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A growing wave of online second-hand shopping has turned grocery stores across Finland into unofficial parcel hubs. At K-Market in Helsinki’s Pukinmäki district, it is now common for customers to arrive not only for groceries but with tote bags full of resale packages, mostly tied to Vinted, one of Finland’s most popular online marketplaces.
According to store owner Timo Hölttä, the surge in parcels has become a daily routine.
“Handling these packages is almost like a relay,” he said. “We’re constantly clearing shelves and rearranging to make space.”
The backroom of the Pukinmäki store resembles a logistics centre. Parcels are stacked in rolling trolleys, shelves, and even chairs next to the checkout while employees juggle package intake with regular customer service.
Some staff say parcel handling now takes up as much time as selling groceries. On top of that, workers must process lottery transactions, identity verifications, and food delivery orders.
“Last week, one customer filled the entire conveyor belt with Vinted packages,” said cashier Rachana Bhandari, who has worked at the store for 18 months.
“It’s common now. People bring bags loaded with parcels.”
She added that while queues can grow due to package scanning, it is all part of the job.
“It’s not a problem,” Bhandari said. “But we do appreciate it when customers label their packages clearly. Sometimes they don’t, and we have to guess what the code says.”
According to Posti, Finland’s national postal service, volumes from online resale platforms have risen sharply. Posti’s own e-commerce traffic has grown fivefold in the past year.
The surge in Vinted usage is having a real impact. In addition to individual users sending clothing and household goods, the company’s popularity has indirectly changed the operations of small local stores.
In Pukinmäki, nearby parcel points have shut down, which has added to the load.
“During Christmas, we bring in extra shelving,” Hölttä said. “It’s the only way to fit everything.”
Despite the pressure on space and staff, shopkeepers and employees alike see the parcel volume as part of an ongoing shift in consumer habits.
“We’re just adapting,” Hölttä said. “The shop has become more than a shop. It’s a community service point.”
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
