As the holiday season begins, Lithuania’s parcel map starts to change. Parcel volumes decline in major cities, while at the seaside they jump by as much as one fifth during the summer. As holidaymakers and seasonal businesses move to the coast, parcels follow them too, with couriers sometimes having to look for recipients not only at hotels or cafés, but even on the beach.
However, experts warn that the carefree nature of holidays often makes people overlook one important detail, which can lead to delayed or missed deliveries.
When Vilnius empties, the seaside sees a real parcel peak
With the arrival of summer, parcel volumes in Lithuania’s largest cities noticeably decrease, as thousands of residents redirect their orders to the places where they are spending their sunny days.
“In July, the biggest parcel peak is recorded at the seaside, where parcel volumes increase by as much as 22 percent compared to June. In resort towns such as Druskininkai or Birštonas, parcel volumes also grow by around one tenth. Meanwhile, major cities record their lowest parcel volumes of the year, with the number of parcels dropping by more than one fifth compared to the annual average,” says Asta Raudonienė, CMO at Venipak.
According to her, summer brings increased activity at the seaside not only from residents and holidaymakers, but also from businesses. Cafés, hotels, restaurants and beach bars receive more visitors, which means they need to restock more often, while urgent orders for items needed here and now become part of everyday operations.
“For the summer period, we mobilise all available resources in seaside and resort areas, while also continuously looking for additional support to ensure that all orders reach recipients on time. We are currently looking for additional couriers to help us smoothly serve not only seaside towns, but sometimes even the beaches themselves,” says A. Raudonienė.
From holiday bicycles to deliveries straight to the beach
In summer, couriers face not only heavier workloads, but also more unexpected situations. Both seaside businesses and holidaymakers often order surprisingly unusual items to non-traditional locations.
“We have faced situations where several industrial refrigerators had to be delivered along a sandy path to a beach bar, and later regularly restocked with drinks. Bicycles are among the most common summer parcels sent to the seaside, while couriers have also had to search for parcel recipients on beaches, in hotels and in cafés,” says A. Raudonienė.
In addition to heavy goods and typical summer equipment, courier vehicles sometimes carry orders that surprise even experienced professionals.
“Last summer, we had a rather unusual case when a courier had to transport a small box marked ‘Fragile’. When the courier picked up the parcel, he noticed a strange sound. The box was buzzing, and when it turned out that there were wasps inside, the whole team was left surprised. Although the situation makes us smile today, we want to strictly remind everyone that sending animals or insects by post, courier or parcel locker is prohibited, except in cases where the carrier’s service rules provide otherwise,” says A. Raudonienė.
The biggest holiday mistake: the parcel arrives where you are not yet, or no longer are
The most common problem couriers face in summer is linked to holidaymakers being on the move. People forget that parcel delivery takes time, so they place orders impulsively without properly considering where they will be and when the parcel is likely to arrive.
“The most common mistake we see during the summer period is that people order parcels to a place where they are not yet staying, or where they will no longer be by the time the order arrives. That is why it is important to think not only about where you want to receive the parcel, but also when it will realistically arrive. If a parcel is being sent to a resort, the address and phone number should be provided very accurately, and recipients should make sure they will actually be there on the delivery day. Otherwise, it may happen that the parcel is already waiting at the seaside while the recipient is still in Vilnius, or the other way around,” advises A. Raudonienė.
If holiday plans are still changing, logistics experts recommend choosing a much more flexible delivery option, one that does not depend on a specific time slot.
“If your holiday plans are not fully clear, a parcel locker is often the safer choice. It gives recipients more flexibility, as the parcel can be collected at a convenient time without being tied to a specific delivery time or temporary address,” says A. Raudonienė.
