Last-mile service providers DPD and Hermes think about increasing prices for parcel home delivery at the front door. The delivery that we know as 'standard delivery' could become a premium service.
If you order a package in Germany, you may have to pay more in the long term. DPD and Hermes parcel services always expect a surcharge. They now expect the home delivery industry to be so developed that home delivery can be a more expensive, premium service.
A spokeswoman for Hermes says to heise.de: "We need to find out to what extent home delivery as a standard service, without extra costs, remains possible." She referred to countries such as Sweden, where home delivery already entails extra costs. If the course of the company, in regard to the handling of the last mile, would change, expenses will rise and the process would be time-consuming.
GLS, a subsidiary of the British Royal Mail, already introduced such surcharges for specific business customers for the Christmas business. GLS imposed surcharges to organisations on whose behalf the company sends packages. It is unclear if these companies pass on the higher door-to-door price.
Market leader Deutsche Post DHL does not plan any surcharges for home delivery. Hermes and DPD also stress that they have no concrete plans, including implementation, anytime soon. Nevertheless, the fundamental considerations and the step of GLS clarify that movement is in the price structure of the parcel market. In Germany, there are many parcel shops, but these are not used much.
