topic Re: Postage Gripe in Selling

Postage Gripe

jvdv11 — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 06:36:35 GMT

The new Aust Post / eBay rates are a real pain - I generally use the eBay Aust Post satchels and what used to be the $7.55 charge for the 500gm satchel is now anywhere between $8.21 and $8.95. What was the 3 kg Medium satchel - which is now seems to be called the "Large Satchel" and which used to be $12.85 is now costing anywhere between $14.73 and $15.35. There is aparently a "Medium satchel" but I haven't seen them being available through Aust Posts eBay shop.

I called eBay and asked if they could offer a suggestion about what price to put in when listing an item and they suggest putting in the maximim amount - a sure way to discourage buyers.

I know the issue is with Aust Post's new pricing but a pain all the same.

Re: Postage Gripe

curraone — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 06:52:17 GMT

Well it's early days yet - but so far I disagree. I think it is easier, and in some cases cheaper.

Just use the small satchel, medium satchel, larger satchel rules and it just works out fine. I particularly like that we can put up to 5 kg in the satchel.

OLD NEW

500g = Small = $8.95

1kg = Medium = 12.20

3kg = large = $15.35

5kg = X Large = $18.50

Re: Postage Gripe

jane-de-cluttering — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 07:19:48 GMT

I agree that new Aus Post rates seem fairer and easier. But why has the Ebay rate $7.55 disappeared?

Re: Postage Gripe

davewil1964 — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 07:42:38 GMT

@jane-de-cluttering wrote:
I agree that new Aus Post rates seem fairer and easier. But why has the Ebay rate $7.55 disappeared?

Probably because eBay has seen a way to keep their volume discounts from AP.

There are several threads already about it.

Re: Postage Gripe

Anonymous — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 08:07:38 GMT

Can someone please tell me if I have got this right?

Regarding pre-paid satchels - Australia Post offers 'If It Packs, It Posts' flat rate postage based on size Autralia wide whereas if I wanted to use eBay labels, I cant offer flat rate postage because it depends on zones? ie local, metro, regional?

Re: Postage Gripe

davewil1964 — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 08:11:14 GMT

AP has varying discounts for those zones if you qualify for their volume discounts. If eBay are offering lower prices for those zones, then they have finally (after 2 months) come to the party and passed on some of their volume discounts. I don't know; I haven't had any parcel sales for a few days.

Rural is only ever going to be a few percent from now on, because that is all AP offer.

Re: Postage Gripe

Anonymous — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 08:17:22 GMT

@davewil1964 wrote:
AP has varying discounts for those zones if you qualify for their volume discounts. If eBay are offering lower prices for those zones, then they have finally (after 2 months) come to the party and passed on some of their volume discounts. I don't know; I haven't had any parcel sales for a few days.

Rural is only ever going to be a few percent from now on, because that is all AP offer.

But how can I list items with flat rate postage not knowing where a buyer will be located? Sorry if this sounds stupid but I'm totally confused.

Re: Postage Gripe

davewil1964 — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 08:22:36 GMT

'If It Packs, It Posts'.

It is flat rate. Just charge the higher amount. I doubt it will make a difference except for same city.

Or use MyPost Business. Or prepaid satchels/boxes.

YOU need to work out what works for YOU.

Re: Postage Gripe

kitty-kat-kollection — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 15:30:07 GMT

I'm confused about 2 things. Not complaining, but just puzzled.

1. An AP person today told me that with the new satchels, for example the small one (old 500g), you pay $8.95 for the postage plus 25c for the satchel, so a total of $9.20.

They then said if you buy the new satchels, you can't just later on pack and post them in a post box, but you must lodge them over the counter in order to get the tracking number. This is awkward for me, as I tend to post my parcels everyday wherever I happen to be in all different post boxes.

The weird thing is, the tracking number was already on the satchel. So...what??

2. Many AP people have said the old satchels are now NEVER going to be phased out and both old and new will be sold. AND she said the old 500g satchels for instance, can also hold 5kg. So the same as the new ones. When I asked why anyone would pay more for the new ones, she said she had no idea.

Um...ok.

Re: Postage Gripe

curraone — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 18:07:32 GMT

Well as to part one: that information is definitely wrong.

I can see on Aust Post site the prepaid satchels - for example:

Parcel Post Small Satchel - 10 pack

SKU #0590825

$ 89. 70

($8.97 per satchel)

and it says:

Lodge in a red street-posting box or over the counter at an Australia Post retail outlet if you require proof of posting

Tracking included

Plus you can buy the unpaid satchels for 25c and use the Aust Post or Ebay postage labels online.

Re: Postage Gripe

kitty-kat-kollection — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 11:33:28 GMT

Thank you!! I think a lot of AP staff are confused!

Re: Postage Gripe

brerrabbit585 — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 13:00:17 GMT

Re the last half of what you said, my PO said AP will be selling the old satchels for a while yet because they've got lots of them in their warehouses and they'll just be putting stickers on them to say you can put 5kg in them.

About the tracking number, are you sure they didn't just say tracking rather than tracking number? What curra has quoted could be read two ways:

"Lodge in a red street posting box, OR over the counter... if you require proof of posting." The bit that says tracking included wouldn't guarantee that they'll be scanned if you drop them in a red box, just as it isn't now, and if you drop them in a red box you won't get a receipt either, which is another proof of posting.

Re: Postage Gripe

loun_77 — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 05:26:58 GMT

@curraone wrote:
Well it's early days yet - but so far I disagree. I think it is easier, and in some cases cheaper.

    Just use the small satchel, medium satchel, larger satchel rules and it just works out fine.   I particularly like that we can put up to 5 kg in the satchel.

OLD         NEW
500g   = Small = $8.95
1kg      = Medium = 12.20
3kg      = large = $15.35
5kg      = X Large = $18.50

are you saying that we can put up to 5kg into any size satchel for the cost of that satchel? TIA

Re: Postage Gripe

curraone — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 05:34:09 GMT

Yes, you can put 5kg into any of the Aust Post satchels.

Re: Postage Gripe

curraone — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 05:57:10 GMT

It is worth repeating this previous post - from the Aust Post site

Re: Postage Gripe

*stuff*books* — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 07:24:07 GMT

@curraone wrote:
Yes, you can put 5kg into any of the Aust Post satchels.

I just posted an item this morning and had to check with the post office first and it's now just as simple to use the post office satchels instead of the eBay one as they are the same price and as I only sell a little bit of stuff it's easier to just get a a new satchel each time I post something.

I then don't have to worry about label printing glitches,running out of ink or having to buy the satchels in advance in packs of 5

Plus it benefits AP and not another price gouge by eBay by failing to pass on a saving for part of the money they make from AP.

Re: Postage Gripe

davewil1964 — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 07:31:19 GMT

I certainly don't use eBay anymore, and won't until they price their 'service' realistically. If there's no benefit in it for me, there's no incentive to help them achieve their goal of driving revenue growth through seller charges rather than turnover.

Re: Postage Gripe

oz-e-seller — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 09:51:18 GMT

I've switched to printing through my post business. There's no more ebay discount so why would I help them pocket the difference between the full AP rate and their discounted rate that they're now not passing on. It's a little bit more annoying using the my post site than the ebay label page but worth it.

Re: Postage Gripe

davewil1964 — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 09:57:07 GMT

Me too. I'm paying a premium until I hit the magic volume, but that is only marginally more then eBay. At least AP give the hint of a carrot at the end of the tunnel (mangled metaphor intended).

AP is certainly a learning curve, but the more I do the less frustrating it becomes.

Re: Postage Gripe

eol-products — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 10:22:14 GMT

International is now cheap as I sent a 250gram parcel to the UK for $15 today and NZ is only $7.55. On average small parcels will be cheaper to send to NZ than 20km down the road. As there is no tracking it will only be on cheaper items but it does come with free insurance.