Cool Under Pressure: How Bar Fridges Australia Took the Heat Out of Delivery Drama

03/09/25 5 min read

Shipping thousands of premium bar fridges every month, Bar Fridges Australia knows that every dented box or scratched surface can quickly snowball into a costly customer issue. In a category where logistics matter just as much as product quality, freight damage eats into profit margins, drains team resources, and puts customer satisfaction at risk.

Since partnering with Parcel Protect, the team has found a way to take control. Delivery insurance has helped them resolve issues faster, take the stress out of returns, and create a post-purchase experience that actually builds trust – ensuring customers won’t be left in the cold.

Key takeaways

Freight damage costs more than you think. Before Parcel Protect, every damaged fridge meant chasing couriers, managing customer complaints and dealing with costly returns. The team was stuck in a loop of lost time and lost revenue.
A better claims process can transform your team’s productivity. With Parcel Protect, customers and resellers lodge claims directly through the Bar Fridges Australia site. The team no longer gets bogged down in courier disputes, and claims are often approved in a matter of minutes.
Fast resolutions lead to stronger customer relationships. When a customer in regional WA had two damaged deliveries in a row, the team was able to send a third replacement without hesitation – and earned a rave review in return.

Cold, hard costs

Bar Fridges Australia has been shipping premium bar fridges across the country for more than 20 years. With over 1,500 units dispatched each month, from compact domestic models to large-scale commercial units, logistics are critical to the business. But as volumes grew, so did the delivery issues.

“We ship Australia-wide, and any dent or scratch meant hours of follow-up,” says Matthew Keating, Managing Director of Bar Fridges Australia. “We’d be dealing with the customer, the courier and our reseller. It was getting out of control. The more fridges we sent, the more time we spent sorting issues, and the warehouse was starting to fill up with returns.”

These delivery problems weren’t just frustrating – they were expensive.

“In a single year, we saw six-figure losses from freight damage,” Matt says. “And we had no good way to manage it. You’re either refunding, replacing, or fighting it out with couriers. None of those options are good for business.”

Cooler heads, faster claims

The team first heard about Parcel Protect from one of their resellers, who had submitted a claim. That prompted a closer look – and a turning point for the business.

Parcel Protect provides delivery insurance designed for eCommerce merchants, covering damage, loss and theft from dispatch to doorstep. It’s fully embedded into the fulfillment flow, so protection is included with every order – no customer opt-ins, no checkout friction.

“We looked into it, ran the numbers and honestly thought it was too good to be true,” Matt says. “But it’s been a complete game-changer.”

Customers and resellers can now lodge claims directly through the Bar Fridges Australia site, and Parcel Protect takes it from there.

“We used to spend weeks going in circles trying to get information from couriers and customers,” Matt says. “Now we’re seeing claims resolved in minutes.”

That speed has changed the way the team works, and how customers experience the brand.

“Customer service is our number one priority, along with the quality of our fridges,” Matt says. “Being able to ship a replacement straight away makes a huge difference, especially when word-of-mouth is so important.”

Frosty deliveries, warm receptions

When a fridge sent to remote Port Hedland arrived damaged, and a replacement was also smashed in transit, the team braced for the worst.

“We weren’t sure how Parcel Protect would respond,” Matt says. “But they simply covered both. The third one arrived intact, and the customer rang us raving about how easy it all was. That kind of experience sticks, especially in regional areas where people are used to being let down by delivery services.”

Behind the scenes, replacements are shipped from Bar Fridges Australia’s inventory at full retail value, meaning no disruption to revenue or inventory turnover.

“Now we send with confidence, because we know if something goes wrong, we’re not wearing the cost.”

Beyond the financial benefits, the process has freed up valuable time across the business.

“Our team’s saving hours, overtime has dropped, and customer feedback has been fantastic,” Matt says. “It’s a better experience for everyone.”

Fridge freight without the fallout

Delivery problems are inevitable in eCommerce. But with Parcel Protect, Bar Fridges Australia has turned a costly pain point into a strength, with fast resolutions, seamless replacements and a post-purchase experience that builds trust.

Want to see how Parcel Protect can work for your business? Install the app, book a demo or get in touch at parcelprotect.com.au.

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