Australia Post stopped collecting parcels from online retailers last weekend in an effort to catch up on the shipment backlog,a move which has seen shipping time improve,according to some retailers,though delays are still expected.
However,some retailers are concerned they continue to be on the receiving end of consumer discontent. Mosaic Brands,the ASX-listed business behind retailers such as Rivers and Noni B,said while it appreciated the strain Australia Post was under,the clogs in the network meant some unhappy customers were beginning to unload on retailers.
“Our online sales alone in recent weeks are up 22 per cent,so we appreciate that the sheer volume of packages and various health orders is making delivery challenging from a logistical perspective,” a company spokesperson said.
Loading
“But there are delays,they are often significant and the reality is that it’s the retailer who has to manage the fallout from unhappy customers.”
Another national retailer,who spoke anonymously so as not to tarnish their relationship with the postal service,said nearly half of their customer complaints were currently related to delays with Australia Post.
The retailer said the postal service was probably around seven days behind on their delivery schedules but was showing signs of improvement,with the temporary halt on parcel pickups helping clear a lot of the backlog.