A recent consumer survey shows that hot weather is increasingly making Estonians think about how high temperatures may affect goods ordered to parcel lockers. Chocolate, medicines, and cosmetics are the biggest concerns, with women considering heat-related risks significantly more likely than men.
Ahead of the warmer summer weather, a survey commissioned by SmartPosti reveals that half of Estonian residents have at least occasionally thought about whether summer heat might damage parcels left in parcel lockers. Of these, 18% said they think about it often. A year ago, around one-third of parcel locker users were concerned about the impact of summer heat on their deliveries.
Estonians are most concerned about heat-sensitive products. 77% of respondents said they would hesitate to order chocolate or sweets to a parcel locker during hot weather. Medicines and supplements (57%) as well as cosmetics (48%) are also seen as risky categories. By comparison, electronics raise fewer concerns, with only around a quarter of respondents hesitant to order them in the heat.
According to Rainer Oja, Head of Operations at SmartPosti, the results show that consumers are becoming more aware of which products are sensitive to heat. “While most people can easily imagine chocolate melting in a sun-exposed locker, attention is increasingly shifting to other products whose properties may also be affected by high temperatures,” Oja said.
The biggest differences appeared between the responses of men and women. Women are more concerned about potential heat damage and consider almost all product categories riskier to order during the summer than men. The most aware group is women aged 30–39, of whom 54% have thought about how heat may affect goods left in parcel lockers.
Across age groups, respondents aged 50–59 stand out as being significantly less concerned about the impact of heat compared to younger people. At the same time, families with children tend to be more attentive to potential damage. Regionally, residents of Jõgeva County think about the impact of heat most often, with six out of ten saying they have considered it at least occasionally.
“People often assume that if the outdoor temperature is 20 degrees, the same applies to the parcel. In reality, surfaces exposed to direct sunlight and enclosed spaces can heat up significantly within a short time. As a result, temperature-sensitive products may be more vulnerable during hot weather than usual,” Oja added.
The survey was conducted by Norstat from 27 May to 5 June and included 753 Estonian residents aged 18–59.