Courier firms lose the battle

Though usually requiring only a few clicks, online shopping can turn into a problem when the system is overloaded. The conundrum of when a package would be delivered was a hassle for many consumers over this holiday season, as courier companies struggled to deliver orders on time.

The sight of products still in piles awaiting delivery at courier firms' sorting centers and stores is a very good illustration of the magnitude of the problem.

Delays of several days also led to other side effects, such as increasing the risk of consumers falling victim to digital fraud, with criminal rackets using e-mails from fake senders - in many cases posing as the Hellenic Post - to extract key personal information from recipients.

The problems have intensified since November - a month of enhanced demand due to the Black Friday sales - according to market players, who admit to...