Deliveries chaos

Put postcode IV8 8NZ into Google Maps to find the the location of the Black Isle Brewery. Pretty remote, eh? Zoom right in and switch on the satellite view and you'll see that they're not exactly on a main road: it's just a farm track. These people, as you might imagine, were snowed in big style recently. Yet these guys managed to get my christmas order for some of their lovely beer to me in eight days. It arrived on the second day after our local roads were cleared of snow. Instead of just throwing up their hands and moaning that their systems could not cope with the conditions, which has been the reaction of the major online retailers, they'd found a way of getting their orders out somehow. If a little company like the Black Isle Brewery can honour their customers' orders, why can't Amazon, Game, M&S, Play.com etc., etc., theoretically the experts in online retailing and logistics, find ways of doing so?

Our roads have been clear of snow for a week now, but we have not had any post for about a fortnight. Instead of taking advantage of the clear roads last week to make some deliveries, they are now saying that it is unlikely that any deliveries will be made before christmas! Going to be a good holiday ...