Why Your Order Was Shipped With Royal Mail Even If You Selected DPD/UPS Next Day

Why Your Order Was Shipped With Royal Mail Even If You Selected DPD/UPS Next Day

At Unmanned Tech, our goal is always to get your order to you as quickly and safely as possible.
In some situations, you may notice that your tracking number is from Royal Mail, even though you selected DPD Next Day, UPS Express, or another premium courier service at checkout.

This is normal and happens in a small number of cases.
Below we explain why this can occur, and what it means for your delivery.


Does this change my delivery speed?

No — your order is still shipped on a next-day delivery service, and the original delivery timeframe still applies.


Will I still get my shipping fee refunded if it arrives late?

Normally, under our shipping policy, shipping fees are only refunded on guaranteed delivery services (e.g., Royal Mail Special Delivery), not on standard “next-day” services.

However, there is one exception:

If you selected a specific courier at checkout (e.g., DPD/UPS Next Day) and we ship your order via a different method, we will refund your shipping fee if the delivery timeframe is not met.

This ensures you’re never disadvantaged by a courier substitution.


Why We Sometimes Use Royal Mail for Small or Special Shipments

1. Very Small or Lightweight Packages (< 100 g)

Certain items — such as screws, standoffs, grommets, bolts, single connectors, antennas, or other tiny/light components — fall below the minimum weight accepted by some couriers (e.g., DPD).

For these types of parcels:

  • DPD cannot accept packages under 100 g

  • Ultra-small parcels can sometimes be lost or mishandled by larger courier networks

  • Royal Mail’s Tracked 24 service is more reliable for very small packets

In these cases, we automatically upgrade the shipment to Royal Mail’s next-day equivalent service, ensuring:

✔ Next-day delivery is still met
✔ Your items are handled more carefully
✔ Your order arrives safely without delays

You will not pay anything extra the service substitution is made to ensure your delivery is fulfilled correctly.

2. Courier Collection Issues (DPD/UPS Collection Missed)

Very occasionally, a courier may:

  • Miss or delay a collection from our warehouse

  • Have a temporary local service disruption

  • Experience routing issues preventing same-day pickup

Rather than delay your order, we may ship it with Royal Mail Tracked 24 or a similar next-day service to ensure the delivery timeframe is still met.

Our priority is always to meet the delivery speed you paid for, even if it means switching courier at our cost.

3. Faster Dispatch for Time-Sensitive Orders

If we are at the end of our collection window and Royal Mail can still collect later that day, sending your parcel via Royal Mail may mean:

✔ It leaves the warehouse sooner
✔ It reaches you faster
✔ You still receive next-day delivery

We will always choose the option that gives you the fastest possible arrival.


Need Help?

If you’re unsure about your tracking number, courier, or delivery status, feel free to contact our support team for assitance


    • Related Articles

    • Understanding Changes to Your Shipping Method at Unmanned Tech

      1. Overview: Why Might My Shipping Method Be Changed? At Unmanned Tech, our main goal is getting your order delivered quickly and reliably. We understand it might be unexpected if the shipping method on your confirmation differs from the one you ...
    • My Order is Late, Can I Get a Shipping Refund?

      Shipping Refunds for Late Delivery We are only able to refund shipping costs if you have selected a guaranteed shipping method during checkout in accordance with the shipping terms of the selected courier. This means that if the delivery company ...
    • Guide to Choosing Your Shipping Service at Unmanned Tech

      When it comes to selecting the right shipping service for your needs, various factors such as cost, reliability, delivery time, and tracking capabilities come into play. This guide is designed to help you navigate through the options provided by ...
    • What is the Shipping Cost for My Order?

      Curious about the shipping cost for your order? Here’s how to quickly estimate it, along with everything you need to know about our shipping options. How to Estimate Shipping Costs To get an accurate shipping quote for your order, follow these simple ...
    • DPD Internatinal Shipment Returned for No Apparent Reason

      We understand that it can be frustrating when your DPD shipment is unexpectedly returned to us, especially when the reason for the return is unclear. We want to reassure you that we will do our best to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Here’s ...