Delivery Chaos at Clementi: Resident Highlights Messy Parcel Situation Post 11.11 Sale
If you happen upon unattended parcels, or “parcel dumps,” at your HDB void deck, there’s no need for alarm.
These are not typical refuse but the aftermath of the recent 11.11 sale frenzy.
Each misplaced parcel could cost the responsible delivery personnel a compensation fee of up to $100.
How It All Began: The Clementi Void Deck Incident
This 11.11 “dumping” began when Clementi Avenue 4 resident Jimmy Tan encountered parcels scattered across his void deck.
On 18 Nov, he took to the “Complaint Singapore” Facebook group to report the incident. He described the scene as a “dumping ground,” vulnerable to theft.
To prevent obstruction, he repositioned all the parcels to a corner of the void deck.
Jimmy’s photos showed 30 to 40 parcels haphazardly strewn about. Significantly, no delivery personnel were present to oversee the packages.
A Shin Min Daily News reporter who visited the location in the pictures found a delivery woman, Ms Zhao, offloading parcels from a vehicle at the void deck of block 372 Clementi Ave 4.
Due to the lack of designated sorting areas, delivery workers are compelled to use any open space available for this purpose before proceeding with doorstep deliveries.
Ms Zhao, 23, informed Shin Min Daily News that typically, one team member remains downstairs to safeguard the packages, while others expedite deliveries.
She chose not to reveal her employer’s name but mentioned she was tasked with delivering to 20 to 30 blocks in an unfamiliar area.
Consequently, she had no choice but to temporarily place the parcels at the void deck.
She assured that the delivery team strives to prevent negligence, as each lost parcel incurs a $100 compensation fee, in addition to the item’s value.
This scenario has sparked a range of reactions online.
Some netizens have come to the defence of the delivery workers, understanding the pressures of managing the surge in parcels from the 11.11 sales.
Others advised against participating in such sales to avoid contributing to the problem.
Regarding potential parcel losses, J&T Express informed Shin Min Daily News that, to date, no parcels have been reported missing.
The courier company acknowledged the challenges posed by the 11.11 sale’s high volume of orders and apologised for the necessary but unorthodox parcel sorting method.
Ms Zhao explained that with adequate space for sorting, a small team could efficiently deliver 50-60 parcels in under an hour.