An Post announces major change to thousands of postboxes across Ireland
The new service has come at an ideal time with Christmas just around the corner
An Post has announced a major change to thousands of postboxes across Ireland, making it easier than ever for customers to send small parcels without having to visit their local post office.
The postal service has officially launched its new Postbox Drop-off facility, allowing customers to send prepaid parcels through 2,600 postboxes nationwide.
The service, which launched this week, comes at an ideal time as Christmas approaches and thousands of households prepare to send gifts and return online purchases.
The initiative means customers can now drop smaller packages into participating postboxes rather than having to queue at a post office.
The service is particularly suited to small shopping returns, gifts and items sold through online marketplaces, including books, accessories and individual items of clothing.
How does the new service work?
Customers wishing to use the new facility must first print and attach a prepaid An Post postage label to their parcel.
They can then open the An Post app, select the Postbox Drop-off option, locate a participating postbox and scan the barcode on their parcel's label.
Once the package has been registered, customers can place it inside the postbox and confirm the drop-off through the app.
However, there are some restrictions.
Parcels must fit within the maximum stated dimensions of 240mm by 45mm, and customers are being reminded that packages should never be left on top of or beside a postbox.
Anyone sending a larger parcel, or without access to a printer, can continue to use their local post office or PostPoint agent.
Announcing the initiative, An Post CEO Fergal Leamy said the company was continuing to find innovative ways to make its existing network more convenient for customers.
He explained that the growth of online shopping was changing the way people send and receive goods, with the new service designed to make posting and returning smaller parcels quicker and simpler.
Meanwhile, An Post has also confirmed plans to begin a major refurbishment programme for postboxes across the country in 2027.
The project aims to give the familiar postboxes a new lease of life while preserving their place in communities across Ireland.
Customers can find more information, including a step-by-step guide to the new service, at www.anpost.com/dropoff.