DHL Parcel offers from this month the possibility to receive a parcel at an agreed place around the house. Customers who are not at home can let the delivery driver know where the parcel can be dropped, for example under the carport or in the garage.
The parcel carrier tested this possibility in recent weeks with online department store Wehkamp. Online shoppers can choose this new delivery option via the track&trace page and indicate where they want to receive the parcel.
The delivery driver will first ring the doorbell to deliver the parcel in person. If that fails, it will be delivered to the 'agreed place'. According to DHL Parcel, the delivery driver first checks that the spot is dry and not visible from the street. During the test period, the carport and garage proved to be the favourite spots.
"The agreed place responds to a clear need: recipients already often indicate with notes on the door where they would like their parcel to be delivered when they cannot accept it in person," says Roelof Hofman, VP Operations at DHL Parcel. "Often, delivery drivers know the preferences per house from previous contacts. The content of each parcel differs. Sometimes you may want to accept one parcel in person and another parcel can be put in the back. With this option, the customer makes a tailor-made appointment with the delivery driver."
DHL plans to start offering the new delivery option nationwide this month. Besides Wehkamp, it will partner with Zalando, HEMA, and G-Star, among others.
