It is estimated that this year there have already been sent nearly half as many items via the country's largest self-service parcel terminals LP EXPRESS network than last year at the same time.
“We have noticed that e-commerce is fundamentally changing behavior and psychology of the customer. The possibility to shop online at a convenient time, i.e. early in the morning before starting to work or late at night, requires that the collection of the acquired purchase would be as flexible as its acquisition.

Moreover, going to a post office or waiting for a courier at home - is a waste of personal time for the online shoppers. Today, people more than ever cherish and plan their time, therefore, self-service parcel terminals operating 24/7, which allow to collect postal items containing purchases from online stores at the most convenient time, are one of the most prospective e-commerce channels,” Juozas Buitkus, the Head of Baltic Post, a subsidiary company of Lithuania Post that runs self-service parcel terminals LP EXPRESS, said.

At the beginning of this year, Lithuania Post has ordered a survey on Lithuanian residents' online shopping habits, which was conducted by the international market research company "Nielsen". The survey showed three main factors that determine shopping online: a low price of goods (68 per cent), convenience (63 per cent) and a possibility to shop at the preferred time (62 per cent). The respondents identified the most important criteria for online stores selection to be: reliability of an online store (91 per cent), a detailed and clear description of goods (90 per cent), low prices (86 per cent), a wide range of products (86 per cent), fast delivery ( 83 per cent).

"Even 8 out of 10 respondents stated that choosing an online store an important criterion is a possibility to choose items delivery alternatives (a post office, courier service or self-service parcel terminal). It proves once again that the contemporary buyer wants to be independent, decide and choose by himself the most convenient way of delivery of online purchases," Mr. Buitkus said.

The surveyed respondents indicated that  they have mostly picked up purchased goods by themselves from a post office. However, this way of items collection is the most acceptable only for 8 per cent of respondents. One fifth of the respondents prefer deliveries via courier services, this way of delivery has been used by less than half of the respondents who shop online. Meanwhile, 50 per cent of respondents stated that they have collected their purchases via self-service parcel terminals. 17 per cent of the respondents consider it the most acceptable way of picking up the goods purchased online .

Out of all postal items that have been sent via terminals LP EXPRESS, more than 80 per cent are postal items containing goods purchased from e-commerce sellers. Residents of the country tend to collect purchased goods not only from Lithuanian but also from foreign online stores via self-service terminals. Even if the purchases are usually sent by post. This year, the redirection of items received via Lithuania Post to self-service terminals has increased by nearly a third.

At present, 80 self-service parcel terminals LP EXPRESS are located in 41 cities and towns in Lithuania.

LP EXPRESS is the only brand in Lithuania offering such a wide choice of delivery options. Items can be sent and collected via LP EXPRESS couriers, via self-service parcel terminals LP EXPRESS operating 24/7, or at any post office out of 700.

The Survey of Lithuanian Residents' Online Shopping Habits was carried out on 22nd-31st March, 2016. During the survey 18-65 years old Lithuanian residents, who shop in online stores, were interrogated by internet.

Source: Lithuanian Post