CU celebrates PostBox redesign with parcel delivery service discounts

[Photo provided by BGF Retail Co.]

CU, a major convenience store chain in South Korea, announced on Monday that it is commemorating the complete redesign of its parcel acceptance machine, CU PostBox, by offering discounted rates for its budget-friendly parcel delivery service regardless of size or weight.

CU will be offering a 300 won ($0.23) discount on its parcel rates until March 24. Users can now send parcels weighing less than 1kg for as low as 1,500 won with the discounted rate, 62.5 percent cheaper than regular courier services.

CU’s budget parcel service allows customers to drop off parcels at any CU store and have them picked up at the CU store designated by the recipient, offering a convenient and cost-effective alternative to traditional courier services.

With no personal information exposure and the advantage of being received at a nearby convenience store, CU’s budget parcel service has gained popularity.

The percentage of budget parcel usage within CU’s total parcel services has steadily increased from 1.8 percent in 2020 to 25.3 percent in the past year.

Over half (57.2 percent) of budget parcel users in 2021 belonged to the age groups of teens (24.8 percent) and 20s (32.4 percent).

BGF Networks, the operator of CU Parcel, in the meantime, announced a strategic partnership with international express courier DHL Korea last week. Customers can send international parcels through DHL Korea at their nearest CU convenience store.

To use the international parcel service, customers need to make a reservation on the CU Parcel website and visit a CU store for parcel acceptance, with the option to send items weighing up to 20kg.

The trial operation of the DHL international parcel service through CU convenience stores is scheduled to run until the end of this month, with full-scale operation commencing in April.