Surge in interest for Post Danmark flexible delivery service

Post Danmark is being flooded with applications to join its flexible delivery service, called Modtagerflex, which allows people to receive parcels even when they are not home. More than 150,000 households in Denmark can now access the service, which allows consumers to state an alternative location where mail carriers can leave packages or oversized letters if they are not home to answer the door.

This could, for example, mean asking Post Danmark to leave an e-commerce purchase within a garage or garden shed when a package recipient cannot take it in person.

The Modtagerflex (flexible receiver) service is designed to add convenience to the shipping process, so that parcel receivers do not have to travel to a post office to collect their items.

Customers can also opt to have items delivered to an alternative private address if they are not home to receive it. When signing up, they can state up to 10 different alternative options where an item can be dropped.

“The act of shopping online and receiving parcels has become a part of everyday life for many of us. It should be easy and flexible as well when it comes to delivery, and it is with Modtagerflex,” said Eva Malene Hartmann, head of Post Denmark’s consumer division.

“You can get your package delivered at home even you can’t be there to open the door when the postman rings the doorbell. And, you don’t even have to remember to pass by the post office or post shop to retrieve your latest purchase.”

Christmas surge

The number of Danes who want their package left in places like garages, greenhouses or playhouses is increasing steadily, Post Danmark says, and the expectation is that this trend will continue, particularly for Christmas.

So far, almost 10% of Danish households are eligible for the service, and Post Danmark has received quite a lot of interest in the initiative in Jutland, with well over 100,000 subscribers so far in western Denmark, compared to 50,000 in eastern Denmark.

This time last year, there were around 50,000 on the service in total.

Hartmann said last year there was a surge of people signing up to the service in the run-up to Christmas, presumably to delivery gifts bought online in a flexible manner during a busy Christmas season.

“This year, all the signs are that there are even more who will buy their Christmas gifts over the Internet, so we expect it will translate into a higher number of Danes who want their packages delivered to their sheds when not at home,” said the Post Danmark head of consumer mail.