Evening and weekend delivery – why it determines customer satisfaction
Today, customers are not just concerned with when their parcel arrives. They care whether the delivery actually fits into their real day. During the day they work, have meetings, children, commuting. The real opportunity to receive a parcel comes in the evening and at the weekend. That is why the combination of evening slots on weekdays and weekend delivery is becoming the new standard in modern e-commerce.
TL;DR – why deliver in the evening and at the weekend
- During the day, people are not at home – in the evening, they are
- At the weekend, they have time and mental space
- Fewer missed deliveries and repeated delivery attempts
- Higher satisfaction for sensitive goods (pharma, health, electronics)
- A clear competitive advantage over ‘carrier working hours’
Evenings: when delivery finally makes sense
Most customers follow a very similar daily rhythm:
- work until 4–7 pm,
- return home,
- only then have space to deal with personal matters.
- Delivery between 5–9 pm is not a ‘premium extra’. It is the only time when the customer is genuinely available.
An evening slot:
- eliminates all-day waiting,
- reduces stress (“I have to be at home”),
- significantly increases the chance of successful handover.
For the customer, the difference is fundamental: “The courier will arrive this evening” vs. “The courier will arrive sometime during the day.”
Weekends: when customers can deal with things calmly
While evenings solve weekday reality, weekends solve life.
People:
- are not in work mode,
- plan their day in advance,
- are at home and available.
That is why it is no coincidence that:
📦 Roughly 20% of all parcels delivered by DODO today are delivered at the weekend.
This is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’. It is a full-fledged delivery capacity that customers actively rely on. And importantly: it is not just Saturday. Sunday is playing an increasingly important role as well, especially for:
- medicines,
- health products,
- goods with immediate need.
Evening + weekend = real flexibility
Evening delivery alone is not enough. Weekend delivery alone is not enough either. Real value is created only through the combination of:
- evening slots on weekdays
- weekend slots (including Sunday)
The customer does not have to think about logistics. They simply choose a time when they are free. And that is exactly what customers expect from e-shops today.
Use case: Dr.Max × DODO
In the pharmacy segment, one simple rule applies: need does not follow office hours.
That is why Dr.Max uses:
- evening delivery on weekdays,
- delivery during weekends,
- time slots instead of vague delivery windows.
As a result:
- customers know exactly when their medicines will arrive,
- they do not have to wait all day,
- and they do not have to postpone dealing with a health situation.
For e-shops: evenings and weekends are not a cost, but optimization
From an operational perspective:
- fewer failed deliveries,
- fewer second delivery attempts,
- fewer delivery-related complaints.
From a brand perspective:
- higher trust,
- better reviews,
- the feeling that the e-shop ‘works according to customers’ lives’.
When delivery stops being an obstacle
Evenings and weekends are not marginal delivery slots. They are the times when customers are genuinely available. If you offer them:
- you increase delivery success rates,
- you reduce the cost of repeated attempts,
- and you turn delivery into a competitive advantage.
DODO builds its delivery model on exactly this flexibility – evenings on weekdays, weekends, and clearly defined time slots. Because delivery should fit into customers’ lives. Not force customers to adapt to it.
