Delivery couriers have now surpassed postmen in popularity, a new report reveals, and our online shopping habits are largely responsible.

The report also highlights that the public is just as inclined to tip a delivery courier as they are a postman during the holiday season. Moreover, people are increasingly offering couriers a drink or even the use of their bathroom.

The surge in online shopping, particularly for second-hand items, has led to a shift where parcel deliveries are now more common than letter deliveries to UK households. This trend was noted in a study commissioned by Mercedes-Benz Vans UK.

The decline in traditional mail, coupled with the rise of second-hand clothing apps among younger consumers, is contributing to this change. According to the study, postal workers deliver letters to British households an average of 2.3 times per week, while parcels are delivered about 2.7 times per week.

This trend is even more pronounced among younger generations, who receive an average of 5.4 parcels weekly.

The "Under the Bonnet" report shows a significant rise in parcel deliveries to younger Brits, driven largely by their shopping habits, especially through apps like Depop and Vinted, which have seen user numbers in the UK soar to 16 million.

The study comments: “The humble postman has been a cultural fixture for over 200 years—an iconic part of British life like a cup of tea or unpredictable summer weather. But they are now facing stiff competition, with 47 percent of Britons believing that delivery drivers play a more important role in their community than postmen."

It adds: “Amid the boom in online shopping and home deliveries, a similar proportion of people said they feel as much warmth and affection towards delivery drivers as they do towards their postman."

The report also reveals that households are more likely to seek local recommendations from delivery drivers than from postmen or tradespeople. Photo by Huhu Uet, Wikimedia commons.