Label-free delivery from $1.80, 500+ drop-off points: Second-hand commerce just became more viable

FOR years, the biggest friction point in Singapore’s thriving second-hand market has not necessarily been finding a buyer.

Rather, it is often about the logistics that come after a transaction. Think of familiar moments such as coordinating meet-ups at busy train stations or trying to spot the right person in a crowd.

For those who opt for postage, the process can include printing shipping labels and physically mailing packages. On the other hand, private courier options may not always feel like the most economical choice.

In the end, many would-be sellers end up holding onto items a little longer than planned.

This is where companies like SPX Express – Sea’s logistics arm – come in. The firm recently partnered with classifieds marketplace Carousell in Singapore, joining its Carousell Official Delivery network.

The move aims to provide Carousell’s users with more convenient and affordable ways to send and receive pre-owned items within the predominantly consumer-to-consumer (C2C) second-hand space.

“Buying and selling second-hand items should be simple and accessible to everyone,” says Vishal Salunkhe, chief business officer at Carousell.

Cutting costs and friction

The most immediate draw of the partnership for users is the price point. Under the new partnership, buyers can now access subsidised delivery fees starting at $1.80.

According to Carousell, this is currently the lowest rate available on its platform and represents one of the most competitive shipping options for C2C transactions in Singapore. Besides that, sellers can opt for daily doorstep pickups at no extra cost.

The partnership also addresses a common barrier for casual sellers: printing shipping labels.

The new SPX integration offers label-less shipping for pick-ups and drop-offs. For the former, sellers only need to write the shipping tracking number on the parcel, and they can choose to leave it at a secure location for pick-up if they are not home.

As for the latter, sellers can write the tracking number on the parcel and show a barcode in the Carousell app at one of the over 500 SPX service points across the island, reducing friction significantly.

Together, these features make it easier to complete a sale and allow casual sellers to participate without navigating complex logistics. This lowers the barrier to entry for everyday users, helping more transactions move from listing to completion.

Scaling the “Official Delivery” vision

This partnership builds further upon the Carousell Official Delivery programme, which first launched in May 2023.

By integrating SPX’s infrastructure into the platform, Carousell is further expanding delivery options for users with more seamless and cost-effective ways to send and receive pre-owned items.

Similar to other logistics options on Carousell, SPX also allows both buyers and sellers to track the parcel’s journey directly within the Carousell app and receive notifications.

“SPX Express is a natural partner with its extensive collection point network, robust doorstep pickup services and simple label-less shipping solution,” says Salunkhe.

The strategic play

With SPX’s expansive logistics network in the mix, the partnership encourages users to transact more on Carousell for added convenience and competitive delivery rates.

“We are already seeing promising early results from user feedback, with buyers and sellers sharing high satisfaction with the affordability and convenience SPX provides for label-less pickups and drop-offs, as well as its speedy delivery,” says Salunkhe.

Adds Hoirul Hafiidz, director of SPX: “With this latest partnership, we look forward to serving more Singaporeans, and making their day-to-day deliveries seamless and affordable.”

Find out how you can use SPX through Carousell.

This article was first published in Tech in Asia