Does Australia Post Deliver on Weekends? The Ultimate Guide
This guide explains if Australia Post delivers packages and mail on weekends. It covers important details about their Saturday and Sunday delivery services.
Getting your parcels delivered on weekends can be a game-changer, especially in today’s fast-paced world. With many people working long hours during the week, weekend delivery becomes essential to ensure you receive your packages conveniently.
The short answer is yes, Australia Post does offer Saturday delivery services for certain types of parcels, but they do not generally deliver on Sundays.
Australia Post Weekend Delivery Services Overview
To understand Australia Post’s weekend delivery options, let’s first look at their standard delivery schedule:
Regular mail and standard parcels are delivered Monday through Friday, with no deliveries on weekends. However, there are exceptions during busy holiday seasons like Christmas, New Year’s, and other major festivals when weekend deliveries may occur.
The primary weekend delivery service offered by Australia Post is Saturday Delivery for Express Post parcels. Express Post is their premium, fast shipping service.
Australia Post does not provide any Sunday delivery services, except in very rare and exceptional circumstances during peak periods like right before Christmas.
Express Post Saturday Delivery Service
Australia Post introduced the Express Post Saturday Delivery service to meet the growing demand for weekend deliveries, especially from online shoppers. It’s designed to provide more convenience and flexibility.
Here are the key details about Express Post Saturday Delivery:
- It’s available at no extra cost when you select this option for your Express Post parcel
- Your parcel must be lodged on Friday before the cut-off time within the defined Express Post Saturday Delivery area for your state
- Deliveries occur between 9am and 1pm on Saturdays
- Parcels can be delivered to residential addresses, businesses, parcel lockers accessible on Saturdays, and open post offices/business hubs
To be eligible, both the sender’s and recipient’s addresses must be within the same state and the recipient’s postcode must match the supported areas.
How to Send an Express Post Parcel for Saturday Delivery
If you want to use the Saturday Delivery option, follow these three simple steps:
- Check Delivery Areas: Verify that the recipient’s postcode is within the Saturday delivery network for your state. Australia Post provides lists of eligible postcodes you can check.
- Use Saturday Delivery Stickers: Get free Express Post Saturday Delivery stickers from post offices/business hubs or buy Express Post satchels in bulk. Affix a sticker after paying postage.
- Lodge Parcel on Friday: Send your parcel from a post office, street posting box, or pre-arranged pickup by the Friday cut-off time within the Saturday delivery area.
It’s that simple! Following these steps ensures your Express Post parcel is delivered on the upcoming Saturday.
Setting Up Saturday Delivery for Your Online Store
If you run an e-commerce business, offering Saturday delivery can be a great way to enhance customer experience and gain a competitive edge. Here’s how to set it up:
Add Saturday Delivery as a Shipping Option: In your online store’s shopping cart, include Saturday Delivery as a selectable option at checkout. Provide a link to auspost.com.au/saturdaydelivery so customers can check if their address is eligible.
Use a WooCommerce Plugin for Integration: For WooCommerce stores, the ELEX WooCommerce Australia Post Shipping Plugin fully integrates Australia Post shipping services, including Express Post Saturday Delivery. It automates label printing, tracking, and checkout displays for estimated delivery dates.
Benefits for Customers and Businesses: Offering Saturday delivery provides immense value to customers who can’t be home during weekdays. For businesses, it improves productivity by distributing shipping workloads, enhances credibility, and attracts urgent/premium buyers.
Public Holidays and Australia Post Deliveries
Australia Post’s operations are impacted by national public holidays when post offices remain closed. There are no mail or parcel deliveries on national holidays like New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.
However, some post offices may open on state/regional public holidays with varied delivery services. Express Post items sent before a public holiday are delivered on the next available business day after the holiday.
Advantages of Offering Weekend Delivery
There are numerous benefits to providing weekend, specifically Saturday, delivery services to customers:
Target Time-Sensitive Customers
You can attract customers with urgent needs or facing strict deadlines who require weekend deliveries. Think medical supplies, gifts for occasions, etc.
Attract Premium/Urgent Customers
With few shipping carriers offering weekend services, you can capture more high-ticket customers willing to pay a premium for faster deliveries.
Improve Productivity and Workflow
Weekend deliveries help distribute the shipping workload instead of a Friday peak. Tasks can be spread across the week for better efficiency.
Enhance Business Credibility
Going the extra mile with weekend delivery shows you prioritize customer needs, building loyalty and trust in your brand.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Australia Post does offer Saturday delivery for Express Post parcels, provided certain conditions are met. This service is extremely beneficial for online shoppers and businesses needing fast weekend deliveries.
If you frequently ship time-sensitive parcels or want to improve customer experience, setting up Express Post’s Saturday Delivery can be a wise choice. Follow the steps outlined above, and you’ll be offering a convenient weekend shipping option in no time!
Does your business need weekend deliveries? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
