CU, operated by BGF Retail, said on the 29th it will launch a "Japan half-price parcel" service on the 3rd of next month.
The Japan half-price parcel can be sent on-site through parcel equipment at CU stores, the same as regular parcels. It can also be booked on the in-house parcel app (CUPOST). The delivery time is up to 3 days excluding the day of acceptance, similar to the domestic service.
The expense is 14,000 won for up to 500g and 17,700 won for up to 2 kg, putting it at the lowest level in Korea. Compared with overseas delivery services (for up to 2 kg), it is up to 83% cheaper.
The company said it reduced unnecessary expense through collaboration with logistics Start - Up STL, enabling it to offer the service at a lower price.
CU expects the main users will include small business operators running open markets or personal stores in Korea, families and acquaintances of Japanese exchange students, and tourists who shop during visits to Korea and then send goods to Japan.
Through the half-price parcel, CU plans to draw the growing demand for Japan-bound reverse direct purchase (overseas consumers' direct online purchase of Korean goods) parcels into convenience stores.
As more foreign consumers seek K-beauty and K-fashion, the reverse direct purchase market is growing. According to the Korea Customs Service, as of Aug. this year, the number of reverse direct purchase cases reached about 61 million, an all-time high, and about 33.7 million (55%) of them were ordered from Japan.