topic Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters in Selling

Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

airshark3d — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 11:07:38 GMT

Good Day everyone,

So I purchased an item last week on Ebay from a seller in Melbourne. I got the package last Monday and was surprised it was in a padded bag with $2 stamps on it. From my knowledge, it is the stamp cost for a large letter. However, on the side of it, I see a "Parcel Post" Tracking label. I thought maybe the seller just placed it there as a dummy label but when I typed in the tracking, it was actually active. The item I bought was cheap so I don't think the seller would spend extra on sending it through parcel.

What's the go with these? Can those labels be used for letters? Or could it be the seller is well connected with a LPO so they are able to let it pass?

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

bakeandfry — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 11:32:12 GMT

I dunno, but i got the same thing from a seller (parcel tracking number label on large letter)
Ive asked them how they came across them.
Be interesting when (if) i get a reply

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

thecatspjs — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 11:34:21 GMT

I speculate that the sender may end up with an unpaid post bill from AP unless they purchased additonal services such as registered or parcel service when they lodged article and the relevant stickers have fallen off ?

Where the scans recieved may indicate more of the story.

Was the scan on lodgement ?

At the sorting facility ?

On delivery ?

Or all of the above ?

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

digital*ghost — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 11:35:47 GMT

@tomtek_outdoors wrote:
Can those labels be used for letters?

In a word, no... sorry.

Any seller that gets away with it is basically doing just that (getting away with it, for now - some of them may be receiving underpaid mail notices, as well).

A post office that accepts a letter with a parcel tracking label on it can actually get into trouble, and if dropped into a street box instead, there's no guarantee the tracking number will be scanned (in fact, in some cases, if activated, it will be deactivated if it crosses the path of someone who knows that they're not supposed to be used that way).

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

bakeandfry — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:08:21 GMT

@digital*ghost wrote:
@tomtek_outdoors wrote:
Can those labels be used for letters?
In a word, no... sorry.

Any seller that gets away with it is basically doing just that (getting away with it, for now - some of them may be receiving underpaid mail notices, as well).

A post office that accepts a letter with a parcel tracking label on it can actually get into trouble, and if dropped into a street box instead, there's no guarantee the tracking number will be scanned (in fact, in some cases, if activated, it will be deactivated if it crosses the path of someone who knows that they're not supposed to be used that way).

Wow, i thought it could be used, only because my post master is really strict with items that goes through my local po office.

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

shiver_me_shrimp — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:08:37 GMT

You can buy these labels from ebay, but my understanding is that you are not allowed to use them for letters, only parcels. I think they're just used for adding tracking to parcels paid for with stamps.

I would say the seller bought a roll of 100 for $15 and just sticks them on every letter to avoid INR cases. Perhaps the postal workers don't realise they're not valid for letters and just scan them anyway.

The man at the post office said letter tracking can only be obtained by registering or using express.

Was it recent tracking? Did the tracking actually show delivery to your area? If so, I'm bemused.

Other theory is it's recycled.

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

airshark3d — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:15:42 GMT

@thecatspjs wrote:
I speculate that the sender may end up with an unpaid post bill from AP unless they purchased additonal services such as registered or parcel service when they lodged article and the relevant stickers have fallen off ?

Where the scans recieved may indicate more of the story.

Was the scan on lodgement ?

At the sorting facility ?

On delivery ?

Or all of the above ?

The stamps were franked so I assume it has been received by a post office.

Based on the tracking details, it actually was scanned by the LPO, In-transit and delivery.

I have a scanned picture of it which I can post here now. I'll just black out some personal info. Will that be alright or is it against policy?

I won't remove the tracking number so you guys can double check as well.

The return address is a PO box with the same postcode so I assume it is the same LPO.

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

thecatspjs — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:20:04 GMT

I'd be interested to see it.

I have posted tracking numbers with no probs including screen shots of tracking number and history n last couple of days.

Just triple check that the addressee details are blacked out.

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

airshark3d — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:20:45 GMT

@shiver_me_shrimp wrote:

You can buy these labels from ebay, but my understanding is that you are not allowed to use them for letters, only parcels. I think they're just used for adding tracking to parcels paid for with stamps.

I would say the seller bought a roll of 100 for $15 and just sticks them on every letter to avoid INR cases. Perhaps the postal workers don't realise they're not valid for letters and just scan them anyway.
The man at the post office said letter tracking can only be obtained by registering or using express.

Was it recent tracking? Did the tracking actually show delivery to your area? If so, I'm bemused.

Other theory is it's recycled.

Tracking is current. It was sent the day I purchased one.

I actually thought that might be a good idea to deter those INR cases. I don't mind buying them for 100x for $15 and stick it to my letters just to spook them scammers. If I get a fine from Auspost however, that would defy the benefits of doing it.

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

airshark3d — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:24:39 GMT

Please see attached photo.

You can check the tracking number. It is still current.

Item was bought on Sunday, shipped on Monday.

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

bakeandfry — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:29:14 GMT

I just sent you a pm, im curious if your seller is the same one i brought off and did exactly same thing

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

airshark3d — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:35:24 GMT

PM replied

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

thecatspjs — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:37:23 GMT

Goodness me.

I have a couple boxes of those stickers left over from when tracking was first introduced as standard quite a few years ago. There was no cost to purchase them at the time.

As the stickers indicate they are meant for parcel post.

Did the letter contain a "stiff" item or was the letter thicker than 20mm ?

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

digital*ghost — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:42:20 GMT

@bakeandfry wrote:
Wow, i thought it could be used, only because my post master is really strict with items that goes through my local po office.

There are a number of sellers who use them on letters (I've received a couple myself with the tracking labels on them, sometimes the tracking is activated, sometimes it isn't), but just to clarify, the info I've posted (both that the PO can get in trouble and that the tracking can be deactivated) came directly from an AP postie.

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

airshark3d — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:51:54 GMT

@thecatspjs wrote:
Goodness me.

I have a couple boxes of those stickers left over from when tracking was first introduced as standard quite a few years ago. There was no cost to purchase them at the time.

As the stickers indicate they are meant for parcel post.

Did the letter contain a "stiff" item or was the letter thicker than 20mm ?

Item is small, definitely thinner than 20mm. Less than 30g as well. It has bubble wrap lining though so it MIGHT pass as a parcel to the inexperienced postie. Cost is also cheap, not even worth spending the parcel cost.

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

amore_gwapa — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 14:21:38 GMT

I used these label before, purchased from ebay 2 years ago, its very cheap compare to other, guess what, one day I got a surprise letter from AP, just a warning not to use it again as it is not allowed to use with a large letter, lucky me as it was only warning.....

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

clarry100 — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 22:33:14 GMT

@tomtek_outdoors wrote:
Please see attached photo.

You can check the tracking number. It is still current.
Item was bought on Sunday, shipped on Monday.

Just took a look at the tracking status on this one and it certainly appears to have been scanned on lodgement at a local PO.

Then must have been scanned again by your local postie as he/she delivered it to your letter box.

Must be they are a bit lax on the rules.

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

rimo1614 — Sat, 18 Dec 2021 21:39:57 GMT

Tracking labels are made to facilitate tracking. A fee is paid to facilitate tracking. Does it matter weather you track a parcel or a letter item, work content is same. Why Australia post doesn't make labels for letter items similar cost to parcel? They want to ripp off consumers receiving tracked letter items. EBay person is helping consumer with lower postage cost using tracking labels which costs lot less for the purposes of tracking. At the end all cost are paid by consumers. Australia post charges are amongst highest in the world. Service quality is average. I hope it makes sense.

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

sandypebbles — Sat, 18 Dec 2021 21:45:57 GMT

Not so much over 5 years later after the question was posted

You said yourself ' Australia post charges are amongst highest in the world'

So whatever they were doing 5 and a half years ago may have changed by now

Re: Parcel Tracking Labels on Letters

paper-jack — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 00:07:18 GMT

sandypebbles you just enlightened me - I had read down to your post to discover I'd been sucked in again to another exhumated thread. Isn't it about time threads had an automatic expiry date 6 or 12 months after last post? At least I only wasted my time on 18 messages and my kettle has now boiled.

Good health and Happy Christmas to all.