The newly revised Measures for the Administration of the Express Market (hereinafter referred to as the "New Express Regulations") will come into force on March 1, 2024, aiming to solve the "last mile" problem in the express delivery industry. The new regulations clearly stipulate that without the user's consent, the use of smart express boxes, express service stations and other means to deliver express mail, and the circumstances are serious, will be fined between 10,000 yuan and 30,000 yuan. The implementation of this regulation means that couriers need to be more cautious when handling parcels to avoid violating the regulations and potentially face fines.
However, the implementation of the new regulations has not fully addressed the pressures and challenges faced by couriers. On the one hand, the new regulations require couriers not to deliver without the consent of consumers, which undoubtedly increases the workload of couriers, especially in some old communities or without elevators, couriers need to climb up and down to pick up and take pictures. On the other hand, although the new regulations increase the cost of non-compliance, the determination of responsibility between the courier company and the courier is not clear, resulting in the ultimate responsibility often falling on the courier in the event of a problem.
In addition, the implementation of the new regulations has also raised concerns about the quality of express delivery services. It has been reported that in addition to SF Express and JD Express, the delivery method of other express delivery is still to put the express mail into the express station at the entrance of the community, and the courier will not take the initiative to notify the user to pick up the package. This practice can impact the consumer's experience, as they may have to wait for a courier to come to their door or pick up their parcel on their own.
To sum up, although the implementation of the "Express Market Management Measures" provides a legal basis for solving the "last mile" problem in the express delivery industry, its actual effect still depends on the joint efforts of enterprises, consumers and relevant management departments. At the same time, in order to reduce the work pressure of couriers, it is recommended that express delivery companies and relevant regulatory authorities further optimize the service process, clarify the criteria for determining responsibility, and explore more efficient express delivery methods to ensure the effective implementation of the new regulations and consumer satisfaction.