Encouraging Kindness to Couriers During Peak Shopping Season
MEDIA RELEASE | 15 January 2025

CouriersPlease urges the public to be kind to couriers this peak shopping season

  • Aggressive behaviour towards couriers is tipped to increase as delivery volumes soar ahead of Christmas
  • Follows reports 69% of Australians will shop online for Christmas presents this year
  • Shoppers asked to be respectful to couriers working around the clock to meet demand

As Australia enters peak shopping season – with Click Frenzy, Black Friday, Christmas and Boxing Day expected to draw in the majority of online purchases in November and December, the nation’s fastest-growing parcel delivery service is calling on Australians to extend extra holiday cheer to couriers on the delivery frontline.

CouriersPlease is gearing up for what could be one of the nation’s busiest festive season yet, with reports showing almost 7 out of 10 Australians (69%) will favour online marketplaces for Christmas shopping.[1]

While the company’s Franchise Partners are doing their best and working long hours to get the large volumes of parcels delivered as quickly as possible, CouriersPlease is expressing concern about abuse, assault, intimidation, threats, targeting of delivery vans and even parcel theft – some of which is already being directed at its couriers.

Richard Thame, CEO of CouriersPlease, says: “As our delivery drivers across the country work tirelessly to meet demand and ensure deliveries arrive safely and on time, we are asking parcel recipients to be courteous and considerate.
“Each year we see a seasonal uptick in aggressive behaviour towards our frontline couriers that, sadly, even crosses over into assault, intimidation, and theft at times.
“While it’s only a small minority of cases, any incident is one too many, and – as online shopping rates skyrocket ahead of Christmas, thanks to mega sales such as Click Frenzy and Black Friday – we need to prioritise the safety of our couriers.
“Our couriers are committed to delivering the best service possible and often work long hours to make it happen. But this commitment shouldn’t come at the cost of their safety. We’re asking everyone to please show a little patience and respect.”

The CouriersPlease Customer Service team operates through a chat bot and virtual assistant, rather than by phone. Customers are therefore advised to keep their cool on social media if there is a delay or no immediate answer.

“We know the festive season can be incredibly stressful. However, the kindness our couriers and customer service teams receive fuels their work and helps them go the extra mile,” says Richard.

Delivering a smooth experience: 3 tips for online shoppers this festive season

To help the elves of the courier world get parcel deliveries to doorsteps with minimum fuss, CouriersPlease is offering a few quick tips for sending and receiving parcels this season:

  • Double check the address: Even a small typo can lead to delays, so ensure the recipient details are 100 per cent correct when filling out your address on online shopping sites or sending a parcel.
  • Be ready for delivery: If your parcel requires a signature, try to be home to receive it, or arrange for delivery to a safe alternative such as the workplace, a collection point, or with a trusted neighbour.
  • Consider safe drop spot on your property: Having a secure spot for your parcel can reduce theft and ensure your delivery makes it safely to you.

ENDS

About CouriersPlease

CouriersPlease is Australia’s fastest growing franchised courier and parcel delivery service, providing shipping solutions for E-Commerce retailers and traders across the nation. Celebrating 40 years of success in 2023, CouriersPlease continues to experience exponential year-on-year growth and is the trusted courier partner for Australia’s leading retail brands through its independent Franchise Partners and network affiliates. CouriersPlease is a multi-award-winning courier service, receiving a 5 Star rating on the FRANData Franchise Rating Scale and winning the NORA (National Online Retailers Association) Solution Partners Best Carrier Award in 2023. With 800+ active franchise territories and 400 support staff across 18 depot locations, CouriersPlease is committed to upholding its company values of Safety, Trust, Total Customer, One Team, Top Execution and Transformation. Visit couriersplease.com.au

[1] https://www.cpm-aus.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-Australian-Christmas-Shopping-Intentions-Research-Report-CPMAustralia-RetailSafari-1.pdf

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