German consumers will soon be able to drop off and pick up parcels at self-service Packstationslocated in front of Aldi discount stores across the country.
DHL Parcel Germany, the Deutsche Post domestic parcels delivery business, will installseveral hundred Packstations at Aldi stores over the coming months under plans to continueexpansion of the self-service machines to about 2,500 by end-2009. There are currently about 1,000Packstations in cities and towns centres in Germany.
Deutsche Post, confirming media reports, said that it aimed to win more customers for theself-service machines, while Aldi aims to draw more customers to its stores through the move.
But the plans were criticised by DHL rivals. The German International Express Association(BIEK), representing the other major express and parcel carriers, demanded that parcels at “AldiParcel Shops” should be charged VAT just as with parcels carried by private competitors. “With thismeasure, the VAT exemption of Deutsche Post has finally lost its justification,” commented BIEKpresident Gunnar Uldall.
