Australian parcel and courier service Sendle has suddenly ceased operations, leaving small businesses in limbo.
Sendle, founded in 2014, sent an email to customers informing them that the service will be halting all bookings “effective immediately” from yesterday, January 11.
“If you have any existing or scheduled bookings with us: Any parcels that have already been picked up and are in transit will be delivered at the discretion of the delivery partner,” the message reads.
Sendle, founded in 2014, sent an email to customers informing them that the service will be halting all bookings. (Sendle)
“Any existing bookings scheduled for pickup on 12 January or later will be cancelled.”
Sendle also apologised to users for the inconvenience but did not give a reason for the shutdown.
The parcel service said it has shipped more than 65 million parcels across three countries since it began operations.
It was primarily used by small businesses.
Small business owner Alicia Segal, the co-founder of Australian breast pump business Bubka, said she had been blindsided by the shutdown.
Sendle also apologised to users for the inconvenience but did not give a reason for the shutdown. (Supplied)”We usually alternate between Sendle and Australia Post. With the ongoing frustrations around Australia Post, we were in the process of moving all our postage to Sendle – so this update has left us feeling high and dry,” Segal told nine.com.au.
Segal said Sendle was “generally much cheaper” than using Australia Post for all parcel deliveries.
On its website, Sendle bills itself as less expensive than parcel post and express post.
A Sendle three-kilogram parcel is priced at $13.20.
The same weighted parcel costs $19.30 to ship with Australia Post.
Sendle raised $45 million during a funding round in 2021 to help it expand to the US.
In a statement, Sendle told nine.com.au it is no longer taking future bookings.
“We are not able to provide any further comment at this time,” the spokesperson said.