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Does the holiday season add to your stress because you get anxious or worried about shipping and receiving items during this time? You’re not alone in this. Millions of other Americans have the same concerns that you do.
But for us to avoid getting caught in situations like that, we need to understand why shipping issues occur at a higher rate during Christmas.
Shipping Delays
Delays are inevitable, especially during the peak of the Christmas rush. If you sometimes receive packages in the mail that arrived a lot later than expected during off-peak seasons, don’t be surprised during the holidays.
Most of us are aware of the crazy insane number of packages shipped out during the holidays. Still, we don’t really realize the gravity of the situation in storehouses, warehouses, and shipyards.
You have to understand that almost everyone uses shipping services during this time, which was also further increased by the pandemic. From shopping online to sending gifts to loved ones, the number of packages handled during this time can balloon up to 22% higher this year compared to last year’s peak, according to FedEx.
Lost or Damaged Goods
One of the most unfortunate things that can happen to any package this season is loss or damage. With the overwhelming volume of packages that go their way, couriers and delivery companies sometimes rush through things to get as much work done, and items shipped out promptly.
However, because of this, a lot of packages are mishandled — unintentionally, for the most part, we believe — by couriers and handlers. The term “handle with care” is, quite frankly, thrown away as workers just carelessly or thoughtlessly throw packages in and out of delivery trucks and vans from and onto loading bays. This careless handling is the most notorious culprit of damaged goods.
Another thing that happens a lot during the holiday rush is the loss of packages. Unfortunately, in all the chaos and confusion in logistics, some parcels are loaded on the wrong trucks or planes and find their way into an entirely different zip code from where its original destination. While most of these “lost” packages eventually turn up and make their way to the right recipients (big thanks to tracking), a considerable number don’t.
Weather Factor
Because of the harsh weather conditions the winter season brings, certain delays are inevitable as some road networks become unpassable or travel by air is postponed due to bad weather. This is quite normal and easily understandable because delivery companies strictly observe and obey proper safety protocols and measures.
Returns
3PL returns during the holidays are a nightmare to begin with. Last year, SmallBiz Trends reported that around 20% of consumers and holiday shoppers returned items because they received damaged goods. You can imagine the logistics nightmare these companies have to deal with during this season to accommodate every single return made and have them returned to the sender or shop promptly.
For this reason, since one of the reasons why items get damaged is poor handling on the courier’s part, it is recommended that shippers get insurance for their parcels and packages to set their minds at ease.
Last-minute Christmas Shopping
Lastly, because of last-minute Christmas shopping, bottlenecks are created in the entire delivery process. This is why it is recommended that you do your Christmas shopping early. This is not just to make you avoid the inconvenience of being caught in a deluge of people in shops and stores. This is also meant to help out logistics companies handle the additional load during this season. It also means that you can snag better deals on items when you shop earlier in the year instead of waiting until the last minute to get to it.
Shipping challenges are not just present during the holidays, but they are greatly magnified during this season. Awareness of the situation can make things better for you, whether you’re the sender or the one receiving the item. Hopefully, understanding what goes on during this time of the year will help you plan your shopping and shipping out better the next year.
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