Who Usually Bears the Final-Mile Delivery Cost?

Who Generally Bears the Cost of Last-Mile Delivery?

In the logistics industry, last-mile delivery is a crucial part of the supply chain, referring to the final leg of transportation from the distribution center or sorting point to the end consumer. The question of who bears the cost of this stage has always been a focal point of attention both within and outside the industry. In recent years, with the rapid development of the e-commerce sector and the increasing demands of consumers for delivery efficiency, the mechanism for sharing the costs of last-mile delivery has become increasingly complex.

Last-mile delivery costs primarily involve the interests of three parties e-commerce platforms, logistics companies, and terminal consumers. Typically, these costs vary depending on the specific business model. For instance, in traditional B2C business-to-consumer models, last-mile delivery costs are often borne by the merchants. This is because merchants are willing to cover part or all of the delivery costs to enhance their product competitiveness and attract customers to place orders. However, in certain scenarios, such as large items or special service requirements, these costs may be passed on to consumers, becoming part of the total order price they pay.

On the other hand, in C2C consumer-to-consumer models, the handling of last-mile delivery costs becomes more diverse. Platforms like Taobao and Pinduoduo allow sellers to choose whether to offer free shipping. If a seller chooses not to offer free shipping, buyers must pay additional freight charges; conversely, if a seller commits to free shipping, it means they have prepaid these expenses and included them in the product pricing. This flexible adjustment mechanism enables different sellers to formulate strategies based on their operational conditions while providing buyers with more choices.

It is worth noting that with the rise of new logistics solutions such as instant delivery services, the party bearing the cost of last-mile delivery may change. For example, platforms like Meituan Flash Purchase and Ele.me Run errands provide fast delivery services, which hide high operating costs behind them. In such cases, some merchants may try to absorb these increased costs by raising product prices, while others might directly inform consumers of the additional charges, allowing them to decide whether to accept these terms autonomously.

There are also emerging trends worth noting. For instance, the concept of the sharing economy is gradually infiltrating the logistics sector. A typical case is Cainiao Post, a third-party warehousing and delivery network. By integrating community resources, it provides unified collection and dispatch points for multiple courier companies, effectively reducing overall end-delivery costs. In this model, last-mile delivery costs could further optimize allocation structures and even achieve a win-win situation for multiple parties.

In summary, who ultimately bears the cost of last-mile delivery depends on the combined effect of various factors. Whether it's e-commerce platforms, merchants, or consumers, they all need to make reasonable decisions after weighing the pros and cons. With technological advancements and changes in market conditions, we can reasonably expect that the mechanism for sharing last-mile delivery costs will become more scientific and transparent, thus better serving every participant in the entire supply chain.