Delivery by post is not particularly the best method for large internet purchases. The trend for drive-in solutions is growing increasingly in France with concepts such as Auchan Drive or Chronodrive.
The English language blog of the Lebensmittelzeitung posted recently the article “Germans drive, French click&drive”:
Retailer cooperative Leclerc already has 32 “Express Drive” collection points and wants to open another 15 by the end of June.
Rival retailer cooperative Système U has 200 packing stations and wants to double this number without, however, specifying a timeframe.
Major multiple Casino and retailer cooperative Intermarché are currently testing three viz. two drive-ins. Market leader Carrefour has one “Carrefour Ooshop Drive” in the Paris suburb of Villeneuve la Garenne just off autoroute 86.
Metro Group’s French Cash & Carry subsidiary has opened four packing stations in the south of France, but these are exclusively for its bulk customers who prefer to save time on collection rather than for end consumers wishing to order online.
Nonetheless, Metro Manager Philippe Bappel says he wants to open 15 drive-ins this year and a total of 55 throughout the country medium-term."
In the US, some are even more advanced:
Sears Holdings is testing a “MyGofer” store outside Chicago, where 80 per cent of the floor space is devoted to backroom storage and the rest to pick-up.
Sears Holdings’ Kmart subsidiary even encourages competitors to use its outlets as a central pick-up location.
Speculation is also rife that Amazon.com might begin to create pick-up locations."
In Germany, the Rewe Group is running a pilot program in Cologne.
Originally posted in German by Jochen Krisch, adapted for excitingcommerce.com by Jason Soo.
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