The Bonn-based logistics company has announced that it will discontinue two of its shipping options effective January 1, 2025. Both the cash-on-delivery letter and the “Registered Mail – In-Person Delivery (Domestic)” service will no longer be offered. These measures were taken due to a lack of customer demand. Customers who still have “Registered Mail, Personal Delivery” labels may continue to use them; however, these shipments will be delivered as standard registered mail in the future. Cash-on-delivery letters sent after the cutoff date will be returned to the sender. Alternatively, the cash-on-delivery service for packages can be used for a fee of 8.99 euros.
Deutsche Post is currently cutting back on its shipping options: Following the discontinuation of the key service and the mail forwarding service for various types of shipments, further changes to letter mail are now underway. Starting January 1, 2025, the “Registered Mail – Personal Delivery (Domestic)” service will also no longer be offered. With this shipping method, the delivery person was only allowed to hand the item over to the recipient in person; other members of the household were excluded. The service is therefore considered very secure, but customer demand was apparently too low for Deutsche Post to continue offering it. Instead, the logistics provider is directing customers to other registered mail options. Customers who still have “Registered Mail: Hand Delivery Only” labels may continue to use them after January 1, 2025; however, starting on that date, these items will be delivered as regular registered mail.
Cash-on-delivery for domestic German letters to be discontinued
Deutsche Post has also announced that, effective January 1, 2025, it will discontinue cash-on-delivery for domestic letters. With this shipping method, delivery occurs only after payment has been made. However, cash-on-delivery for letters was rarely used. Last year, cash-on-delivery for international letters was already discontinued; now it is being phased out for domestic mail as well.
Customers should note that any mail items still submitted as “Cash on Delivery Domestic” after January 1, 2025, will be returned to the sender. Instead, starting on that date, the cash-on-delivery service will be available for packages for an additional fee of 8.99 euros.
Summary:
Starting January 1, 2025, Deutsche Post will discontinue two of its shipping methods: cash on delivery and registered mail (personal delivery, domestic). Despite the security and convenience of these services, customer demand was too low to justify continuing them. Customers who still have the corresponding labels may use them; however, these shipments will be treated as standard registered mail, and cash-on-delivery letters will be returned to the sender. Alternatively, the cash-on-delivery service for packages will continue to be available for a fee of 8.99 euros.
