From The Straits Times    |

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Image: Corbis

People can now collect parcels from convenience stores, with the e-commerce boom prompting two logistics companies to allow such services from this week.

UPS announced last week that its customers can now pick up packages from 20 7-Eleven convenience stores at Shell petrol stations, at no extra charge, if a delivery man is not able to reach them first at their shipping addresses.

DHL Express launched a similar service on Monday at 17 FairPrice Xpress and Cheers outlets at locations including Esso petrol stations and MRT stations.

Ingrid Sidiadinoto, managing dir­ec­­tor of UPS Singapore, said: “The online shopping market in Singapore is projected to reach S$4.4bil (RM11.8bil) by next year, and UPS customers have raised concerns about not being available to sign off on their purchases when they arrive.”

Herbert Vongpusanachai, senior vice-president and managing director of DHL Express Singapore, said: “As e-commerce continues to take the city-state by storm, this consumer-centric initiative is a major step forward.”

Over the next six months, DHL Express will nearly double the number of places where its new service is offered to 30, up from 17 now.

The new services offered by UPS and DHL Express come with conditions, though.

For UPS, a deliveryman will first try to deliver a parcel from selected overseas retailers to a customer’s original shipping location. If the customer cannot be reached, the deliveryman will then take it to one of the Shell station convenience stores.

This article was first run in The Straits Times newspaper on December 18, 2014. For similar stories, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore. You will not be able to access the Premium section of The Straits Times website unless you are already a subscriber.

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