Since December 16, many shops have had to close due to the tough corona lockdown.
Since then this has been extended several times.
Easing is in sight.
Corona lockdown: what applies to parcel shops?
Update from March 4th, 2021
: Yesterday, Wednesday, the renewed extension of the corona lockdown until March 28th was decided.
However, loosening should be possible with the help of a gradual opening - also with a view to the incidences.
For the retail sector, this means that with a
stable 7-day incidence, less than 50 new infections / 100,000 inhabitants
with openings can be expected.
This could also enable
parcel shops
to start again
in retail stores
.
Parcel shops that are part of a flower shop, garden market or bookstore can again accept pacts from next Monday, March 8th.
Nothing changes
for
independent parcel shops
, they are still
open as usual
.
Corona measures extended again: will parcel shops remain open?
Update from February 11, 2021
: On Wednesday, February 10, 2021, the federal-state summit decided to
extend the lockdown measures until March 7th
.
At the moment,
easing
for the retail trade is only
planned
if
the
incidence is below 35
.
In other words, if fewer than 35 out of 100,000 people are newly infected with the coronavirus in a week.
If this value is reached, parcel shops that are part of a retail business are likely to reopen.
Independent parcel shops will remain open, in compliance with hygiene regulations (see update from January 20th).
Another meeting between the Chancellor and the Prime Minister is scheduled for March 3rd.
Corona measures extended: What does this mean for the parcel shops?
Update from January 20, 2021
: With the decision of the Corona summit on January 19, 2021, the current measures were extended and tightened until February 14, 2021.
Now customers
have to wear
a
medical mask when entering a store
.
This also applies to parcel shops.
These are still open and send the parcels as usual.
Corona measures: Germany continues to be in a tough lockdown.
Are parcel shops open?
Update from January 13th, 2021
: The hard lockdown was extended to January 31st, which means that many shops will remain closed.
The new rules will not change anything for the parcel shops, they will remain
open
.
However, due to the distance rules,
longer waiting times and queues in front of the parcel shops
must be expected.
Although many of the parcel shops can still offer their services, there are exceptions.
Those shops that are integrated into public shops will remain closed.
Can parcel shops from DHL, Hermes and Co. remain open despite the corona lockdown?
Update from December 15, 2020
: Due to the tough corona lockdown, which
lasts from December 16 to January 10 for the time being
, numerous shops have to close.
But what if I want to drop off a parcel before Christmas - are the
parcel shops closed
?
The delivery services mostly give the all-clear here.
The
DHL
indicates on its website that it
the services offered in stores and package stores currently no restrictions
will be.
At the same time, however, the company points out that "for personal or organizational reasons, there may be short-term changes to the opening times of individual branches and DHL parcel shops in individual cases".
Hermes, on the other hand, explains that due to the corona measures that have been adopted,
not all Hermes ParcelShops are
currently
open
.
"Since a large part of the more than 16,000 ParcelShops nationwide are integrated into facilities for daily needs, over
75 percent of the ParcelShops
will also be available during the lockdown
," it says.
DPD
explains: “Many of our 7,000 pick-up parcel shops in Germany are integrated into public shops and will be temporarily closed due to the nationwide lockdown.” The shops that are integrated into shops for daily needs will probably also be open here normally.
Due to the tough lockdown, many are also wondering whether their packages will arrive on time - especially the gifts that should go to loved ones.
Tobias Meyer
, CEO of Deutsche Post DHL for the Letters and Parcels division, had already thought about this shortly before the official announcement of the lockdown: "This question is indeed very much on our minds," he confirmed to the Berliner Morgenpost.
The volume is already higher than ever before: "In the last week alone, we sorted and delivered 56 million parcels - significantly more than ever before in our company's history," said Meyer.
That is why he advises customers to send their gifts in good time
.
In general,
December 19, 12 noon
, is the deadline by which parcels have to be handed in so that they can reach the recipient before Christmas Eve.
Letters can be posted until December 22nd.
But if you want to be on the safe side, you should get there earlier.
Corona: Do DHL, Hermes and Co. still deliver parcels at all?
Original message from March 23, 2020
: Due to the corona virus *, exit restrictions now apply throughout Germany that limit leaving your own four walls to a minimum.
Going to the supermarket, the doctor or going to work is still allowed.
However, if you want to go into the electronics trade or the hardware store, the doors are closed in many places.
No wonder that many consumers now want to order essentials online.
But do the delivery services still deliver parcels completely normally?
Coronavirus: This is how shipping now works via Deutsche Post DHL
As Deutsche Post DHL explains on its website, there are
no significant restrictions on services in Germany
.
With international shipping, however, customers would have to be prepared for delays or restrictions.
For example, parcels to China, Hong Kong and Macao cannot currently be sent - letters are still possible.
There are
other
changes in the acceptance and delivery of shipments
: When handing over parcels and handover letters, the recipient's signature is currently not required.
The deliverers document the successful delivery with their own signature.
In addition, Deutsche Post DHL recommend that customers specify a storage location * for the parcel or address it directly to packing stations in order to keep contact to a minimum.
Amazon prioritizes products with high demand
As an Amazon spokesman explained to the British Independent, the online shipping giant is currently concentrating on deliveries on
drugs or products with high demand
.
Other products from independent dealers will temporarily no longer be accepted: "We will temporarily prioritize housewares, medical supplies and other products in high demand in our order centers so that we can receive, refill and ship them more quickly," it says.
In Italy and France, Amazon is even limited to essential goods such as baby products, health and household products, groceries, personal care and beauty products, and industrial, scientific and pet supplies.
So far there are no indications that the online retailer in Germany will proceed in a similar manner.
As for the delivery itself, many Amazon parcels are sent via Deutsche Post DHL, Hermes, UPS or PIN.
Here the handover to the recipient will probably take place according to the current guidelines of the respective delivery service.
As far as Amazon's own delivery service Amazon Logistics is concerned, a spokesman told our editorial team: "We have changed delivery to ensure a safe distance between drivers and customers when making deliveries."
Coronavirus: This is how Hermes is adapting to the current situation
Hermes
currently has no restrictions or delays in shipping parcels within Germany
.
However, there could be delays on intra-European transport routes due to border controls.
There are currently no transports to Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus and Greece.
Parcels could still be
delivered at the doorstep and without personal contact
by customers specifying a desired storage location.
The delivery service also wants to offer receipt of the consignment via photo proof by Tuesday, March 24th at the latest, so that there is no need to sign the scanner.
In addition, Hermes assumes that
70 to 80 percent of the parcel shops will remain open
, as they are integrated into facilities for the basic supply.
However, there could be queues here, why customers should avoid close contact.
Closed parcel shops will no longer be displayed in the parcel shop finder functions until April 30th.
Also interesting
: Packaging madness: Why are parcels from Amazon & Co. always too big?
DPD is taking these precautions with regard to the coronavirus
DPD also declares that there are currently no known restrictions on parcel shipping within Germany.
Parcel transports to other European countries will continue to be carried out, but delays may also occur here due to border controls - especially for parcels from or to France, Italy, Austria or Poland.
DPD also waives personal receipts for
parcel
deliveries
and points out that small, flat parcels that fit in the mailbox are deposited there.
Parcel recipients can also issue a deposit okay so that the deliverer * can place the parcel in the garage, in the garden shed or in front of the apartment door without customer contact.
The
delivery and collection of parcels in the DPD parcel shop network is currently suspended for a short time
until it has been clarified with the shop operators which locations can still be used.
The delivery options "Desired Parcel Shop" and "Desired Neighbor" are also currently not available.
Shipping via GLS in times of the coronavirus
At the request of the news portal T-Online, GLS also points out that longer transit times are possible for goods from abroad due to border controls.
In addition, according to its own statements, the company reacts flexibly to changes in local conditions in Germany if areas, streets or locations are closed.
When delivering the parcels, the delivery service is currently also using
reduced contacts and hands over the consignment to recipients without a signature
.
Instead, the deliverer documents with his own signature that the shipment has been successfully completed.
In addition, customers can give the delivery service a parking permit and define a location where the parcel can be stored.
Also read
: DHL, Hermes & Co in the test: Which delivery service is good for something?
And does Amazon have to limit its deliveries?
A court ruling already has enormous consequences.
New forms of delivery: this is how parcels land at the recipient
New forms of delivery: this is how parcels land at the recipient
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