topic Re: International postage in Selling

International postage

goodthingsforsalerobert — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 04:56:57 GMT

Posting to the US has just got harder, must weight each item before packing it. Today I tried posted a necklace but I was sent away because I Didn,t have necklace weight only, open the package weigh the necklace repack and got it posted,was told more countries to follow suit.

Next I will be asked to stand on one leg and hop before an item will be accepted

Re: International postage

davewil1964 — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 05:04:53 GMT

Buy a $10 set of digital scales.

Re: International postage

kopenhagen5 — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 05:17:48 GMT

Next I will be asked to stand on one leg and hop before an item will be accepted

Please show me what you mean...........................and perhaps whistle 'for he's a jolly good fellow' at the same time.

Re: International postage

wide-world-of-stamps — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 05:27:07 GMT

@kopenhagen5 wrote:
Next I will be asked to stand on one leg and hop before an item will be accepted

Please show me what you mean...........................and perhaps whistle 'for he's a jolly good fellow' at the same time.

While creepily winking like Bernard Tomic

Re: International postage

melinachristina — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 05:51:31 GMT

@WWOS

Melina thinks a classier act than young Bernie would be a one legged man in a bum kicking contest!!

Re: International postage

wide-world-of-stamps — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 06:53:27 GMT

Completely agree.

Re: International postage

love_of_cars — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 00:33:28 GMT

THIS IS WORSE!!

I went to send my parcels today. Every single one of them had to have my name and address, and the buyer's name and address, manually inputted by the counterperson, along with class of item (eg. gift), value and description. Today I had only 3 parcels so it took several minutes just to do that.

A week and a half ago I had about 30 parcels going to the US. So 30 x 1 or 2 minutes per parcel at the counter, that is insane. The counterperson said it is one of Trump's increased security policies.

They said they are working on some kind of system to decrease workload and the time it takes but right now it's going to take a lot of extra time. The counter workers need a payrise with all the extra work involved.

Edit: Regarding the weight, they weighed the whole parcel, not just what was inside it. Wasn't a need to open it.

Re: International postage

wide-world-of-stamps — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 02:24:24 GMT

Another reason not to sell overseas.

Re: International postage

joztamps — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 04:39:04 GMT

@love_of_cars wrote:
THIS IS WORSE!!

I went to send my parcels today. Every single one of them had to have my name and address, and the buyer's name and address, manually inputted by the counterperson, along with class of item (eg. gift), value and description. Today I had only 3 parcels so it took several minutes just to do that.

A week and a half ago I had about 30 parcels going to the US. So 30 x 1 or 2 minutes per parcel at the counter, that is insane. The counterperson said it is one of Trump's increased security policies.

They said they are working on some kind of system to decrease workload and the time it takes but right now it's going to take a lot of extra time. The counter workers need a payrise with all the extra work involved.

Edit: Regarding the weight, they weighed the whole parcel, not just what was inside it. Wasn't a need to open it.

Serves you right for posting Mexicans to the USA.

Re: International postage

love_of_cars — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 04:10:59 GMT

My poster tubes are too small for people to fit inside.

Re: International postage

purplemon18 — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 06:50:10 GMT

I had no idea this was an issue since I print my own labels off https://auspost.com.au/mypost-business and it has always asked for item weight and contact details.

Is there some advantage to actually going into the post office and having them do it?

Re: International postage

purplemon18 — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 07:02:00 GMT

@davewil1964 wrote:
Buy a $10 set of digital scales.

If you are doing enough business, buy a $70 set that has a bigger weighing bed, a display that doesn't get covered by your item and plugs into power so you don't have to turn it on every time you have something to weigh.

I bought this one and have been very happy with it.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Digital-Commercial-Scale-Food-Meat-Grocer-Produce-Shop-Logistics-Weight-40KG-BLK/142927911348?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Re: International postage

davewil1964 — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 08:13:08 GMT

I'll stick with my $10 ones. Had them for 10 years and I think I'll have to replace the original battery soon. The bed is big enough and pushing a button while I pick them up is not too much of an imposition. And they turn off automatically - probably why the battery has lasted.

Re: International postage

digital*ghost — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 08:35:38 GMT

@purplemon18 wrote:
I had no idea this was an issue since I print my own labels off https://auspost.com.au/mypost-business and it has always asked for item weight and contact details.

Is there some advantage to actually going into the post office and having them do it?

Not that I can think of, unless someone doesn't have a printer, I guess, and has used a CN23 form for all the details.

I had an international parcel today for the first time in months (I ship through DHL to international destinations now, but it's an economy service that takes a couple of weeks or so for delivery, and this buyer wanted express which is cheaper through AP). The label was created through My Post Business (recommended for anyone who sends at least 5 parcels a week, because discounts). The only thing the counter staff had to do that they never did before was enter the postcode. (Before, they had to enter the country code and check the weight, so I guess still a 50% increase in tasks ).

If you're filling out the info on a CN23 form, you may as well do it electronically and save the time at the counter, if you can print off the labels. The express parcel I sent today received a 15% discount* on the cost as well, so I paid a tad over $35 for it when it's usually around $42.

*MyPost Business discounts start at 10% for sending 5 parcels a week, domestic or international, and while there are no discounts on domestic parcels going to regional areas, there are higher discounts on parcels to major metro areas, so definitely suited to those who mostly send to metro areas. Even if you don't qualify for discounts, you'll still save the counter time.