topic Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight? in Selling

How stict are Aus Post on weight?

jetracingandtech — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 04:26:26 GMT

Hey Guys

A friend of mine has an item listed that she listed postage as $6.20 click & send prepaid 500g satchel with tracking. She brought it around here to weigh as she does not have scales. She was positive it was under 500g she asked me to guess & I guessed 480-530g as I thought it may be just over or just under. To our suprise it weighed 620g bubled wrapped. My scales are spot on with local PO's.

She will be left carrying the can for additional postage & packaging cost (told her she should have checked weight before listing). As she now has bidders on item & auction still has 80 days to go so plenty of time for her to order the 3kg click & send bags. But she will be out of pocket around $6 on postage when you factor in a 5 pack of 3kg satchels as she does not carry then as she has only ever sold items under 500g until now. It is know major drama but when there is not alot of margin on the item given what the generally sell for at auction & then ebay/payapl fees it all adds up.

Do Aus Post gave you any grace on weight (in her case its like 100g)? She normally posts in red box. Unlike my self who normally posts over the counter as I like to get item scanned in plus they weigh it there & then.

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

digital*ghost — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 04:32:13 GMT

No - at best they might give a gram or two grace, but even something 10 grams over will be charged at the next price bracket.

Also, I'm assuming you mean there's 8 days of the auciton left? Unfortunately, it's very unlikely that an order of eBay satchels will arrive in that time. If the price doesn't stand a good chance of making up for the postage shortfall, she might want to consider cancelling the bids, ending the item and relisting with the correct postage cost.

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

the-kazbar — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 04:33:41 GMT

I have a couple of times received items weighing over 700grams in 500g satchels but I have no idea if the seller was sent an underpaid mail notice or not.

If they do catch it, there is a charge for the additional postage and a $1.50 admin fee. Its up to your friend to decide if the risk is worth it or not.

I don't know of any grace amount, but that doesn't mean that there isn't one, just that I can't imagine it would be something that was widely advertised.

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

***super_nova*** — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 04:34:42 GMT

Sorry, no grace on weight. I once had something only gram or 2 over and they charged me the higher rate (it was a parcel not satchel). Few grams in satchels thrown into mail box is something that you may get away with, 100g+ you would be taking big risk. If the parcel gets picked up, there will be fine on top of the extra postage; sometimes they collect it from the recipient, sometimes they get back to the sender.

Your friend has 2 option:

1- let the auction end and send in 3kg satchel at his expense

2- cancel the auction and relist with the correct postage cost

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

leader-of-the-band — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 04:45:51 GMT

Do Aus Post gave you any grace on weight (in her case its like 100g)? She normally posts in red box.

Who knows, they may well get more than $6 more in bidding due to the lower postage as a lot of bidders factor in their 'Total Spend' amount.

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

leader-of-the-band — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 04:50:03 GMT

My last post was meant to be :

Do Aus Post gave you any grace on weight (in her case its like 100g)? She normally posts in red box.

they may well get more than $6 more in bidding due to the lower postage as a lot of bidders factor in their 'Total Spend' amount.

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

jetracingandtech — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 04:55:33 GMT

Thanks guys I will pass on all the helpfull info yep she new she could cancel pids relist with correct postage but she does not like to cancel bids when she as made the mistake. I would fell the same lucky its only one listing. Just really wanted to know if they provided any grace & you have answerd that. I knew 100g is wishfull thinking but it costs nothing to ask the question. Plus looks unproffessional if seller sends something with not enough postage on it not that I'm sure it wouldn't effect receiver. As click & send has contact details of sender.

Oops sorry my mistake auction has 8 days to go not 80 lol. If I had any 3kg click & send bags she could have one of mine. Either way she will order some if she does not get before listing ends in my experience she should or should that be could lol. Worst comes to worst buy a more expensive single prepaid bag at PO.

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

sueken4812 — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 06:18:45 GMT

If it fits into Aus Post's pre-paid boxes you will get it cheaper. Box 1 posts for about the same as a 500g satchel, but the weight restrictions are up to 15kg I think. The cost of the box, about $1.70, still brings it in cheaper than a 3kg satchel.

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

nicegreenpetticoats — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 06:52:23 GMT

A friend of mine who works in the post office says they will give about 50 grams leeway if it is one that has gone into the post box out front, none if handed across the counter - they are obliged to charge the correct amount.

You could risk it and send it by posting in the red box out front but if picked up and weighed they will send you a bill for the parcel rate of the item (usually a lot more than the satchel price) plus a service fee for processing the article.

I have miscalculated on price on occasion, you just have to wear it, it is not the buyers or Australia Post's fault if you don't estimate correctly.

Jenny

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

jetracingandtech — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 09:11:18 GMT

Thanks sueken4812

Actually I should have posted back I'm onto to it even before your post but thanks for posting anyhow.

She will buy the box 1 from Aust Post store I think its called Bx1 it's $1.75 plus flat rate click & send for box any where in Oz is $6.50 for up to 15kg her parcel only weighs 620g but it will cost her all up $8.25 postage/box she charging $6.20 so her loss on postage is now $2 vs $6.10. Eitherway she has learnt for items she does not now the weight don't guess use the scales as the scales don't lie lol.

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

kustomizer99 — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 09:16:30 GMT

I find it depends on how effectively you flirt with them.... :-x

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

tcrazer — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 15:24:29 GMT

Over the counter they are very strict. If you are popping it in the mail box, you can get away with being a little bit over

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

colic2bullsgirlore — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 18:46:41 GMT

If the item sells to a buyer inside her own state then it is cheaper to post using the weight system rather than being further out by sending in a bag

The 3 kg bags at the PO already have a tracking number that can be used in conjunction with a stat dec to prove post addressed to a specific address.

I had a 251 gram international letter a few weeks ago that was charged (correctly) in the 251 gram to 500gram weight range. This changes the freight from 7.05 to 14.10.................. normally they let them through............ not the other day though

...... I noticed that AP are becoming much stricter regarding weight range tolerance

................................. that just means that now I refuse to take NO for answer regarding the scanning and lodgement of click and send articles.............. all since "1 gram day"......

I do not care if the service line wends out of the PO door goes down the street, over the zebra crossing and all the way to the pub bar..... I stamp my feet and dig in till I get the service I was promised

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

linbaymi — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 00:54:41 GMT

Aus post are greedy! Too many of their employees are theives - we've had many items stolen by the mongrels. We went to post a padded bag (large letter) and because their scales (uncalibrated) read 126 grams, we had to pay $7.00 instead of $1.20. We are looking at Pack & Send prices now. After all of the trouble, thefts, and extotionate postage with Auspost, we are now no longer going to use them to send even a Christmas card. They wouldn't deliver to our house, the local postie just didn't like us for some reason. We never did anything to upset him. We had to pay for a P.O. Box because he refused to do his job. We compained at the P.O. - nothing was done. We filed several formal complaints with HQ - nothing was done. We reported it to the federal Ombudsman - they couldn't have cared less. AUSPOST ARE THIEVES!!!

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

egglesdtp — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 01:39:04 GMT

@nicegreenpetticoats wrote:

.... it is not the buyers or Australia Post's fault if you don't estimate correctly.

Jenny

I find it incredible that anyone estimates the weight of an item before listing it. How can anyone possibly know if something will weigh under or over 500g if close to that weight? esp if you also have to factor in the weight of any packaging.

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

harley_babes_hoard — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 01:56:59 GMT

I think they may have already found the answer to this thread seeing as though it was posted 18 months ago!

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

egglesdtp — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 02:04:46 GMT

Woops - didn't even notice it was an old thread. Still shaking my head that anyone can list an item without knowing how much it weighs...

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

lyndal1838 — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 04:35:21 GMT

@linbaymi wrote:
Aus post are greedy! Too many of their employees are theives - we've had many items stolen by the mongrels. We went to post a padded bag (large letter) and because their scales (uncalibrated) read 126 grams, we had to pay $7.00 instead of $1.20. We are looking at Pack & Send prices now. After all of the trouble, thefts, and extotionate postage with Auspost, we are now no longer going to use them to send even a Christmas card. They wouldn't deliver to our house, the local postie just didn't like us for some reason. We never did anything to upset him. We had to pay for a P.O. Box because he refused to do his job. We compained at the P.O. - nothing was done. We filed several formal complaints with HQ - nothing was done. We reported it to the federal Ombudsman - they couldn't have cared less. AUSPOST ARE THIEVES!!!

This thread is 18 months old and your post has nothing to do with the question asked.

However, I am sure a lot of sellers who read this rant will be only too happy that you have posted here.

With your attitude I am not surprised that your relationship with your postman and Australia Post in general is not good.

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

*crikey*mate* — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 05:37:21 GMT

I thought there was a 250g and a 500g letter option before you headed into parcel territory.

Was the item charged at parcel rates because it weighed 126g or because it was thicker than 20mm?

Re: How stict are Aus Post on weight?

davewil1964 — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 06:58:13 GMT

The $5.80 question.