COURIER BACKLOG
This time we have an update on why you may be seeing extreme delays in courier shipping across New Zealand. After chasing up some of ours we began to learn of some surprising numbers. Have a look at this article from the Otago Daily Times to see the true impact on our courier network.
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(Cover image courtesy of Stuff. Article begins below and edited by TERRAIN for readability–emphasis ours)
Where’s my parcel? Level 3 courier backlog to start moving this week
CourierPost say a record backlog of parcels from the start of level 3 is likely to start moving by the end of this week, .
Four weeks’ worth of purchases were frozen during level 4. This means in level 3 there was a surge of deliveries that overwhelmed courier companies across New Zealand.
CourierPost, which is owned by NZ Post, still has 150,000 parcels from the start of level 3 – almost four weeks ago – that haven’t been delivered.
But it says those parcels will start moving through its system by the end of this week.
NZ Post couriers are dealing with increased parcel volumes during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In level 3 courier companies reported volumes similar to Christmas or more but without time to plan. This, combined with requirements like physical distancing, contactless pickup and delivery and other safety measures, slowed things further.
Those measures eased in level 2 but there are still plenty of people waiting for their parcels – some ordered way back in level 4.
Last week CourierPost was still getting about 300,000 parcels each day, or 200 a minute.
Courier companies and retailers have begged customers to show them some grace due to the unprecedented circumstances. Customers are asked not to take out their frustration on courier drivers or call centre staff.
NZ Post chief executive David Walsh offered his sincere apologies to customers still waiting.
“We’re really sorry it’s taking us so long to deliver these items, but hope that people understand that this influx was a one-off, unprecedented event.”
In the first two weeks of level 3 CourierPost received more than 3.5 million parcels, Walsh said. More than 3.2 million had been delivered but they couldn’t all move in one go. The company is processing 24-7 to catch up, with hundreds of extra vans and staff.
How long will these conditions affect the courier network?
Orders placed now will be moved through the network without being held. This could mean they may arrive before something you ordered months ago. Walsh said customers could expect new orders delivered in 1-5 days, except deliveries into and out of Auckland which may take up to two weeks.
NZ Post chief marketing officer Bryan Dobson said last week he didn’t know how long those volumes would last. He expected CourierPost to continue to be busy at least until normal retail opened up again.
Aramex (formerly Fastway Couriers) also expects demand to stay high for months. Chief executive Scott Jenyns said for that reason the company was scaling up capacity with new franchises and recruiting couriers to its Uber-like transport network, Blu Courier.
(ENDS)
