Australia Post explains what is causing delivery delays in Canberra, ACT

The surge in online shopping is one of the reasons many are waiting much longer than usual for packages to be delivered.

In addition to some books from Booktopia, he ordered a khaki green jumpsuit from Norway.

It was a month of anticipation before Mr Stevens could open the boilersuit.

"[Delivery times] have been maybe a week or two slower than I thought," Mr Stevens said about his e-commerce deliveries.

Mr Stevens isn't the only territorian who did some retail therapy during lockdown.

Australia Post said in the seven weeks from August 15 to October 2, online purchases doubled from the year before, with 142,000 ACT households ordering from the web.

"Online purchases in the ACT grew 52 per cent year-on-year in August 2021, making it the second fastest-growing state or territory behind NSW," an Australia Post spokesperson said.

Australia Post said the most popular categories were items from variety stores, home and garden products and hobby/recreational goods. There were also lots of pet products, tools and sporting goods were also sought after.

Australia Post said more online shopping, border closures, reduced domestic flights, lockdowns, and additional time spent undergoing COVID safety measures has caused delivery delays.

It advised customers to send any packages for Christmas as soon as possible.

"We are planning ahead for a busy festive season and while we'll be delivering right up to Christmas, including Christmas Eve, we recommend sending as early as you can to give presents and Christmas cards the best chance of arriving in time," a spokesperson said.

"We know that delays are frustrating, but we are asking customers for their patience and to allow an extra couple of days for their parcels to arrive."

The backlog even prompted a pause in collections from digital retailers in September, as Australia Post tried to catch up.

Online shopaholic Olympia Tzortzopoulos relied on sites such as catch.com, Ebay and Etsy to support her lockdown hobbies, such as making furby, named Hollyhock McMuffin, and starting a new skincare routine.

She said a five-kilogram bag of shredded foam from Western Australia took six weeks to get to Canberra.

"I think it got lost at the AusPost packing facility in Perth," Ms Tzortzopoulos said.

"I just don't know how they could have missed it; it was the size of a small dog and the shape of a football. I also had a different Etsy order come through WA while the package was supposedly waiting in the dispatch centre.

"I eventually sent them like a complaint form to try and hustle the process along a bit. The complaint form was hard to find, and they said they would respond to it in 48 hours which they didn't do."

The north Canberran said a 3D printed resin doll part from the United States took two months, while Korean skincare products from Hong Kong store YesStyle only took eleven days.

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Mr Stevens said he is not concerned about Christmas delivery delays, because he won't be organised enough to send cards or pre-order gifts online.

"By the time Christmas rolls around, they'll probably be enough stores open for Christmas shopping," he said.

"I pretty much just shop like the week before."

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