numbers, it’s just so helpful to know you’re at the right house so customers can get their parcel successfully first time.

"It's even more important now it’s getting darker, earlier.”

Keeping track of all your parcels is easier said than done (Getty Stock Image)

Double-check the delivery address

“I know it might sound a bit silly but it’s so important to double check your address, including your postcode, when you’re ordering from a retailer,” he explains.

"I’ve had so many parcels that have either gone to someone’s old address so I’m met with a ‘they don’t live here anymore’ or ‘they moved out last year’ but also, I’ve had countless parcels missing a house number or road name and although we do our best to work it out, it’s just so simple to take a few extra seconds to check it’s a correct and complete address – especially when it comes to getting presents delivered before the big day!”

Use post lockers

“This is especially handy if you’re working nights or if you’re going on holiday – most customers can divert to a ParcelShop so if you’re not going to be in, it saves us drivers a wasted journey, and you can collect the parcel at a more convenient time.

"It also has the added benefit of being a greener way to get stuff you’ve ordered online.”

Last order dates for Christmas presents 2024

Amazon

23 December, Amazon Prime members only. You can sign up to a free trial here.

For those who don't have Prime membership, it varies from product to product but the retailer has reintroduced handy green 'stickers' across its products. These indicate whether or not a product will arrive in time for Christmas, with estimated delivery dates available.

Red stickers warn customers if a product will not arrive in time for the big day. These stickers can be found on the right hand side of the product description.