DHL introduces fee for second delivery attempt

German postal and logistics service DHL has announced several price changes. One of the changes is the introduction of a fee for second delivery attempts of parcels. Previously, second delivery attempts were part of the standard procedure. Now, senders will be charged 2.99 euros.

Logistics and postal company DHL has announced its price changes in a press release. The additional services were announced to business customers. For now, the price changes will only affect German customers and businesses, but it is expected that DHL will expand these rates to other markets eventually.

Higher costs

As of January 1^st, 2027, sending a letter in Germany with DHL will cost 70 percent more than it does now. The price will become 1.15 euros. According to the company, this is below the European average of 1.52 euros. The company is also introducing other services and costs to retailers.

The biggest change is the fact that second delivery attempts will cost 2.99 euros, if it is initiated. When a delivery fails, because a customer is not home, retailers will need to pay this fee for a second attempt. German ecommerce association bevh has criticized this plan.

‘Deviation from core service promise’

“DHL is indispensable as a service provider for German online retailers. However, by charging extra for a second delivery attempt, DHL is once again deviating from its core service promise: reliable delivery to the customer’s doorstep”, said Juri Schütt, public affairs officer of bevh.

‘Retailers will have no control over this process’

“If DHL cannot keep this promise in the future, retailers will have no control over the process. They would have to pay and would be unable to verify whether the unsuccessful first delivery attempt was actually the customer’s fault. This means the parcel service provider is potentially rewarding itself for its own poor performance. True service would mean providing retailers and their customers with reliable processes and freedom of choice in managing the recipient.”

Other extra services

DHL has more plans. Handovers of large shipment volumes often result in tracking delays, as individual steps are only recorded at the parcel center. This has often led to unjustified penalties for retailers on eBay and Amazon, for alleged delivery delays. DHL is planning to launch a new synthetic pickup scan. This will protect retailers from being held liable for bottlenecks in parcel centers.

DHL is also introducing a one-time code for the delivery of valuable goods. This means that delivery is only possible when this code is presented by the customer. Anyone in the household who can present this code is then authorized to receive the package.

The company is also introducing a service that allows retailers who send products with special requirements (like temperature-sensitive food), to block delivery to parcel lockers for 1.69 euros. Additionally, retailers can pay 4.50 euros per shipment for an immediate return of these goods. Perishable goods will no longer sit in the parcel shop or a parcel locker after a failed initial delivery attempt.