FrançaisDelivery companies in Tunisia: how to choose your carrier and reduce returns
In e-commerce, customers judge more than your product: they judge the whole experience, right up to the moment the courier rings the bell. In Tunisia, where cash on delivery dominates, the carrier is also the one collecting your money. Choosing it is a strategic decision.
The main types of carriers
- Express delivery companies specialised in e-commerce: numerous in Tunisia, they handle pick-up from your premises, delivery in 24–72 hours and cash collection. This is the most common choice for online stores.
- La Poste Tunisienne: a very wide national network, useful for less well-served areas.
- International players: relevant for exports and shipping abroad, more expensive locally.
- Your own courier: worthwhile in your city when volume justifies it, but hard to scale.
The comparison checklist
| Criterion | Questions to ask |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Do you deliver to all 24 governorates? With what lead times outside Greater Tunis? |
| Rates | Price per parcel by weight and zone? Volume discounts? |
| Returns | What does a refused parcel cost? How fast does it come back? |
| Cash payouts | How often is collected cash paid out to me? With what statement? |
| Tracking | Can my customer and I track the parcel? Is there an API? |
| Pick-up | Do you collect parcels? What is the cut-off time? |
| Claims | What happens in case of loss or damage? |
Always ask for a trial period on a few dozen parcels before committing: sales promises do not replace your own numbers.
The real cost of a parcel
Do not compare list prices only. Calculate your real cost per delivered order:
(shipping fees for delivered parcels + return fees for refused parcels + packaging) ÷ number of delivered parcels
A slightly more expensive carrier with a much better delivery rate is often more profitable in the end.
7 tips to reduce returns
- Confirm every order by phone before shipping, restating the total price.
- Check the address: governorate, delegation, landmark. A vague address is a lost parcel.
- Ship fast: the longer the gap between order and delivery, the more customers change their minds.
- Notify the customer of shipping and the expected delivery date.
- Describe products accurately: sizes, colours, real photos. “Not like the picture” comes back.
- Spot risky numbers using your order history.
- Analyse returns by product, city and ad source to adjust.
What a connected platform changes
Handling deliveries manually (copying addresses, entering parcels on the carrier’s site, chasing tracking updates) takes hours. With e-Tijara PRO:
- orders are sent to connected carriers straight from your dashboard;
- parcel tracking updates automatically through carrier APIs;
- you filter orders by status and spot late or returned parcels at a glance;
- if your delivery company has an API and is not connected yet, we integrate it for free.
And since billing is per order received, with no commission on your sales, every dinar saved on logistics stays in your pocket.
The best carrier is not the cheapest: it is the one that delivers the most parcels, pays you on time and gives you visibility.
Try delivery management with 100 free orders: create your store for free.
