Christmas shoppers urged to order early to ensure parcels arrive in time

Shoppers are being urged to order their Christmas presents as soon as possible as retailers and delivery services expect a record number of people to be purchasing online this festive season.

A RECORD number of parcels are expected to be delivered this Christmas and shoppers are being urged to complete their online orders to ensure goods arrive in time.

Transport company Toll is expecting nine million items to move through its delivery networks from Black Friday this week to Christmas, while Australia Post forecasts the busiest festive period in its history.

The Christmas delivery cut-off date with Australia Post for domestic parcel post is December 12, while express post packages should be sent by December 19.

Australia Post delivery has been working hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. Picture: Zak Simmonds

MORE NEWS

Two returning travellers test positive in Cairns

Manager reveals secrets of Cairns’ hotel quarantine

New COVID clinic opens after Adelaide outbreak

Postage cut-off dates for regular international parcel deliveries have already passed for Britain, the US, Canada, Europe and most of Asia.

Australia Post figures show deliveries have surged during the pandemic – so far the number of parcels delivered in November has increased by more than 7.5 million compared with the same time last year.

With fewer than five weeks until Christmas, Australian Retailers Association chief executive Paul Zahra urged consumers to get organised quickly.

“This week is the best week to shop before Christmas ­because of all the Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday deals, we expect it to be the best trading week in the country’s history,” Mr Zahra said.

Australia Post general manager of community and consumer Nicole Sheffield urged shoppers to start ordering their gifts to ensure they arrived for Christmas.

“This Christmas will be the busiest in our 211-year history, we’re expecting to deliver millions more parcels than we did last year and are more prepared than ever before,” Ms Sheffield said.

AUSTRALIA POST CUT-OFF DATES

• Santa mail, Thursday, November 26.

• International standard parcel post to New Zealand, Friday, November 27.

• Domestic parcel post, Saturday, December 12.

• Domestic express post, Saturday, December 19.

Originally published as Christmas shoppers urged to order early to ensure parcels arrive in time