During the Spring Festival, the tricks of several e-commerce companies exposed the upsurge of logistics before the 11th of 2017. There is a strong willingness of express delivery companies to raise prices under labor shortage, environmental remediation and rising costs. However, in reality, many express delivery companies have said they will not increase prices, express mail unit price even declined.
The industry voices pointed out that the logistics industry, which relies heavily on e-commerce, has become more and more fiercely involved in homogenization. Under the weight of a slowdown in e-commerce growth, 'rising prices equals death' and enterprises will lose orders; Temporarily difficult to digest.
Jingdong, AliEx continuation of price hikes
It seems that the price increase of logistics starting from October 11 before 2017 is not over yet.
During the Spring Festival, Jingdong Logistics announced the acquisition of 2.5 billion US dollars in financing, on the same day, Jingdong will be self-delivery of goods shipping standards were adjusted for non-fresh goods, the price increase, less than 49 yuan self-orders Will be charged 15 yuan to send the shipping charges.But before this, Jingdong this kind of product is executed less than 99 yuan charge 6 yuan freight.
In addition to self-goods, more responsive to the adjustment of shipping charges is the member of Jingdong PLUS Some netizens recently announced that the "free shipping coupons" promised by Jingdong will be turned into a value of 6 yuan 'coupons' and increased basic freight , Resulting in damage to the rights of members. Jingdong issued a statement on February 25 that the current PLUS member orders less than 49 yuan order, you can continue to enjoy the basic freight costs 6 yuan.Industry has pointed out that these moves Jingdong reflects the logistics Cost pressures and revenue pressures.
February 27, Ali AliExpress announcement, said the logistics and transportation costs increase, since March 1, the three cross-border logistics line freight will be adjusted.In addition, The announcement also said that due to fluctuations in fuel prices caused by fluctuations in the cost of the international express delivery industry, fuel surcharges with the fuel price changes up, down or canceled.Reporters noted that in the first three months of 2018, the fuel surcharge implementation rates were 14.75% 15.25% and 16.25%, showing a monthly increase trend.
Upstream tide of logistics prices in 2017 before the eleventh has already begun brewing, around October 10, 2017, in the express, rhyme courier have announced the adjustment of courier freight, express in its "customer report" said, The reason for the price hike is that 'This year, the courier industry has been affected by many factors, including the increase of transportation costs, the increase of labor costs and the rise of raw material prices.'
Cost pressures such as manpower and raw materials are driving up prices
Courier companies impose a strong price impulse from cost pressures.For some time, the logistics industry, labor, warehousing, transportation and other costs continue to rise in these costs, the cost of manpower is the bulk, rose rapidly.
Not only that, the recruitment of the logistics industry is also a long-term problem.This year after the Spring Festival, many courier companies can not recruit people, and some couriers and even hire a courier 15,000 yuan monthly salary.
'A lot of people around to go home no back, and some switch to run takeout.' For express delivery industry postganglionic 'labor shortage', a courier company courier Yang Yuchen (a pseudonym) told reporters that the take-off usually have noon, Two working hours in the evening, working eight or nine hours a day, while many couriers work over 12 hours a day from seven o'clock in the morning until eight o'clock in the evening.In addition, some courier outlets and couriers did not sign a labor contract, which Also makes the courier outlets and courier relationship is very fragile.
In order to encourage staff induction, many express outlets hit courier to pay, Welfare's signs, such as the new move to a courier, will reward 400 introducer, there are outlets hit a monthly salary of 15,000 yuan notice.
A Changchun express outlets official told reporters that the usual situation, Changchun region courier monthly salary is generally 5,000 to 6,000 yuan, after the Spring Festival rose to 5,000 yuan to 8,000 yuan hiring.
'Recruiting hard can not be said to be a seasonal issue, but there are more than a decade of problems,' said Xu Yong, chief consultant of China Express Logistics Advisory Network, with the gradual disappearance of China's demographic dividend, the logistics industry is facing increased labor costs It is an inevitable trend.
In fact, the courier industry, the overall cost of rising since last year so far did not stop the mean.As the courier announced in the last wave of price increases: the logistics industry in the past year, transport costs, labor costs and raw materials rose obvious.
Take corrugated paper needed for logistics packaging as an example, according to data provided by ZhuoJuang Information, the national average price of corrugated paper was 4072 yuan / ton in 2017, up 51% from 2697 yuan / ton in the previous year. This impact, a single corrugated box prices rose 15% -25%.
Into 2018, the price of corrugated paper is still showing a rising trend.According to the business agency data, in January 2018, the national paper and paper products industry factory price rose 8.6%.
Some industry sources said that by the environmental restrictions on production and the reshuffle of the industry, the expansion of the supply side of the papermaking industry is not yet obvious, in 2018 corrugated and cardboard prices still rise mainly.
Would like to rise up again, what concerns companies?
Although the courier companies are facing cost pressures, but e-commerce slowdown in the context of courier companies want to hike there are many obstacles.
Spring Festival prices there is a seasonal factor, Jingdong price increases can only represent the business piece, for the e-commerce accounts for the bulk of the express delivery companies, the price increase is not a simple matter. 'Express industry veteran observer, Double One consulting founding According to Gong Fu, people claim that the venue requirements are getting higher and higher, transit transport costs are high, while the courier express delivery unit price is declining.
Express courier-based SF, STO, rhyme recently released in January 2018 business briefing, courier service from the month single ticket revenue (average per-single income) changes in view, Shanghai Tong increased 8.13%, SF, rhyme alone Ticket sales decreased by 6.61% and 7.99% respectively.
For this phenomenon, Gong Fuzhao explained that at present the express delivery industry is heavily dependent on e-commerce, e-commerce is profitable on a scale, very sensitive to the courier price.In the e-commerce business slowdown trend, the delivery of corporate profits will be sustained Squeeze, express delivery price increases is very difficult.
'Now is not express pricing, but e-commerce pricing.' 'Xu Yong said that in addition, courier companies continue years of price war is the price hikes, especially with the business homogeneity, competition intensified capitalization, the price war intensified , "Who first price increases who die first," the problem is still no solution.
Express courier price is difficult, the express delivery industry veteran strategic consultant Zhao Xiaomin have different views, he believes that the courier companies are facing the core problem is the courier business headquarters and franchise outlets did not form a bundled interests, business operations and the separation between the entire network system Making the headquarters of the profit did not share to join the network, headquarters for the network is not controllable.
Courier industry to 'join' the main mode of operation, making Express headquarters to ensure profits, while outlets are facing tremendous operating pressure. Outlets face the pressure of rising costs, but not the ability to price increases, and this pressure of distress and did not upload This loose relationship also poses a risk to the stability of the terminal distribution system.
■ point of view
Courier short-term price increases is unlikely
Clipped between the rising costs and price increases difficult between the courier companies to usher in the spring then?
'With the national regulatory authorities and the courier industry regulations revised, this situation will be reversed,' Express strategic consulting senior consultant Zhao Xiaomin said the headquarters of the express delivery business for the risk of the network system will take on more responsibility, so that headquarters The pressure will be greater, will also take the initiative to move closer to the network.In the context of consumer environment, environmental protection policies, labor costs, safety regulatory system to enhance the courier price increases is an inevitable trend.
The industry generally believes that express delivery companies in the short term is unlikely a wide range of price increases.
Reporters on February 28 contacted the pass, tact, rhyme, STO and many other more than the main business of courier companies responsible person, the other said they will not increase prices in the short term.
'Homogeneous competition, the situation does not change, the price will not go up in the short term express delivery companies from the internal cost of surgery.' Express senior observer, Double One consulting Gongfu said the current express delivery company internal management is more extensive, the future Related costs will decline.In addition transit transport costs also have room to decline.
'Express delivery companies to complete the market is equal to the opening price increases, but just listed, just rich express delivery companies are still in a strategic loss phase, will begin to change next year.' Zhao Xiaomin said the current express delivery companies are still not aware of the headquarters and outlets The contradiction will bring the risk, the fuse of price hikes may be a more serious network crisis or a stock price crisis.