Why Are Stores Not Shipping to Parcel Lockers?

happychild100 on 09/12/2022 - 17:39
Last edited 10/12/2022 - 02:01

So i've just gone to buy something from Target and have it shipped out and of course they're now saying they won't ship to Parcel Lockers, which is new, since my default address is even set to a Parcel Locker from before!

Why does it feel like more and more stores are just not shipping to them anymore? Despite usually using Australia Post to ship anyway. Sometimes you can sneak around by putting GPO locker but most of the time not. Since i'm in an apartment and there are usually package thieves roaming the streets, i don't really trust mail coming to my building and waiting around til i get home, so i always aim to have it sent to a locker. Yet i'm stuck waiting an extra 2 days waiting for the parcel to get redirected in the system.

So what's going on, is it not secure for stores to ship to lockers as well or something?

Edit: Just to clarify, i'm very aware the lockers are AusPost only, i'm not expecting other Courier companies to use them. I generally don't order at a store that doesn't use AusPost to begin with.

General Discussion Parcel Locker

Comments

  • Porker on 09/12/2022 - 17:44

    They probably have had too many issues with parcel lockers and so have decided not to include them.

    The locker might work for small items, but surely Target also sell large or bulky items. My guess is that their system is unable to determine if the size of the parcel will fit in the parcel locker, and so it's probably easier to remove it as a postage option.

    I forget what the service is called, but I have had a few parcels delivered directly to my LPO for collection. When I collect them, the parcel is address to me (name) but with the address of the LPO. Only downside is that the item can only be collected during open hours.

    • GrueHunter on 09/12/2022 - 17:57

      too many issues with parcel lockers

      What issues can somebody have with a parcel locker? Each address is tied to an individual who needs to authenticate to collect the parcel. End to end tracing of delivery gives the store certainty as well as the receiver. Everybody wins.

      Target also sell large or bulky items.

      And there are large parcel lockers. Anything larger than that goes to the PO. It just works.

      • Porker on 09/12/2022 - 18:00
        +1

        I like parcel lockers! I used mine extensively when parcel security was an issue.

        I'm simply providing possibility of the reason why it might have been removed. Ultimately the question is best answered by Target.

      • Hybroid on 09/12/2022 - 20:25
        +1

        Some people don't pick them up in time so packages get returned to sender costing them money and they also have to issue the buyer a refund. Lose-lose for sellers. Less of an issue with direct-to-door deliveries I would imagine.

        Also most sellers nowadays don't tend to use Australia Post anyway and other couriers cannot send to parcel lockers.

      • meong on 09/12/2022 - 21:19

        this was even before the pandemic, i have had parcel lockers delivery delayed for 2 weeks because there was just a surge in use (it was the one in my office building) so maybe in some high traffic areas people had been having issues.

        there was not even an option for redelivery to LPO. it was just stuck at the Parcel Locker queueing.

        i now dont use parcel lockers as working from home i always get my delivery accepted by me at home…

    • happychild100 on 10/12/2022 - 01:59

      Oh yeah i wouldn't expect anything bulky to be sent to them, but if they are to big, they'll just let me know it was to big and to pick it up inside. In this case, i had nothing in my cart and it still wouldn't let me update my address unless it didn't have "Parcel Locker" in it. Most of the time, if they don't allow Parcel Lockers, they don't allow Parcel Collect either.

  • altomic on 09/12/2022 - 18:02
    +3

    They maybe using a courier service that don't ship to PO boxes or parcel lockers

    Not surprisingly there is not much love between auspost and courier companies

  • TheMills on 09/12/2022 - 18:25
    +1

    The parcel lockers are the infrastructure built by AusPost and there is no way they will share it with their competitors.

    Also, due to high demand for parcel deliveries, companies selling goods cannot just rely on one delivery partner, say AusPost. This is also good for competition between these delivery companies.

    Today, almost all big online retailers use more than one delivery partner like Toll, Capital Transport, Sendle, etc.

  • John Kimble on 09/12/2022 - 18:36

    Fraudsters also use them, so that could be a reason.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/12/2022 - 18:58

    Target is probably using third party couriers, as well as Auspost, between now and Jan.

  • AndyC1 on 09/12/2022 - 19:30
    +2

    Not all courier companies have access to parcel lockers as the parcel lockers are "owned" by a specific courier company and do not want other courier companies using it.

  • omguleh on 09/12/2022 - 19:34

    All my Target orders for the last 6 months have come via Couriers Please.

  • jjjaar on 09/12/2022 - 20:20
    +1

    I know people think of a parcel locker as just “being another address”, but as others have explained above, it’s actually an AusPost address.

    Your question is like asking “why can’t I pick up my Coles order at Woolworths?”

    • deadpoet on 10/12/2022 - 00:20

      This. Target most likely switched to using courier companies (e.g. Couriers Please) as AusPost was more expensive for them. Non-AusPost couriers do not get access to parcel lockers.

      OP's solution is simple: don't buy from Target.

    • happychild100 on 10/12/2022 - 01:56
      +1

      Yeah i know, that's why i'll avoid stores that don't use AusPost for that reason. Courier companies are too painful to get deliveries from if i can't be home, so not worth the effort.

  • Downvoter on 09/12/2022 - 20:52

    Good

  • plmko on 09/12/2022 - 23:01
    -1

    Auspost is no longer reliable enough for ecommerce so many have switched to couriers that cannot use parcel lockers.

  • happychild100 on 10/12/2022 - 01:55

    I'm well aware other Courier companies don't get access to the parcel lockers, that wasn't really my point though.. If Target has changed then so be it, all my previous orders were with Auspost though, so it was a surprise to see that's all.

    Was more about how many places seem to moving away from letting you send to them, yet they're using AusPost anyway. So it's hard to imagine why it's only now suddenly an issue. I'll usually just not order from places that use anything but AusPost, if they mention it, I can't even remember the last time i had a Courier company deliver something.

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