Australia Post customers are left waiting up to three weeks for parcel deliveries as more people shop online during the COVID-19 crisis
- Australians are complaining about their deliveries sitting in facilities for weeks
- Some say it is taking three weeks to get a parcel they paid express shipping for
- Parcel volumes doubled since coronavirus and are up 80 per cent from last year
- Australia Post says delays are from air freight capacity and restrictions on flights
- It also said there is increased volume of parcels and health and safety measures
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Australia Post customers are waiting up to three weeks for parcels they have ordered despite paying more for express delivery.
Australians have turned to online shopping, causing an 'unprecedented' demand on Australia Post during the coronavirus pandemic.
The postal service's parcel volumes have doubled in the past four weeks, up 80 per cent from last year.
The Australia Post Facebook page has been inundated with complaints that they are waiting weeks for their parcels to arrive.
Many are also claiming their goods are left sitting in the same place for weeks with no explanation.
Australians have turned to online shopping, causing an 'unprecedented' demand on Australia Post during the coronavirus pandemic
Australia Post customers are waiting up to three weeks for parcels they have ordered despite paying more for express delivery
'Hey Australia post. Just wondering when my husband will be getting his home brew kit? It’s been sitting in Oakleigh Victoria for 2 weeks now, not moving. Old mate is nagging,' one woman wrote.
'I know there are delays but I'm waiting on a parcel sent by express post in the same state,' another woman wrote.
'Didn't think it would take over a week and still waiting. Wish the business gave me the option of picking up. Would have taken an hour.'
'Still waiting on my parcel from you guys that should have been delivered on April 22. Why don't you let it sit in Sydney a few more days,' one man wrote.
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One man said his package had been sitting in the same place for two weeks.
'I got something for my girlfriend for her birthday two weeks ago to be express shipped in time to surprise her,' he wrote.
'According to the tracking information it's been sitting in Redbank Brisbane since April 17.'
When contacted by Daily Mail Australia, Australia Post said it did not comment on individual cases but referred to publicly available information on domestic delays.
The Australia Post Facebook page has been inundated with complaints that they are waiting weeks for their parcels to arrive
According to the Australia Post website there are delivery delays due to reduction in air freight capacity, restrictions on domestic flights, an increased volume of parcels and health and safety measures.
Australians were warned they would have to wait longer for letters as regulatory requirements are relaxed for Australia Post to help it handle the demand.
The postal service last week announced it will be retraining 2,000 motorbike posties to deliver parcels across the country with more people at home and shopping online.
The changes will be in place until June 30, 2021, and will be lifted after a review.
Motorbike posties will trade their bikes for vans or move into warehouses to help cope with the demand of the 1.8 million parcels being sent each day.
People are seen collecting parcels, dropping off mail and posties are seen delivering mail as the Corona Virus lockdown continues
Chief executive Christine Holgate said the changes would help posties carry more and ease the pressure on van delivery drivers.
'(Posties) have been swamped with huge volumes,' she said.
'Our people want to serve our country at this difficult and challenging time.'
Post offices will remain open under the regulatory changes but can close if they need to protect the health and safety of staff and customers.
The downturn in air travel, which has already seen Virgin Australia go into voluntary administration, has caused the biggest delays for postal delivery, Australia Post says.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann and Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said the changes would help posties keep up with demand, largely driven by Australians shopping and doing business online.
