With Christmas just around the corner, AusPost has announced they will start weekend deliveries in the lead up to the festive season.
From Saturday November 18, temporary weekend deliveries will begin in all metro capital cities and a range of regional cities and towns around Australia.
The change comes just in time for the busy Christmas season, which saw over 50 million parcels delivered in December last year.
Now avid Aussie spenders can shop to their heart’s content with Saturday and Sunday deliveries set to ensure presents arrive on time across the country.
Gary Starr, an Australia Post Executive Manager, said weekend deliveries were all about bringing the cheer this Christmas.
“We’ve been preparing for another big sales and festive season, including recruiting thousands of additional team members, and giving customers more convenient delivery options,” he said.
“We delivered 52 million parcels last December and we’re expecting another huge peak season ahead, driven by the increasing popularity of cyber sales events.”
“As the sales events ramp up and online shopping surges in the lead up to Christmas, our temporary Saturday and Sunday service is just another way we are supporting our customers at the busiest time of the year.”
Mr Starr also said that free 24/7 collection will also sweeten the Christmas deal.
(Customer now have) the opportunity to collect missed deliveries from free 24/7 Australia Post Parcel Lockers instead of the Post Office,” he said.
Weekend deliveries will remain in place up until Christmas depending on the volume of parcels between overseas and within Australia.
However AusPost still recommended to get your parcels sent off by Monday 18 December for most destinations within Australia, or Thursday 21 December by Express Post to guarantee they arrive on time.
People sending to or from Western Australia and Northern Territory are also recommended to allow for a few extra days to make it in time for Santa’s arrival by Christmas morning.