topic POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST in Selling

POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST

simply-seeds-at-planet-plants — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 21:21:55 GMT

🤔Well, it seems that Aust. Post is now intending to only deliver 'letter' items 3 times a week.

Of course, many items are sent as 'letters .. seeds, postcards, stamps, fabric squares, seed envelopes, zip-lock bags, etc & also CD single & double sized boxes meeting AP specs. are also sent as 'letters' if the contents fit the box & weight allowances.

Most Sellers would have noticed for some time that 'Sorting' letters has been occurring only 3 times a week for a while .. and I confirmed this with my local PO, when I noticed in tracking ages ago, 'letters' weren't moving 'as usual'.

Apart from continuing higher prices & less service from AP, I'm trying to get answers to this:

💥IS eBay going to adjust their 'Expected Delivery Dates' to match this NEW delay in delivery dates ready to hit Sellers?

💥Are Sellers going to get 'defects' for these delays out of our control?

💥Are Sellers expected to just increase OUR 'Handling Time' for items listed for postage as a 'Letter' or 'Letter with Tracking' when the delivery/transit times are AP's?

If any Sellers or Buyers has answers, please reply. 😁

So far, I haven't been given an answer by EB. 😖

Re: POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST

sugar249 — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 23:55:48 GMT

Just raise your handling time by 1 day, simple solution.

As for your comment that Australia Post have only being sorting 3 days a week, I can assure you that is rubbish.

And yes sellers should get defects if they don't modify their practices to suit prevailing conditions.

Re: POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST

daydreams_12 — Sat, 09 Dec 2023 00:44:46 GMT

Really, how hard is it to adjust your handling time 1-2 days. You dont get defects for slow postage arrival, only slow sending times.

Re: POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST

*sons_n_daughters* — Sat, 09 Dec 2023 02:19:09 GMT

I don't know where you are, but I can assure you that my rural NSW location still has mail delivery 5 days a week. I know, because I got a bill in the mail box every day this week. Plus, even if I'm not getting mail, I hear the postie if I'm not at work.

Re: POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST

imastawka — Sat, 09 Dec 2023 02:23:54 GMT

@daydreams_12 wrote:
Really, how hard is it to adjust your handling time 1-2 days. You dont get defects for slow postage arrival, only slow sending times.

Ah, but you get a grey or a red dot from impatient buyers who blame the seller for mail deliveries, even when posted within their time-frame.

Re: POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST

sandypebbles — Sat, 09 Dec 2023 02:29:35 GMT

Do you have a factual link to where it says sorting only happens 3 times a week?

(not what you say someone at your PO said)

Re: POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST

gutterpunkz05 — Sat, 09 Dec 2023 03:44:27 GMT

If the item has tracking, it does not matter if the item arrives late or not at all.

Provided you have shipped in your stated handling time and 1 valid tracking event (lodgement) exists.

If you use untracked letters, then you can never dispute a buyers claim that item arrived late.

EDIT. Nearly forgot the emoji, so just for the hell of it😋

Re: POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST

*sons_n_daughters* — Sat, 09 Dec 2023 04:25:18 GMT

@gutterpunkz05 wrote:
If the item has tracking, it does not matter if the item arrives late or not at all.
Provided you have shipped in your stated handling time and 1 valid tracking event (lodgement) exists.
If you use untracked letters, then you can never dispute a buyers claim that item arrived late.
EDIT. Nearly forgot the emoji, so just for the hell of it😋

You needed a bigger emoji.

Re: POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST

gutterpunkz05 — Sat, 09 Dec 2023 04:29:40 GMT

Yeah. was in a rush to beat the edit timeout.

Re: POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST

simply-seeds-at-planet-plants — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 20:04:44 GMT

* My handling time for postage is ample - 5 days in most cases for seeds or items. Other listings have longer for seedlings/plants. I usually get orders posted within 2 days.

* I'm sick of being hassled for late delivery when it's AP's fault &/or getting that reflected in the 'scores' left.

* AP themselves told me letters are sorted every 3 days & also get redirected multiple times if backlogging is noticed in major sorting centres along the way.

* NOT all areas get deliveries every day - our rural area has 3. AP is progressively introducing that everywhere, according to their own news releases.

Re: POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST

simply-seeds-at-planet-plants — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 20:10:33 GMT

Well, we don't. Nth NSW & 10klms out of town. I fought 4yrs to get an AP mail delivery that was supposed to be here but wasn't, rather drive 20klms to p/u mail. We still don't have any parcel delivery or couriers.

* My handling time for postage is ample - 5 days in most cases for seeds or items. Other listings have longer for seedlings/plants. I usually get orders posted within 2 days.

* I'm sick of being hassled for late delivery when it's AP's fault &/or getting that reflected in the 'scores' left.

* AP themselves told me letters are sorted every 3 days & also get redirected multiple times if backlogging is noticed in major sorting centres along the way. That's often reflected in their own tracking info.

* NOT all areas get deliveries every day - our rural area has 3. AP is progressively introducing that everywhere, according to their own news releases.

Re: POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST

simply-seeds-at-planet-plants — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 20:12:23 GMT

Thank you!

* My handling time for postage is ample - 5 days in most cases for seeds or items. Other listings have longer for seedlings/plants. I usually get orders posted within 2 days.

* I'm sick of being hassled for late delivery when it's AP's fault &/or getting that reflected in the 'scores' left.

* AP themselves told me letters are sorted every 3 days & also get redirected multiple times if backlogging is noticed in major sorting centres along the way.

* NOT all areas get deliveries every day - our rural area has 3. AP is progressively introducing that everywhere, according to their own news releases.

Re: POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST

simply-seeds-at-planet-plants — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 20:19:24 GMT

It wasn't the local PO. It was a Supervisor I spoke to in AP in Melbourne. AP is now only releasing these changes in their own press news, ie: making deliveries 3 x weekly standard, due to majority of 'mail' being email. They also redirect 'letter' mail multiple times if back-logs are occurring & that's easy to see reflected in their own tracking info.

* My handling time for postage is ample - 5 days in most cases for seeds or items. Other listings have longer for seedlings/plants. I usually get orders posted within 2 days.

* I'm sick of being hassled for late delivery when it's AP's fault &/or getting that reflected in the 'scores' left.

* AP themselves told me letters are sorted every 3 days & also get redirected multiple times if backlogging is noticed in major sorting centres along the way.

* NOT all areas get deliveries every day - our rural area has 3. AP is progressively introducing that everywhere, according to their own news releases.

Re: POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST

simply-seeds-at-planet-plants — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 20:24:47 GMT

Well, I've had even tracked items disputed by buyers via EB! I only EVER use tracking envelopes or Reg. Post to avoid dishonest requests for more of what was purchased. NOW, I get disputes because buyers request AP 'leaving it in a safe place' & it's 'not delivered'. Listings note 'it's at your own risk'.

* My handling time for postage is ample - 5 days in most cases for seeds or items. Other listings have longer for seedlings/plants. I usually get orders posted within 2 days.

* I'm sick of being hassled for late delivery when it's AP's fault &/or getting that reflected in the 'scores' left.

* AP themselves told me letters are sorted every 3 days & also get redirected multiple times if backlogging is noticed in major sorting centres along the way.

* NOT all areas get deliveries every day - our rural area has 3. AP is progressively introducing that everywhere, according to their own news releases.

Re: POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST

springyzone — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 21:14:00 GMT

I too have read that letters are heading for 3 days a week delivery. I am not sure if it is in my area (Metro Melb) or not as we don't get that many letters. But I am pretty sure the postie at least does parcels every day. He has a scooter that has a good sized cart.

I'm going to admit straight up though that buyers will expect their goods by the estimated dates.

Just about every other website you buy from these days is getting items to the buyer within the week. Maybe that is because they are parcels or because a lot of different couriers are used, I don't know. But people are not used to long delays. I bought on ebay last week and the item was here from interstate within days (Bought 7th, delivered 11th).

If you feel your handling time is ample, yet the goods are often arriving after the estimated date, to the extent it is becoming a problem for you, then I think you will need to increase that handling time to push the estimated dates out further. You need to work within the prevailing conditions.

Customers will look at the ad and expect that the seller can fulfill the conditions, including ETA.

Customers will get a bit anxious if things don't arrive on time, they will think of your service as 'slower than expected' and mark it as such.

Re: POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST

paper-jack — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 21:25:04 GMT

@simply-seeds-at-planet-plants wrote:
...
* I'm sick of being hassled for late delivery when it's AP's fault &/or getting that reflected in the 'scores' left.
.....

Then there are those who mention "fast delivery" in feedback - I may be fast in getting an item to the post office but can't take credit for fast delivery or be held responsible for late delivery.

I receive a lot of paper mail from around the world (nothing to do with ebay) and have noticed that APO date stamp items when they get into their system on arrival in Australia, which is a really stupid action on their part as the date I receive the item can be as long as 10 days after that APO stamp.

Would be nice if Australia Post was still a service.

Re: POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST

springyzone — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 23:11:37 GMT

@paper-jack wrote:
@simply-seeds-at-planet-plants wrote:
...
* I'm sick of being hassled for late delivery when it's AP's fault &/or getting that reflected in the 'scores' left.
.....
Then there are those who mention "fast delivery" in feedback - I may be fast in getting an item to the post office but can't take credit for fast delivery or be held responsible for late delivery.

I think when customers say this, they are giving credit as well to the seller for posting it off quickly. Back in the day on ebay, many sellers would not post for a week or so. It can't get to you at all until it is posted.

It's true that the seller has no control over Auspost or the courier once it has been posted, but I find that on the whole, most of them are pretty efficient. I think Auspost even ramps up the service before Christmas.

My guess is this would be a bad time of year, too, to disappoint customers as far as delivery times go as many are waiting on items that are to be gifts. Probably doesn't apply to seed sales as much though.

Re: POSTAGE TIMES FOR ITEMS SENT AS LETTERS VIA AUST. POST

gutterpunkz05 — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 01:20:31 GMT

As per my original post.

If items are sent tracked, within handling time, and there is 1 valid tracking event (lodgement), then it does not matter when or if the item is delivered. I think there is also a proviso that tracking is uploaded prior to any dispute.

If the item is lost in transit, stolen after delivery, or just delivered late . Ebay foot the cost of any refund and seller defects for late shipment do not apply and any such defect will be auto removed.

Yes, I use tracked letters for some items, tracking info confirms that AP letter sorting operates at least 5 days per week (have even had tracking notifications on Saturdays)

Even if letter deliveries reduce to 3 days per week, it is unlikely to make a change to operation of sorting facilities.

I am aware of backlogs in parcel sorting, which has required transfers between sorting facilities. However I doubt this is the case with letters, which as you note are in decline, and as you claim sorting is only operational 3 days per week, there is an obvious solution to resolve any backlog issue, without the need to transfer items between facilities.

Just to add.

If as you claim items are being shipped with tracking, then when items are left in a safe place, it is considered and shows as delivered, and therefore ebay seller protection applies.