Deutsche Post plans to expand collection boxes to parcels

Deutsche Post, the German postal service, is planning to expand its new ‘Packstation’ system, which involves a network of collection boxes for parcels, located in petrol stations and supermarkets. Recipients are informed by e-mail or text message when a parcel has arrived, and can collect their package at any time of the day or night using a customer number and a personal code. There are currently 75 of these boxes in Germany, and Deutsche Post is hoping to raise the number to 650 in 2004.

If the boxes are a success, Deutsche Post hopes to expand its service to provide comprehensive cover throughout Germany by 2007. The company says that 60,000 customers have used the boxes so far this year; it has been estimated that this figure could rise to 9 million from 2004 onwards. Deutsche Post plans to invest almost 10m euros in the expansion of the project.