E-commerce boom creates parcel delivery records at Canada Post

Postal outlets filling up like Santa's workshop

OTTAWA, Dec. 19, 2013 /CNW/ - As Canada Post is on track to deliver a record 27 million parcels this holiday season, the 6,400 postal outlets across the country are quickly bursting at the seams like Santa Claus' big red bag of gifts.

"We've seen first hand the incredible role that online shopping is playing this holiday season," says Doug Jones, Senior Vice-President, Delivery and Customer Experience at Canada Post. "It is a good-news challenge we have this year, with Canadians entrusting us with their own increase in parcel deliveries and shopping experiences, but we also need them to pick up their items as quickly as possible at their local postal outlet."

Canada Post is reporting a 20-per-cent increase in domestic parcel volumes since the third week of November compared to the same time last year.

"Since November 16, we have been delivering parcels on weekends and, so far, more than 700,000 parcels have been delivered on Saturdays and Sundays," adds Jones. "And we've had five record single-weekday deliveries of a million parcels. This past Monday we set a record for daily parcel delivery at 1.25 million."

Here are some tips to help you ensure that those special packages make it under the tree for Christmas morning:

• If you've received a delivery notification for a parcel pickup, check the location of your designated postal outlet.
• Check out the postal outlet's hours of operation, if you are only able to go outside of regular business hours.
• If you can't make it yourself during available hours, a member of your household with a government-issued photo ID showing the same address as the one on the parcel can pick up the parcel on your behalf. Alternatively, you can authorize another individual to pick up the item by indicating their name and your signature on the Delivery Notice Card (you may also provide them a letter of authorization if you prefer).
  
  

About Canada Post
Canada Post is the country's leading provider of electronic commerce and customer communication solutions. It reaches more than 15.3 million addresses, operates the country's largest retail network, and offers affordable and reliable service with convenient pickup and return options for online shoppers. Together, Canada Post, Purolator Inc. and SCI Logistics offer market-leading end-to-end solutions for e-commerce shippers by leveraging the assets and expertise of the Canada Post Group of Companies.

SOURCE: Canada Post