Consumers advised over Olympic e-commerce disruption

Thursday, July 26, 2012 - 10:27 by Graham Miller

The 2012 London Olympics are just around the corner and now IMRG has outlined a number of tips to help consumers in the UK continue enjoying safe shopping online, without the hassle associated with disruption caused by the games.

It is assumed that the influx of spectators to the capital, as well as all the celebrations which will be going on around the country, will have a negative impact on delivery times which consumers can expect when they submit an e-commerce order.

As such, IMRG advises that it is sensible to place an order in plenty of time so that it can be dispatched and delivered sooner rather than later. This is particularly important if you have some kind of deadline, such as a holiday or party, by which you need the products.

Another tip for consumers is to make sure that there is certainly someone present at the house when a delivery is scheduled to take place. This will mean that you will not have to visit a depot to collect it, avoiding further time wastage and other snarl-ups that might occur.

Finally, it could be a good idea to take advantage of a retailer's click and collect service, if one is available. This will mean that the goods you purchase via safe shopping online will be sent to your local store, where you can pick them up at any time, which means there will be no waiting around at home while the weather is fine outside.

Hopefully, there will have been enough preparations made to ensure that the Olympics is not too much of a burden on the transport infrastructure of the UK, although it seems that at least some disruption is unavoidable. Those who plan their e-commerce ahead will be in the best position this summer.