Artillery Fire Through Price War

On November 12, the State Post Office issued "tips on service consumption of express delivery business in peak season (1)". Monitoring showed that from November 1 to November 11, a total of 3.965 billion Express items were processed by postal and express enterprises across the country, of which 675 million were processed on November 11, an increase of 26.16% over the same period of the previous year, setting a new record. In addition, the State Post Office also predicts that during the "double 11" period (November 11-16), the business volume will reach 2.97 billion pieces, an increase of 28% over the same period last year, and the daily average express business volume will reach 490 million, about twice the daily business volume.

"Double 11" belongs to the carnival of e-commerce platform and consumers: the turnover of tmall's "double 11" is 498.2 billion yuan, and that of Jingdong is 271.5 billion yuan. But for the couriers who connect e-commerce and consumers, this is both lucky and unfortunate. After the crazy turnover, the e-commerce transaction closed-loop will be completed by nearly 4.5 million couriers across the country. As a result, such a heavy burden fell on the courier like Shen Qiang.

Shen's four year old express company is very mobile. On November 11 and 12, the 21st century economic reporter sent a two-day express with Shen Qiang. The reporter of 21st century economic report observed that Shen Qiang was in the key link of the terminal delivery, and he struggled with the deadline of the delivery signing rate every day. On the other hand, it is difficult to improve the delivery efficiency of express delivery outlets by increasing the number of delivery outlets. The peak season effect of "double 11" will enlarge the difficulty of "how to improve the delivery efficiency".

Express cabinet charges rise

Shen Qiang is responsible for the express delivery of six communities, with a daily volume of 400 to 500 pieces. On November 12, the express delivery of the "double 11" gradually arrived at the outlets, and the delivery volume increased to 600 pieces. From November 13 to 20, it is estimated that 700 pieces per day will be delivered.

According to the usual network assessment, Shen Qiang needs to complete the signing rate of 30% of the delivery volume before 10:30 every day, and 98% of the delivery volume before 2:00 p.m. every day. That means he needs to deliver 150 by 10:30 every day. This is a difficult task. On weekdays, many recipients go to work and cannot sign in person. It takes time and money to call one by one and get the other party's permission to put it into the express cabinet or collection point. As a result, Shen Qiang gradually formed a delivery habit that wandered on the edge of "being complained about": before putting the express delivery into the express cabinet, he would not take the initiative to call the recipient, until the recipient received the SMS notice and called to ask for delivery to the home, he went to take it out and deliver it.

Shen Qiang told the 21st century economic news reporter that only under this delivery mode can he complete the assessment of the signing rate, otherwise he will face a fine for delivery delay.

However, in the face of the 21st century economic report reporter's question of "not afraid of the recipient's complaint", Shen Qiang said frankly that at least most of the recipients in the community he was responsible for delivering were tacit in such behavior, "many people go to work during the day, they have this need, and few people complain. And, everybody (the couriers of other express companies) do it. " However, Shen Qiang still occasionally gets the tickets brought by such complaints, with a fine of 100 yuan for one complaint, but he said that this is still a very rare case.

The reporter of 21st century economic report found that the couriers of franchised express companies rely heavily on express cabinets, which will easily lead to the situation of "grabbing cabinets".

The rapid development of express cabinet benefits from the increase of express industry. However, in May this year, a conflict broke out around the express cabinet: Fengchao technology, the leader of the express cabinet, announced the launch of member services on the eve of the May Day, and charged overtime storage fees for non member users. Subsequently, consumer complaints, the community industry committee "counterattack.".

Because enjoy free express custody, Shen Qiang before the delivery into the cabinet behavior is rarely complained by the recipients of their own community. But in the Fengchao express cabinet storm in May this year, Shen Qiang received more complaints than before. In his view, Fengchao express cabinet charges broke the balance of the past, the original courier, the recipient can be at peace. However, in the case of express cabinet profit model is not clear, charging ordinary users is sooner or later.

However, after the Fengchao express cabinet storm, Shen Qiang's most worried thing did not happen - "originally thought that everyone in the back would not let the express cabinet go." He told 21st century business reporter that soon he was back in his old distribution habit.

In fact, couriers are the main charging group of express cabinets. 0.0 yuan for the express delivery in the small counter, which is 35.0 yuan for the small counter and 45 yuan for the express delivery in the small counter. Shen Qiang will put about 200 to 300 pieces of express every day into the express cabinet to help him complete the signing rate of 40% to 50%, while the daily expenditure of the express cabinet is between 120 yuan and 150 yuan.

In another district, Fengchao express cabinet, cabinet delivery charges are reduced by 0.1 yuan. 21st century economic reporter learned that a month ago, a new rookie post station was opened near the community. In order to attract couriers to express into the cabinet rather than into the station, the express cabinet in this district has reduced the charges.

It is difficult to reduce the momentum of price war

After the e-commerce announced the "double 11" war report, some "Tongda" express companies also released the "double 11" report card: Yunda shares and Yuantong Express successively announced the news that the express received more than 100 million pieces on the day of "double 11"; Zhongtong express also released complete data, and its order volume from November 1 to 11 reached 820 million pieces, and the business volume exceeded 760 million pieces According to the statistics, they are much higher than the same period last year.

In order to cope with the peak period of express delivery, the major express companies replenish their staff on the eve of "double 11". Shen Qiang's network also recruited five temporary workers. During the "double 11" period, his usual delivery assessment time will be relaxed. But this still can't let Shen Qiang easily "breathe". "The volume on November 12 is still not much. From the 13th, I will deliver at least 700 pieces a day." He told 21st century business reporter that going to bed at one or two o'clock in the morning will become the norm.

Shen Qiang's salary is composed of basic salary, distribution fee and receiving items. Among them, payment is the main source of income. In the past year or two, Shen Qiang's distribution fee has not changed, but he learned that other outlets nearby have declined, making some of his familiar couriers leave.

Couriers are the victims of the "price war" in the express industry.

According to the statistics of 21st century economic report, from the drop rate of single ticket income of listed A-share express companies, the trend of fierce price competition began to appear since March, and entered the stage of "fierce battle" in April. Under the strategy of exchanging price for quantity, the decline rate of single ticket income of domestic express industry has reached the peak in recent years this year. In September, the single ticket income of Shunfeng, Yunda, Yuantong and Shentong was 18.47 yuan, 2.15 yuan, 2.18 yuan and 2.18 yuan per ticket, respectively, with a year-on-year decrease of 15.16%, 31.31%, 20.38% and 22.70% respectively.

In the interview, 21st century economic reporter learned from the courier that although the volume of this year has increased, the delivery fee has been reduced. It is worth mentioning that the momentum of "price war" in the express industry is hard to weaken under the agitation of the new entrants such as Zhongbao and Jitu.

In response to the recent report of "rubbing against the net" by polar rabbit express, Shen Qiang told the 21st century economic reporter, "we can't let them 'rub' for sure. We should protect our own territory."

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