topic Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts? in Selling

Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

thegaminggamer — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 01:12:44 GMT

Save up to 15% on parcel sending, eligibility criteria apply
Pay for and print your own postage labels
Get parcels picked up from your home or office
Automatically track parcels and share tracking info
Create labels in bulk from eBay or your online store
Get 24/7 live chat support* and more...

That's what is says on https://auspost.com.au/mypost-business

I don't have an ABN (yet) but I already post at least 5 parcels a week (not including large letters) so qualify in that regard. I have a few questions though.

Do I have to print my own postage labels? I need to go to the Australia Post Office anyway. I don't need nor want them to come to my house or office (assuming I'm even there, which I'm not).
How and where do I get the discount?
How does Australia Post track how many parcels I send a week?
Does the Australia Post "MyPost" card have anything do with anything (for example, tracking how many parcels I send each time)?

If you can answer my questions or if you have any useful information I would appreciate it.

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

twyngwyn — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 01:28:46 GMT

Maybe one of the sellers that contributed to this thread might come along shortly

https://community.ebay.com.au/t5/Selling/Why-does-postage-cost-10-more-on-Ebay/m-p/2102026/highlight/true#M161940

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

ozstockman — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 02:18:15 GMT

That's weird. I have a business acoount with AusPost for 4 years and most weeks I posted more than 5 parcels. Never seen any discount on parcel rates. Letters rates are a bit cheaper though but that's only for letters.

If they offer this discount why they are not willing to apply it automatically? Also I have just logged in into my account with AusPost and there is nothing about this discount.

I also have eParcel account but because I lost a lot in sales a lot over the last two years I post now less than 1000 parcels a year through eParcel. However in most weeks it is still more than 5 per week through eParcel but my eParcel rates are only going up for me

I wil try to give them a call as it is all very strange that they offer up to 15% discount for just regular parcels and yet they do not give any automatically for a business acoount holder and increase their rates for eParcel for a business that still post more than 260 parcels a year.

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

gutterpunkz05 — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 03:20:29 GMT

Hi there, I get Discount on MyPost Business, No Business or ABN required.

Yes you print your own labels, but you can use just a standard printer and paper.

Discount is applied at time of online payment.

Austalia Post can keep track of How many items you are sending, via online account

MyPost card is not required, as it is all done via online account.

You can book a pickup (if service available - Extra Cost) or Opt to post it yourself

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

digital*ghost — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 03:23:41 GMT

@thegaminggamer wrote:

Do I have to print my own postage labels? I need to go to the Australia Post Office anyway. I don't need nor want them to come to my house or office (assuming I'm even there, which I'm not).
How and where do I get the discount?
How does Australia Post track how many parcels I send a week?
Does the Australia Post "MyPost" card have anything do with anything (for example, tracking how many parcels I send each time)?
If you can answer my questions or if you have any useful information I would appreciate it.

I have a My Post business account, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who would qualify.

You don't have to print your own labels unless you want to use flat rate pricing, which is cheaper more often than not (sometimes significantly) - if you do print them, they are 4 to a page for domestic parcels (standard post and express post are printed on separate pages, which is kind of ok in that at least it allows you to print the normal ones in black and white, and only the express ones in colour to save on ink costs). If you take an addressed package into the PO and get them to scan the QR code provided to you, the discount will be applied to the postage you pay there. (If you send internationally, and print the pabel online, it takes two full printed pages per package, with two labels per page - two go on the parcel, one is a customs copy, one goes to Aus post, and one is to keep).

The discount is applied on your account, and when you create a label, the price shown and paid will include the discount - the number of parcels you send is tracked via your My Post account.

Your My Post card isn't related to a My Post discount in any way (once approved, they will send you an email with a QR code image. I saved the image to my phone, and the staff just scan it from there to apply a discount if I'm paying for postage over the counter). Your account is connected / identified by the QR code, so they track those in order to determine your discount level as well.

I was on the top tier of discounts just before Christmas (15% discount) so was only paying $6.76 per 500g parcel (own packaging, which is cheaper than flat rate for 500g parcels) - many sellers I know on eParcel contracts have to pay more than that , and even 500g parcels over a certain size will be cubed and they end up paying through the nose for it (so a lot of them will just use pre-paid satchels etc for 500g parcels because of this). On this program, though, you could send something with the maximum allowable dimensions and still pay the normal 500g rate.

Extra cover is also discounted, so it will only cost you $1 per $100 of extra cover, as opposed to the normal $1.50 on domestic parcels. I'm back down to the second tier discount as my volume dropped a bit after Christmas, but on this one I still get a discount on economy international services, which is very welcome ($13.87 for a 500g parcel to the US, with full proof of lodgement at least, via the self-service terminals - occasionally this is stll tracked in the US).

The only thing I don't use My Post for is BX boxes - they are significantly cheaper vie eBay, even after a discount has been applied via My post.

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

transport-posters — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 05:15:56 GMT

It's like when you want to leave a power company to go to another. Suddenly they have this amazing discount program to put on your account as a way to keep you. They didn't do it automatically because a) they want to maximise their profit and b) it gives them leverage should you call to complain about something or ask for a better deal.

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

chameleon54 — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 05:41:08 GMT

My local PO had a rep come and visit me as they wanted me to go onto the programme. We went through all of the numbers and by the time I buy my satchels in bulk lots of 100, I wouldnt really gain any extra discount by going onto the system.

I use a seperate dedicated credit card for all of my postage costs which provides my tax records and keeps everything very simple. This has tidied the postage side of my business up, without being tied to any one company or service provider..

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

ozstockman — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 05:50:45 GMT

@transport-posters wrote:
It's like when you want to leave a power company to go to another. Suddenly they have this amazing discount program to put on your account as a way to keep you. They didn't do it automatically because a) they want to maximise their profit and b) it gives them leverage should you call to complain about something or ask for a better deal.

You are probably right. I have just had a chat with guys in my local post office and we have come to the same conclusion remembering that mobile carries will do exactly the same..

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

chameleon54 — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 06:54:29 GMT

@thegaminggamer wrote:
Make sending mighty easy with MyPost Business
Access savings on parcel sending. Save time by paying for postage online and printing your own labels.
Save up to 15% on parcel sending, eligibility criteria apply
Pay for and print your own postage labels
Get parcels picked up from your home or office
Automatically track parcels and share tracking info
Create labels in bulk from eBay or your online store
Get 24/7 live chat support* and more...

That's what is says on https://auspost.com.au/mypost-business

I don't have an ABN (yet) but I already post at least 5 parcels a week (not including large letters) so qualify in that regard. I have a few questions though.

Do I have to print my own postage labels? I need to go to the Australia Post Office anyway. I don't need nor want them to come to my house or office (assuming I'm even there, which I'm not).
How and where do I get the discount?
How does Australia Post track how many parcels I send a week?
Does the Australia Post "MyPost" card have anything do with anything (for example, tracking how many parcels I send each time)?
If you can answer my questions or if you have any useful information I would appreciate it.

If you can answer my questions or if you have any useful information I would appreciate it.

OK. that was timely. I just went to the PO to do my mailing and the manager wanted a word. It turns out AP have introduced a new or completely revamped mypostbusiness service. PO managers have been off to courses in the last couple of weeks and are keen to sign people up to the new system.

Basically there are three tiers of customer, with the discounts of 5%, 10% and 15% on parcel postage rates, depending on how many parcels you post over time. You need to sign up for and use a mypost card for your transactions. This tracks your parcel postage levels over six week periods and asigns the discount based on this progressive six week period. I,m not sure if the discount applies to items as mailed or wether your account is credited with the discount after the 6 weeks. You can still mail parcels over the PO counter as per normal and they can print the label also as per normal.

The discounts also apply on top of the regular discounts for buying satchels in bulk lots of ten or one hundred, making these substantially cheaper.

All up it sounds interesting and as much as I hate changing anything, I might give it a try.

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

chameleon54 — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 07:20:05 GMT

Looks like the PO managers advice was not quite right. The tiers are 10% for minimum 5 parcels per week, 12.5 % for minimum 10 parcels per week and 15% for minimum 20 parcels per week.

This information came from the AP mypost website.

While it looks like it might take awhile to sort out exactly how it all works, it actually sounds pretty good and definately worth a look.

search auspost.com.au/mypostbusiness for further info.

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

gutterpunkz05 — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 08:15:06 GMT

Howdy OZ, I have been racking my Brain trying to remember how I came to get this Discount and I am still not exactly sure

How it all came about. I do recall that last year I was using a MyPost account for all items over 3kg and the ebay system for

items under 3kg. ( Now not sure if that was a MyPost or Mypost Business Account). There was about a week where the

Australia Post Computer and tracking system suffered Major failures, after which I received an email apologising for the

outages and problems encountered and advising that they were working on some form of recompense in addition to any refunds

that were due. Now from memory it was shortly after this that I became entitled to the current discount system, I think I just

had to re accept T&Cs.

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

eol-products — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 07:10:04 GMT

Worth mentioning that parcel pick up starts at $1 for metro areas. You also assign a Post Office that receives commision for your transactions.

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

thegaminggamer — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 13:40:26 GMT

@digital*ghost wrote:
@thegaminggamer wrote:

Do I have to print my own postage labels? I need to go to the Australia Post Office anyway. I don't need nor want them to come to my house or office (assuming I'm even there, which I'm not).
How and where do I get the discount?
How does Australia Post track how many parcels I send a week?
Does the Australia Post "MyPost" card have anything do with anything (for example, tracking how many parcels I send each time)?
If you can answer my questions or if you have any useful information I would appreciate it.

You don't have to print your own labels unless you want to use flat rate pricing, which is cheaper more often than not (sometimes significantly) - if you do print them, they are 4 to a page for domestic parcels (standard post and express post are printed on separate pages, which is kind of ok in that at least it allows you to print the normal ones in black and white, and only the express ones in colour to save on ink costs). If you take an addressed package into the PO and get them to scan the QR code provided to you, the discount will be applied to the postage you pay there. (If you send internationally, and print the pabel online, it takes two full printed pages per package, with two labels per page - two go on the parcel, one is a customs copy, one goes to Aus post, and one is to keep).

Extra cover is also discounted, so it will only cost you $1 per $100 of extra cover, as opposed to the normal $1.50 on domestic parcels. I'm back down to the second tier discount as my volume dropped a bit after Christmas, but on this one I still get a discount on economy international services, which is very welcome ($13.87 for a 500g parcel to the US, with full proof of lodgement at least, via the self-service terminals - occasionally this is stll tracked in the US).

By flat rate pricing, are you talking about things like the BX boxes and 3KG satchels?

Printing all of the international related labels sounds like a bit of an ink and time waster so it might trouble me a bit. I prefer to just write the addresses on the parcel myself and scribble quickly on the green customs forms. Does the discount apply to both Economy Air and Standard Air options?

Are there any discounts on signature on delivery (both local and international)?

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

thegaminggamer — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 13:50:08 GMT

@chameleon54 wrote:

OK. that was timely. I just went to the PO to do my mailing and the manager wanted a word. It turns out AP have introduced a new or completely revamped mypostbusiness service. PO managers have been off to courses in the last couple of weeks and are keen to sign people up to the new system.

Basically there are three tiers of customer, with the discounts of 5%, 10% and 15% on parcel postage rates, depending on how many parcels you post over time. You need to sign up for and use a mypost card for your transactions. This tracks your parcel postage levels over six week periods and asigns the discount based on this progressive six week period. I,m not sure if the discount applies to items as mailed or wether your account is credited with the discount after the 6 weeks. You can still mail parcels over the PO counter as per normal and they can print the label also as per normal.

The discounts also apply on top of the regular discounts for buying satchels in bulk lots of ten or one hundred, making these substantially cheaper.

All up it sounds interesting and as much as I hate changing anything, I might give it a try.

According to previous posts in this thread the MyPost card is optional... it would be great if I can begin receiving the discounts immediately (my past parcels should be recorded on my MyPost card).

If I can still mail my self-packaged parcels over the Post Office counter and get the staff to print my labels (instead of using my own printer and ink), that would be much preferred.

Like you, I don't want to change my own parcel packaging process and add extra steps or whatnot. My simple parcel process is as follows: package item with own materials, write "to" and "from" addresses by hand, fill in customs form (if international), and hand them over to the PO counter. I don't feel like opening extra online accounts, or printing extra labels, or doing other stuff to qualify for the discounts. The only added step is the QR code image to activate the discount. If Australia Post can track your parcels by using the MyPost card for the purposes of seeing if you quality for discounts, then that's a good sign.

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

thegaminggamer — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 13:51:52 GMT

So I think I'll go ahead and get an ABN and then apply for MyPostBusiness. Hopefully it will be an easy process.

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

davewil1964 — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 01:38:39 GMT

As explained, you don't need an ABN.

If you're worried about time-wasting, filing a quarterly BAS when you don't need to is up there.

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

*tippy*toes* — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 03:54:05 GMT

Do you post enough to qualify for MyPost Business? You yourself said you're only a small seller, so I think all you're going to be doing is adding to your workload by having to do a BAS every quarter, when you really don't need to.

Why are you so hell bent on getting an ABN when you aren't a business, therefore, you don't need one? Did you not read what the others have said?

Meanwhile we'll sit back and wait to hear how you have registered for GST, to save a few measely cents on eBay and end up paying buckets more to the ATO when you didn't need to.

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

digital*ghost — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 04:33:29 GMT

@davewil1964 wrote:

If you're worried about time-wasting, filing a quarterly BAS when you don't need to is up there.

I have an ABN, and I do not file a quaterly BAS - I am a sole trader, and do my taxes annually.

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

melbourneclearance — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 05:36:43 GMT

You only need to do quarterly BAS if you are registered for GST. Even then I think you have an option of doing it annually.

And yes, doing BAS is a painful time wasting activity I always put off until the last minute. Then spend the next 3 months worrying if the ATO is going to call me for an audit because I have done something wrong in the calculation. Then repeat.

Re: Anyone here qualifies for Australia Post parcel discounts?

digital*ghost — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 07:12:01 GMT

@thegaminggamer wrote:

By flat rate pricing, are you talking about things like the BX boxes and 3KG satchels?
Printing all of the international related labels sounds like a bit of an ink and time waster so it might trouble me a bit. I prefer to just write the addresses on the parcel myself and scribble quickly on the green customs forms. Does the discount apply to both Economy Air and Standard Air options?

Are there any discounts on signature on delivery (both local and international)?

Neglected to answer these Q's earlier - but first, I just wanted to mention that I'm now not certain an ABN is required for the new program. I know it used to be, when it was called Business 250 (which had a much more limited range of discounts, and it was only 10% no matter what your volume as long as you sent 250+ parcels a year).

I looked up the eligibility requirements for Send & Save, and there's no mention of an ABN. I clicked "sign up" and the only info it asked me for was the usual (email address etc) and Business Name (which doesn't have to be a registered business name). They might ask for it after, maybe, but the other thing is that the discount was applied to most pre-existing accounts for 8 weeks before Christmas (if I remember correctly), so people were opted in automatically without ABNs.

By flat rate pricing, I did mean BX boxes and satchels. You technically need to use the red and white satchels, not the eBay branded ones (available forom the Aus Post shop online - both on ebay and their own website, and some Aus Post outlets), and they come in 500g, 3kg and 5kg sizes (you can print standard or express post labels and put whichever one on them). However, I use own packaging because flat rate pricing is a touch more expensive (500g flat rate is $8.15, so after the lowest discount of 10% it becomes $7.35 if I remember correctly. Own packaging is $7.95 for 500g, so becomes $7.15 after a discount. I print my own labels and use a plastic document envelope to attach, and even buying the satchels and pouches separately, it's cheaper per satchel than the cheapest price AP provide for satchels with pouches). The same applies for express 500g parcels - own packaging is cheaper than flat rate. Above 500g, flat rate is cheaper than assessed in most cases (assessed can be cheaper if sending within the same state).

As to label printing for flat rate - some Aus Post outlets will let you print labels there (I believe you'd need to save the PDF to a USB stick to take it in), but I know not all of them provide this service, and I'm not sure if it's reserved for 'emergency' situations or if they don't care how frequently you get them to do it.

At the first tier (10%) the discount is applied to domestic parcels (standard and express), and international parcels (also standard and express), plus extra cover (that is always a 33% discount no matter what your tier for domestic, and from memory it's also on international extra cover, but at the tier discount, so 10% to start with. International extra cover is hardly worth it even after a discount, unless the item is worth a couple hundred IMO, because it's $9.60 to cover just the first hundred at full price, or $8.64 with a 10% discount, and only provides cover while the package in in Australia Post's possession. Total rip if you ask me).

At the second tier (10+ parcels a week, 12.5% discount), the discount extends to international economy services, but not on the lower 10% tier.

There's a discount on SOD for international packages, but I'm not sure if that follows the same percentage discount as your tier. I do remember seeing it go up to $5.49, then back to $4.99 when I was migrated from Business 250 to Send & Save, and I started out on the lowest 10% discount tier, but I haven't checked if it got any cheaper when I went up.

Lastly, just for the sake of 100% clarification in case others find this in the future, these discounts are only in conjunction with parcel services, so you can't get any discounts for postage or add-ons with letter rate items (domestic or international).