March 19, 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update | FlavorCloud

By FlavorCloud Team

Reading Time: 4 minutes

We have a number of important updates for our FlavorCloud family regarding shipping and delivery times due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). We want to let you know that we hope you, your family and friends are all safe and healthy in these trying times and the team at FlavorCloud is here to help and answer any questions you may have regarding international shipping and logistics.

1. Delivery Times

As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic and measures imposed by governments around the world some carriers report capacity constraints.For example, FedEx reports additional transit times for selected countries. See here for details.

Recommended Action: You may want to add a note at checkout to inform your international customer that it may take a few extra days for shipments to be delivered due to the pandemic.

2. Carrier Rates

To date, shipping rates have been very stable, and at FlavorCloud we pride ourselves with providing you the best rates. That said, some carriers are starting to add surcharges to some international routes as their costs are increasing due to the sharp reduction in international commercial and cargo capacity. These surcharges are not specific to FlavorCloud but apply to all vendors.

3. Embargoes

Some governments have limited access to their countries or entirely closed their borders. In addition, international and local carriers are updating their delivery policies in light of the pandemic. Here is a short list of key embargo updates:

Canada Post, effective March 18 has been suspending their on-time delivery guarantees. In addition, Canada Post will no longer be requesting signatures for any deliveries to the door. Instead, where possible, their delivery agents will apply their safe drop process, leaving items in customers’ mailboxes or outside their door if it’s safe to do so. Where it’s not possible to safe drop, the Canada Post delivery agent will leave a notice card indicating the post office where customers can pick up their items by showing proof of identity.

Similarly to Canada Post, Deutsche Post has put special processes in place for postal items subject to signature upon delivery as from Friday, March 13 2020. Parcels and registered items that would ordinarily require the addressee’s signature can now be deposited in the addressee’s mailbox or in a secure location on their premises, with signature by the postman/postwoman on their portable device.

Royal Mail in England reports some delivery delays on certain in-country routes, but otherwise is currently fully operational.

Poste Italiane, as a result of of measures taken by the Italian government since Tuesday, 10 March 2020, reports that the entire country has become a “yellow zone” that is subject to a number of extraordinary measures, effective until 3 April or a later date that may be communicated in due course. Merchants and their customers should expect delivery delays.

La Poste in France reports that the national strike affecting many sectors in France has ended and mail deliveries are considered an essential service and will continue during the lock down. Delivery staff will be delivering letters and parcels to homes as normal. In the case of shipments that require a signature, these will still be delivered by postal workers who are taking measures to adhere to social distancing. Parcels will be left in mailboxes if possible. Anything that requires a signature will instead result in a text message asking to accept delivery.

Hong Kong Post has updated that the processing of all inbound and outbound mail is now back to normal. Some international carriers report delays of shipments into and out of Hong Kong due to flight capacity constraints

Most carriers in Japan implemented “zero contact” delivery services temporarily not requiring signatures upon delivery.

If you have any questions about above updates or otherwise, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at support@flavorcloud.com.

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