Depending on whether you are a business or an individual - you may be receiving and sending out a lot of parcels in a week.
So, it will come as no surprise if you end up making a mistake in entering the shipping details or come across other unforeseen circumstances that may force you to redirect a parcel that is already on its way to you.
Before getting into how to go about it, let us understand the primary reasons you may need to redirect a parcel in the first place.
4 Reasons to Redirect a Parcel in Transit
There could be several reasons one may have to suddenly redirect a parcel that is already in transit. Depending on the reason for stopping your parcel in transit, you may have to redirect it with the help of a professional courier service.
1. Recipient Address No Longer in Use
One of the most common reasons for redirecting a parcel is that the recipient may have vacated the property or moved to another one. In this case, you do not want your parcel to return or be received by an unauthorised person, forcing you to redirect it to the new address.
2. Recipient Unavailable
Another reason why somebody would want to redirect a parcel that is already in transit is that they are not going to be available at the previously mentioned address to receive the delivery. While some will opt for the parcel to be returned in such a case, some might be expecting an important delivery and want to receive it at an alternate address.
3. Wrong Address Entered
It is only human for users to make minor mistakes while placing an order or sending out a courier. In most cases, these mistakes are in the form of incorrect or incomplete shipping addresses. In such a situation, some may immediately realise and want to amend their mistakes, and hence place a redirection request so that they can update the new address.
4. Scam Identified
In some cases, your users may identify some kind of a scam or fraudulent activity associated with their order or transaction. In such cases, they might opt to suspend their transaction and reconsider the purchase. A request to redirect your current order will at the very least lead to suspension of the order.
4 Things to Know When Redirecting a Parcel
Now that you know about the different kinds of situations and factors that might force a sender or recipient to redirect a parcel in transit, let us look at the things they should keep in mind while doing so.
1. Only Owners Can Redirect Shipments
In any case, if you want to redirect your shipments, you will either need to be the sender or the receiver. These are the two parties that will have all the shipment-related details at all times, and will have the rights to make any kind of changes to the transaction. In case a shipment needs to be redirected, only these parties are authorised to make changes to the address and put in a request to do so.
2. Check if the New Address is Serviceable
The next thing you need to do is ensure that the new address to which you are redirecting your parcel should be correct and functional. This means that either the recipient or another authorised individual should be present at the address so that they can receive the parcel. It is important to remind recipients to cross-check this to avoid any confusion or disruptions to the delivery.
3. Check for Additional Costs or Charge
While most courier companies and eCommerce companies will facilitate any kind of redirections to your delivery free of cost, some might charge for it. In some cases, redirecting parcels can even prove to be a more expensive affair than letting it return. Ensure to check for any such additional costs and take your decisions accordingly.
4. Consider Delays in Delivery
Depending on what your parcel contains, you may want to consider the delivery timelines more intensively. When you redirect a parcel, you are almost inevitably causing the delivery to be delayed. Your redirect request may take a couple of days to be processed and you have to account for additional time for delivery after that. Make sure that you are fine with these delays before you go ahead with redirecting your parcel, especially if your parcel has been sent via international priority shipping.
How Can You Redirect a Parcel?
The first thing you should know about when you are thinking of redirecting a parcel is that you can only do so until a certain point while the parcel is in transit. So before you understand how to redirect a parcel, ensure that you get the timing right. In most cases, if you are sending your parcel using a professional courier service, you will be able to redirect the parcel right up to the point that it is collected.
As a general rule, you should contact the courier company that is handling your parcel and confirm whether they will redirect it. The window for redirect requests generally closes after the parcel is collected or at least 24 hours before the collection depending on the rules laid down by the courier company.
That said, here are three most common ways of redirecting your parcel if it is already in transit with a professional courier company:
1. Place a Redirect Request Through Website
As a professional courier service, having a website where the users can place service enquiries, and track their shipments is a must. Check if the courier company that you have associated with has the option of accepting redirect requests via their website. If they do, this is the best way to proceed - simply register your redirect request, provide the necessary details, and complete the process as directed on the website.
2. Get in Touch with the Contact Center
The other way is to get in touch with the courier company via phone call. Most courier companies provide toll free numbers that you can call in case of queries or concerns. This is also one of the safest and easiest ways to navigate the process of redirecting your parcel.
Depending on the system the courier company leverages, you may be directed either to press a series of numbers to register your redirect request or be directed to a customer service representative to place the request.
3. Utilise Mobile App for Redirect Request (Subject to Availability)
In some cases, if you have opted for courier companies with large operations including international freight services and more, they may even have a mobile application. Due to the rising number of mobile users, courier companies are now leveraging mobile applications to register service requests. In this case, you can directly place a redirect request on the mobile application, and even track its status on it.
Concluding Remarks
Redirecting a parcel is definitely not one of the complicated things to happen to your parcel in transit, as long as you get your timing right. Plus, the more professional and experienced your courier service partner, the better the chances of them being receptive to your request and fulfilling it properly.
PACK & SEND will help you send parcels to local and international destinations just as professionally and provide you with the necessary support throughout the process. Get a quote to take advantage of our courier services.