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Dec 18, 2020 at 6:39 AMA recent YouGov survey commissioned by Hermes sheds light on package shipping during the Corona and Christmas season. The results underscore the relevance of this service for people and provide a snapshot of sentiment during the partial lockdown in November.
(Hamburg) The package service provider Hermes commissioned a survey on package shipping during the Christmas and Corona period. The results in brief:
- Trust in package services: 62% of Germans are convinced that they can reliably handle a potential “package flood”
- 33% are sending Christmas packages this year, with almost one in ten Germans (8%) doing so for the very first time due to Corona
- Germans tend to send packages as early as possible, with men opting for short-term shipping more than women
- During the partial lockdown in November, 60% confirmed that they would celebrate Christmas differently this year due to Corona
- Motivation for sending packages is significantly influenced by the pandemic: 31% are trying to compensate for canceled Christmas activities
- 55% of senders feel closer to family or friends when sending Christmas packages
All package service providers with new record volumes
This year’s Christmas season sees logistics companies like Hermes handling more shipments than ever before. This is further intensified by the worsening pandemic situation and the renewed lockdown. However, while there have been numerous reports of a “package flood” and feared “package chaos” for weeks, the majority of Germans trust the package logistics: As a representative YouGov survey* commissioned by Hermes shows, almost two-thirds (62%) are convinced that package service providers will deliver reliably despite record volumes.** The survey results also clarify: Sending Christmas packages creates closeness and is a way to convey gifts when personal handovers are not possible.
Made a good name for themselves
Marco Schlüter, Managing Director Operations Hermes Germany GmbH
“Throughout the entire Corona year, we have established a good name for ourselves as a system-relevant, crisis-proof, and reliable package delivery service. The logistics industry as a whole has also gained relevance among people – this is confirmed by our current consumer study. Despite record volumes, the majority of Germans trust that we, as package service providers, will deliver reliably during the Christmas season, even in the partial lockdown in November,” explains Marco Schlüter, Chief Operations Officer at Hermes Germany. “The situation has now worsened due to the newly imposed lockdown, and we expect that the already very high package volumes will increase again in the final stretch leading up to Christmas. It is all the more important for us to contribute not only to basic supply with our service but also to create a sense of ‘normality’. As long as the situation does not worsen significantly, we are well-prepared for the peak season due to our meticulous preparations, intensive coordination with our clients, and our flexible network, and we are doing everything we can to ensure that Christmas gifts reach their destination under the Christmas tree on time. Currently, we are delivering up to 5,500 shipments per minute at peak times,” adds Marco Schlüter.
Christmas packages: A substitute for personal meetings
The circle of people around the decorated Christmas tree is reduced, Christmas visits are restricted or even canceled – at the time of the survey, during the partial lockdown in November, more than half of Germans were clear: This year’s Christmas will be different! 60% of respondents indicated that they would celebrate the festival of love in a different way than usual. Therefore, it is all the more important for respondents to create Christmas spirit and closeness in other ways – for example, with a very personal Christmas shipment (55%). While in 2019, one in four Germans (26%) sent packages for Christmas, by mid-November, one in three (33%) indicated that they would send Christmas greetings by package this year. Almost one in ten (8%) is sending packages for Christmas for the very first time due to Corona. In most cases, the packages are sent to close family (73%) and good friends (43%). Almost one in ten senders (9%) also shows solidarity during the festival of love by supporting those in need with their package shipment.
The Christmas package is a welcome alternative when gifts cannot be handed over in person: In addition to bridging a significant physical distance to family or friends (43%), the motivation for sending Christmas packages this year is significantly influenced by Corona, as people will not be able to meet their loved ones in person due to the pandemic (34%). Sending Christmas joy by package also serves as a “compensation” for canceled activities such as joint Advent coffee drinking, baking cookies, and visiting Christmas markets. A package during the (pre-)Christmas season allows people to bring joy to family and friends despite contact restrictions (31%). Among senders, there are also “creatures of habit”: 15% always send Christmas gifts by package.
Men tend to opt for short-term shipping
By mid-November, half of all senders (50%) had decided to send Christmas packages this year starting with the Advent season at the end of November or early December (women 56%, men 43%). 35% drop off their packages one week before the deadline set by the package services – here, men (43%) are significantly ahead of women (29%). Regarding the timely shipping of Christmas packages, Germans are generally on schedule and seem to be following the appeal of package services to drop off shipments as early as possible.
Lack of Christmas markets dampens spirits
To get into the Christmas spirit, cozy gatherings with family or friends (56%) and visits to Christmas markets (52%) are essential for more than half of Germans. Activities such as baking cookies (49%), making and setting up an Advent wreath/calendar (48%), and having a Christmas tree (46%) also contribute to a festive mood. Although 28% stated that Christmas shopping is also part of their Christmas feeling, only 5% of Germans find it hard to do without it. The option to go online gift hunting seems to be a good alternative and could be further emphasized given the closure of retail stores. By mid-November, over a third of Germans indicated that they would miss the aforementioned gatherings with loved ones (36%) and visits to Christmas markets (31%) during the Christmas season.
Drop off packages by December 21
As long as the infection situation does not worsen significantly, it remains the case: For Christmas packages within Germany that are dropped off at a Hermes PaketShop by December 21 at 12:00 PM, a guaranteed first delivery attempt will be made by Christmas Eve. The nationwide Hermes PaketShop network provides customers with essential support to send shipments securely, receive them conveniently, or easily return shopping items. Since a large part of the over 16,000 PaketShops nationwide is integrated into daily necessities, over 80% of the shops will be available even during the lockdown – often with long opening hours outside of peak times.
*Source: The results are based on a nationwide representative online survey of 2,086 German citizens aged 18 and older. This was conducted by YouGov on behalf of Hermes between November 16 and November 18, 2020.
**The survey was conducted during the partial lockdown, i.e., before the federal government decided on the shutdown effective from December 16, 2020, during which retail – with the exception of grocery stores and shops for daily needs – will be closed until January 10, 2021.
Photos: © Hermes/Willing-Holtz
