Launching only a year ago, South African ecommerce store Raru continues to add more functionality and offerings to its platform, in order to find its competitive edge. By integrating with Pargo‘s pick up points service, Raru clientele can now collect orders from one of over 200 stores in the country.
This option, according to Raru, “is also a more cost-effective option for many regional areas, and in many cases offer convenient after hours collections.” Interestingly, Pargo found that 33% of the parcels are picked up after hours.
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The pick up system is simple: an ecommerce store gives the parcel to Pargo, who then ship it to one of its pre-determined collection points, where you can then collect it at a time of your choosing.
Pargo’s collection points are available at a number of partnered stores, such as Vees Video, Caltex, and even Seven Eleven.
Read more: Pargo’s pick up points hope to innovate South Africa’s growing ecommerce
Looking at Pargo’s coverage map, the service is conveniently available in a wide-variety of locations. However, it may still take a while to include smaller towns, such as Grahamstown or Oudtshoorn.
Read more: Raru director Waine Smith weighs in on South Africa’s ecommerce industry
Stores keen to host Pargo collection points can find more information from the Pargo website.
This new option is selectable from Raru’s checkout page and costs R55, but orders over R299 bring the price down to R20 with discount shipping. Packages have to be collected within 14 days before it is sent back to Raru.
There are some restrictions when using Pargo, however, which are similar to those imposed by Speed Services couriers. According to Raru’s Help section, the following restrictions are in place:
- The order exceeds R2 000 in value
- The mass of the order exceeds 5kg
- The size of an item will not fit in a standard courier flyer bag
- The number of items in your order will not fit in a standard courier flyer bag
With voting now open for the South African eCommerce Awards, it will be interesting to see if this new service option influences Raru’s standing.
