Will Australia Post deliver on Saturdays? If that is your question, we’ve got your back. Most people today are working throughout the week, so they cannot afford to take time from work to wait at home during the day to simply receive a package. That’s why it’s crucial to offer delivery services on the weekend, or at least on Saturday, to avoid losing customers.
Plus, with the advent of Amazon Prime and one-day delivery services, weekend delivery isn’t as uncommon as it used to be a few years ago. Most shipping carriers consider Saturday to be a business day and continue normal operations.
In the context of shipping, a “business day” refers to any day on which the courier company or shipping firm that is handling the delivery of your package is operational for the method of delivery that you have selected.
To begin, it is important to note that there are restrictions on the availability of Saturday delivery. Unfortunately, not all shipping carriers offer this service, and it is not available at all locations.
Having packages delivered on Saturdays is a service that has seen significant growth in recent years. And besides, your customers might be extremely busy during the entire week. They would most likely not have enough time to pick up or even receive their deliveries from Monday to Friday.
A Saturday can only be considered a business day if you’re using a shipping service that offers Saturday pickups and deliveries. In this article, we are going to find out whether or not Australia Post delivers on Saturdays, as well as their guidelines and procedures regarding deliveries made on the weekend.
Australia Post: Overview
Australia Post is the postal mail service department that is owned and operated by the Australian government and provides its services throughout the nation. Australia Post’s headquarters is in Melbourne, and the city itself is served by the company’s mail delivery network.
Australia Post makes it possible for its customers to send and receive parcels within the country and to locations all over the world. It operates over 4000 stations and over 8000 routes across the country, including rural and remote places. Easy and low-cost shipping options are provided to customers in over 220 countries.
Australia Post’s service area extends far beyond the borders of the country itself. This indicates that it is able to deliver parcels, packages, and mail not only within Australia but also outside the country to other nations. Australia Post and USPS (United States Postal Service) have a longstanding partnership to facilitate international shipping and delivery between Australia and the United States.
Australia Post’s primary area of business is the delivery of shipments. Not only that, but it also provides business-to-business and agency services in addition to logistics/supply chain management.
In what ways do you benefit from offering weekend delivery to your customers?
Shipment delivery on Saturdays is a win-win situation for customers and businesses alike. Here are some of the major benefits of Saturday deliveries:
Time-sensitive customers can be specifically targeted – Develop your target market by focusing on potential customers who are looking for quick shipping solutions. It’s possible that some of them are up against a strict deadline, which demands an emergency delivery over the weekend; alternatively, someone may be in dire need of a prescription product right away.
Again, think of Amazon Prime, and the millions of other same-day delivery services that have made a significant mark in the eCommerce industry in recent years.
Attract a greater number of high-ticket customers – The number of courier companies that operate on the weekends is rather small. If your company offers delivery on the weekends, you will almost certainly see an increase in the number of customers who use it, particularly those who do not mind paying that extra buck to have their items delivered to them quickly.
Better productivity – Even though it can sound like more effort, making deliveries on the weekends might actually help increase the productivity of your shipping operations. Shipping tasks that were previously limited to weekdays can now be completed whenever convenient during the week.
Shipping carriers will be able to better manage their workload if they are not required to make deliveries of abnormally large volumes on Fridays; these packages can instead be held over until the following Saturday.
Enhanced Customer Satisfaction and Reliability – Offering Saturday delivery adds convenience for customers who are unavailable to receive packages during weekdays, enhancing their overall shopping experience. Reliable Saturday deliveries build trust, as customers see the business as dependable and responsive to their needs, fostering long-term loyalty.
Strengthen the credibility of your business – By accommodating a customer’s request for weekend delivery, you’ll build trust with them and demonstrate that you care about meeting their requirements above all else.
So Does Australia Post Deliver on Saturdays?
Now we can get down to business and tackle the question at hand: Does Australia Post deliver on Saturdays? The short answer is yes, it does. Saturday Delivery is a more recent addition to the list of services offered by Australia Post. When you ship something using Express Post, you have the option of adding Saturday Delivery for no additional cost.
Your customers will be able to select this option directly at the checkout screen, preventing them from giving up on their purchase because they are unable to be at home during the week to collect their package.
Orders for Saturday delivery must be placed by 5 pm on the preceding Friday to ensure arrival the following day. Packages can be sent to homes and workplaces, as well as to 24-hour parcel lockers that are available on Saturdays, in addition to post offices and business hubs.
Parcels that are sent via Express Post on Friday before the specified cut-off time within the area that is considered to be the Express Post Saturday Delivery area within your nation are eligible to receive delivery on the following Saturday. The vast majority of deliveries are scheduled to take place on Saturday between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.
Australia Post Deliver on Saturdays: Conditions and Requirements
Postcode Limitations
Specific Areas: Saturday delivery is available only to certain postcodes. Not all regions are covered, so it’s essential to check whether a particular address falls within the eligible areas.
Geographical Reach: Typically, this service is more accessible in metropolitan and urban areas, with limited availability in remote or rural regions.
Pre-paid Packages
Advance Payment: Items must be pre-paid to qualify for Saturday delivery. This ensures that all necessary processing is completed beforehand, facilitating faster handling.
Payment Methods: Pre-payment can be done through various methods, including online payment platforms and in-store transactions.
Order Placement Cut-off Times
Deadline for Orders: To be eligible for Saturday delivery, orders must be placed by 5 pm on Friday. This allows Australia Post sufficient time to process and prepare packages for next-day delivery.
Order Processing: Ensuring orders are placed before the cut-off time helps streamline the sorting and dispatch process, enabling timely deliveries.
By meeting these conditions, businesses and customers can take full advantage of the Saturday delivery service offered by Australia Post.
Some more considerations to keep in mind:
- Saturday delivery only applies to packages sent using Express Post that have been pre-paid.
- Only send packages to addresses listed as businesses, households, or parcel lockers, as well as post offices.
- Both the sender’s address and the recipient’s address are required to be located within the same state.
- In order to receive the package, the recipient’s zip code must match one of those listed here.
- Your package will not be delivered by Australia Post if it is addressed to a Locked Bag, PO Box, or GPO Box.
Sending a package through Express Post on a Saturday
After you have configured your shopping cart and you have received an order for Saturday Delivery, there are three things you will need to keep in mind.
First, be sure you’re not outside of the delivery area
For your convenience, we have included all of the postcodes that Australia Post covers on Saturdays. This will allow you to determine whether or not the package can be delivered on a Saturday.
Clearly label the package as Saturday delivery
Express Post Saturday Delivery labels are available for free at select Post Offices and Business Hubs, or you can get them in bulk when you buy Express Post satchels from their Online Shop. After you have paid for the postage, all that is left to do is attach a sticker to your package.
Ship by Friday
Send your package on Friday before the cut-off time which is 5 pm from a postal service, an Express Post street posting box, or your previously scheduled pick-up location, if you want it to be delivered on Saturday by Express Post.
Drop Off
Take your parcel to an Australia Post office or authorized drop-off point. You can also arrange for a pickup if available in your area.
Track Your Parcel
Use the tracking number provided to monitor the progress of your parcel and ensure it reaches its destination on time.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your Express Post parcel is eligible for and processed for Saturday delivery, providing a convenient and efficient service for urgent shipments. For more detailed information, you can visit the Australia Post website.
Setting up Saturday Shipping within your WooCommerce Store
If you ship on a regular basis and want to integrate Australia Post into your WooCommerce store and set up Saturday Delivery, the ELEX WooCommerce Australia Post Shipping Plugin with Print Label & Tracking is an excellent tool to do so. You will be able to provide customers with real-time pricing information for a variety of Australia Post services, such as eParcel, StarTrack Courier, and MyPost Business.
Benefits of using ELEX WooCommerce Australia Post Shipping Plugin with Print Label & Tracking
Streamlined Shipping Process: The ELEX WooCommerce Australia Post Shipping Plugin automates the shipping process, making it easier for businesses to manage Saturday deliveries.
Print Label and Tracking Capabilities: The plugin allows for the generation of shipping labels, configure custom box packaging options for the shipments, and real-time tracking, enhancing transparency and reliability for customers.
Seamless Integration: ELEX WooCommerce Australia Post Shipping Plugin seamlessly integrates with WooCommerce, providing a unified platform for managing orders, shipping, and customer communication.
So not only will this plugin streamline all of your Australia Post shipping operations, but it also enables you to set a cut-off time, specify your store’s business days, and automatically display the estimated delivery dates on your cart and checkout pages.
Does Australia Post Provide Delivery Services on Sundays?
Since all government offices are closed during the weekends, Australia Post, which is a government-owned postal service, follows the same practice. You won’t see Australia Post delivering on Sundays except in a few exceptional circumstances, including during the busiest seasons of the year, like festivals, Christmas, and the new year.
Does Australia Post Continue to Deliver During the Holidays?
The services provided by Australia Post and its business hours could be affected due to public holidays. The majority of the time, post offices will be closed in observance of national public holidays. On certain national and local holidays, certain post offices may choose to remain open. Some of the larger retailers in bustling urban areas or massive shopping malls may fall into this category. There will be no delivery of any kind, including Express Post packages, for any mail or deliveries.
Some post offices might be open on holidays observed by the state, the region, or the city, depending on the specifics of the holiday in question and the arrangements made at the local and state level. During holidays observed at the state, regional, or local level, there will be no mail or parcel delivery in the local region, including those of items sent via Express Post.
Express Post packages sent before the end of business hours on the business day before a public holiday will be delivered on the first business day following the public holiday. All domestic, international, and Saturday Delivery Express Post packages are subject to this rule.
New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day are the officially recognized days of public holiday. Shipping services may be affected and vary accordingly during these days. It is always advisable to ship time-sensitive packages beforehand to avoid delays during the holiday season.
Last Shot
Numerous advantages can be gained from Saturday delivery services, which meet a pressing need in today’s fast-paced culture. Both buyers and sellers benefit from this service; buyers want to get what they’re looking for quickly and easily, while sellers don’t want to lose any customers. It is essential to set your company apart from competitors and grow your customer base to provide as many shipping options as possible to your customers.
If you haven’t already set up Saturday deliveries for your store, this is your sign to set it up today! You can seamlessly integrate Australia Post with your WooCommerce website using the ELEX WooCommerce Australia Post Shipping Plugin with Print Label & Tracking, by incorporating this plugin, you can enhance the efficiency and reliability of your shipping operations, offering your customers a seamless and professional service.
We hope that after reading this article, you have a better understanding of what Saturday Deliveries with Australia Post entails, as well as all of the factors that should be taken into consideration while setting it up.
FAQs
- Does Australia Post’s Express Post service deliver on Saturdays?
Yes, Australia Post’s Express Post service offers Saturday delivery in many areas. The Express Post network aims to deliver the next business day, but if you send a package on a Friday, it might arrive on Saturday if the destination is within the Express Post network. - Are there any limitations for Express Post deliveries on Saturdays?
While Express Post aims for next-day delivery, if you send an item on a Saturday, the next business day is typically Monday. Therefore, Saturday delivery is not guaranteed unless specified. - Does Australia Post deliver international parcels on Saturdays?
International parcel delivery schedules can vary. While Australia Post aims to deliver international parcels as quickly as possible, Saturday delivery is not always guaranteed for international shipments. Check with Australia Post for specific details on international delivery options. - Are there any exceptions to Saturday delivery?
Saturday delivery is generally available, but some remote or rural areas may experience delays or limited services. Additionally, certain types of mail or parcels, such as those sent via standard post, might not be delivered on weekends. - Is there an additional charge for Saturday delivery?
Yes, Australia Post may charge an additional fee for Saturday deliveries, especially for Express Post parcels. Always check when booking to see if this applies to your shipment.
