Parcel Lockers and Pickup Points: Which Address Should You Give?
Lockers and in-store pickup points are a popular alternative to home delivery. How the address works, and when you still need your own postal code.
Parcel lockers and pickup points in retail stores have become a common way to receive online orders in South Africa, especially for people who are not home during the day or who live where courier access is difficult.
How the address works
- When you choose a locker or pickup point at checkout, the store or locker’s address becomes the delivery address. You usually pick it from a map or list.
- You still give your name and mobile number, because the collection code is sent to your phone.
- Your own postal code is often still needed for billing or your account profile. Use the street code of your home address.
When to choose a pickup point
- You live in a village or township without a street address. See rural addressing.
- No one is home during working hours.
- Your complex has strict access control.
Things to check
- Collection deadlines. Parcels not collected in time are usually returned.
- Size limits for lockers.
- Trading hours of the store, especially weekends and public holidays.
Need your own code for billing?
Frequently asked questions
Do I enter the pickup point’s postal code or mine?
The shop or courier fills in the pickup point’s address for delivery. Your own street code is only needed where the form asks for your billing or home address.
Can someone else collect my parcel?
It depends on the service. Most send a code to your phone, which you can share with someone you trust. Check the service’s rules.