Delivery times before Christmas
3min read
12/12/2018
Every year at Christmas, the same question arises: What should I give as a gift? In the search for something special, Christmas always comes suddenly! Those who don’t feel like Christmas crowds in department stores or simply can’t find the time, buy online. According to projections, 13.4 billion euros will be turned over by online trade this year in Germany alone.
Given the expected turnover, it comes as no surprise that the highest parcel volume of the year occurs in the period leading up to Christmas. This poses challenges for parcel services. Nothing is more annoying than placing an order that is supposed to arrive before Christmas and never does. The customer’s frustration is high! Online retailers must avoid this and take into account the delivery times of parcel services.
Overview of delivery times before Christmas
To cope with the high workload, more than 30,000 additional delivery staff have been hired. That is why some parcel services demand a so-called peak surcharge. This means that the additional costs in the run-up to Christmas are passed on to large customers.
DHL delivery times
DHL is the largest parcel delivery service in Germany and will deliver most of the gifts ordered on time before Christmas. To cope with the parcel volume, 10,000 additional workers assist with the delivery. Delivery times vary depending on the shipping location. In addition, the deadlines only apply if the delivery is made before the shop disposal. Parcels and packages must be handed in by the following dates for dispatch within:
Express shipping is available for particularly urgent shipments. Within Germany, the parcel is delivered the very next day. It is also possible to book the time options before 9 am, before 10 am or before 12 pm. However, if you choose the fast shipping option, you will also have to pay higher delivery costs. This is not possible for all items. The item must not weigh more than 31.5 kg or exceed the size of 120 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm (L x W x H). For express delivery, the parcel must be posted at the branch by the following date:
Hermes delivery times
Hermes promises to deliver every shipment posted on time by 4pm on Christmas Eve. However, it is advised to post every shipment as early as possible in case the winter weather makes for difficult driving conditions. Hermes is drawing on 6,300 additional temporary staff for the Christmas season and announced back in the spring that it would be charging a peak surcharge. The surcharge applies from 1 November and until 31 December for all business customers. The following are the cut-off dates for on-time delivery of Christmas parcels, packages and luggage:
DPD delivery times
At DPD , the Christmas season is simply rebranded as parcel time. With additional resources, preparations for the busiest days of the year have long since begun. 4,000 additional workers are helping with deliveries. Because on the peak days before Christmas, up to 50 percent more parcels are expected than on an average day of the year. For timely delivery before Christmas Eve, the following shipping dates are recommended:
The shipping dates are earlier than with other parcel services. This is because DPD delivers on 24 December, but only express parcels are delivered.
GLS delivery times
In order not to fall behind with parcel delivery during the Christmas business, the GLS staff was increased by a further 3,000 at short notice. In December, there is also an intake freeze for new customers in order to concentrate on existing customers. For existing customers, the following dates apply:
UPS delivery times
UPS offers a variety of shipping methods: UPS Standard, UPS Express Saver, UPS Express and UPS Express Plus.
UPS does provide dates for the latest possible shipping dates, but advises to use the price request tool for confirmation. Transit times may vary depending on destination:
