What pincode serviceability means
A pincode is serviceable when a carrier has a last-mile branch that delivers to it, and the answer differs by carrier and by service. A pincode may accept prepaid parcels but not cash on delivery, accept surface but not air, or accept deliveries but not reverse pickups.
India has around 19,000 delivery pincodes in active use across the major networks. Coverage is nearly universal in metros and tier-1 cities; the differences show up in tier-3 towns, hill districts, the north-east and the islands, where only some carriers run last-mile.
- Prepaid coverage is wider than COD coverage for most carriers
- Reverse pickup (returns) coverage is narrower again
- Remote pincodes may add a handling charge and longer transit
- Coverage changes over time, so check before promising delivery dates