Glasgow-based c-store Londis Solo Convenience has cut ties with Evri after a decade, describing the long-standing partnership as “untenable”.
Owner Natalie Lightfoot said she processed more than 100 parcels a day, but the commission structure and workload made the service unsustainable.
She questioned the long-held claim that parcel services drive profitable footfall into local shops. On LinkedIn, Natalie said: “If only those who dropped off would actually spend money on a pint of milk minimum rather than running for the hills after hurling the parcel at the counter.
“Parcel customers needed a lot of additional support to even print their labels, type their own details into the tablet or figure out who they were returning to which we would obviously provide, but for 20p a parcel it is no longer worth it. It takes man hours upon man hours to assist. Interfering with the practices in-store, we need to pay the bills.”
Natalie said her decision was influenced by conversations with other independent retailers facing similar challenges.
“I need to focus on what’s right for us as a store. Being a great community store with high standards and sometimes that comes with setting boundaries. My team can’t be running around chasing unpaid work. I know this is the right decision to make,” she said.
Responding to the matter, an Evri spokesperson said: “We greatly value every ParcelShop in our network and the vital role they play in their communities. While our service continues to evolve, we recognise that for a very small number of shops, it may no longer be the best fit. In these instances, we’ll offer support where we can.
“Over the last decade, we’ve seen our ParcelShop network more than double in size, and our continued growth creates great opportunities for shops to increase earnings and footfall.”
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