The shipping sector in Egypt plays a vital role in both e-commerce and traditional trade. With the rapid growth of online shopping, shipping has become a critical factor that can make or break a business. Despite some improvements in recent years, merchants and customers still face many challenges.
1. Delivery Delays
One of the most common complaints is delayed deliveries.
- Causes include poor planning, overwhelming demand during peak seasons (such as Ramadan and Black Friday), and traffic congestion.
- In some cases, the delivery schedule is not respected due to poor coordination between warehouses and couriers.
๐ด Result: Loss of customer trust and an increase in return rates.
2. Damaged or Lost Shipments
Many customers report receiving damaged or missing products.
- This often happens due to poor packaging or mishandling during transportation.
- Lost packages may also occur because of inventory management mistakes.
๐ด Result: Financial losses for merchants and frustration for customers.
3. High Shipping Costs
Despite competition among courier companies, shipping costs in Egypt remain relatively high.
- Costs increase significantly when shipping to remote or rural areas.
- Merchants often sacrifice part of their profit margin to keep customers satisfied.
4. Limited Geographic Coverage
While coverage in Cairo and Giza is usually strong, remote governorates (like Matrouh, New Valley, or Halayeb and Shalateen) often suffer from weak or non-existent shipping services.
5. Cash on Delivery (COD) Issues
COD is very popular in Egypt, but it creates several challenges:
- Customers may refuse to accept the order upon delivery.
- Delays in collecting and transferring funds to merchants.
- Higher return rates, which result in extra costs for merchants.
6. Customer Service Challenges
Many merchants struggle to get clear updates or responses from shipping companies.
- Customer service is often slow and unhelpful.
- Merchants may not even know the reason behind delays or lost shipments until much later.
7. Lack of Advanced Technology
Although some companies have adopted modern tracking systems, many still rely on outdated methods.
- Limited transparency in tracking shipment status.
- Difficulties in monitoring returns and COD processes in real-time.
8. Courier-Related Issues
The courier represents the company to the customer, but issues are common:
- Unprofessional behavior in some cases.
- Refusal to deliver to certain areas.
- Leaving packages with security guards or neighbors without customer approval.
9. High Return Rates
Many customers treat COD as a “trial” optionโplacing orders and then refusing them upon delivery.
- This doubles the cost for merchants (delivery + return).
- In sectors like fashion and accessories, return rates can be extremely high.
10. Lack of Flexibility in Shipping Services
- Few companies offer precise delivery time slots.
- Difficulty rescheduling deliveries to suit the customer.
- Same-day delivery is rarely available, and when it is, it comes with very high fees.
๐ก Conclusion
Shipping problems in Egypt vary from delays, damages, high costs, weak coverage, COD issues, and poor customer serviceโall of which directly affect the growth of e-commerce. The solution lies in choosing a shipping partner that provides:
- Competitive rates.
- Advanced tracking and COD management technology.
- Professional couriers and responsive support.
โก This is exactly where Direction Center comes in: We provide merchants in Egypt with reliable shipping services at strong prices, wide coverage, and advanced technology that makes shipment tracking and COD collection much easier.
๐ Register now: https://direction.center
