topic Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it? in Selling

If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

mark_bvt — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 01:24:33 GMT

I have some items I want to send by registered post.

The items with packaging is about 8mm thick, so I cannot not send them as a registered letter (must be 5mm or less for that). So I decided I would put the contents in a 16cm X 23cm envelope and send it as a registered parcel.

Off I go to Click, click, click, click, click, click, click and Send (surely one of the slowest, clunkiest sites in the entire universe) and enter the package dimensions 23 x 16 x 0.8 and am promptly told that the minimum thickness for a parcel is 5cm.

So I cannot send these items as a letter because they're more than 5mm thick and cannot send them as a parcel because they're less than 50mm thick. What am I supposed to do, stuff bubble wrap in the envelope to pad it out to 5cm? Also this 3mm excess in thickness will mean postage will go from $3.50 to $11.00+ , a huge jump in cost for a negligible increase in volume.

I suppose I could split the items and send them as two registered letters. That would make it less expensive for me and create more work for Australia Post, instead of getting one letter that is 8mm thick they will get two letters with a combined thickness of 10mm. But I don't want to do that every time this problem occurs.

Has anyone else encountered this problem or got a solution?

Thank you.

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

crichtonscraftgwen — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 01:30:20 GMT

Letter can be sent up to 20mm (2cms)

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

mark_bvt — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 01:36:20 GMT

I didn't know about the large letter catagory.

Thanks very much.

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

bigbrickshop — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 01:37:23 GMT

A large letter can be up to 360mm x 260mm in size, 20mm thick and weigh up to 500 grams.

If your padded envelope is thicker than 2cm and you want to use C&S just enter it as 5cm, it will make no difference to the postage cost.

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

crichtonscraftgwen — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 01:40:01 GMT

If you are not sure about Australia Post charges go to their site and you will find out everything about posting.

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

chezzy — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 01:52:05 GMT

Letter Post and Registered Post info is found on the

Post Charges easy guide within Australia

Get yourself one of the handy easy guides - a summary of charges (with measurements etc) for frequently used services. Your local PO should have one or click the link below

http://auspost.com.au/parcels-mail/pricing-and-postage-guides.html

The info is incorporated into the Parcels Easy Guide for your zone under the Domestic Guides

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

mark_bvt — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 02:16:27 GMT

Yes, I'll do that, thanks. And thanks to everyone else who has contributed to this thread.

I take back all the nasty thoughts I had about Australia Post.

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

happyinoz — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 02:43:33 GMT

Bear in mind that some sellers encounter problems when sending some non-printed-matter at letter rate.

An item will qualify for large-rate for both Australian and international addresses if it conforms to AP's guidelines for dimensions and weight AND IS PRINTED MATTER.

I've seen various ebay discussions in which sellers admit to posting non-printed matter items at large letter rate. You then seem to be at the mercy of your PO staff as to whether they will allow you to post it at the cheaper rate. Of course, it's easier to post such items domestically where the seller does not have to list the contents on the packaging. However, it becomes trickier when sending to an international address and needing to declare the parcel's contents.

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

littlefrench — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 03:59:02 GMT

Bear in mind that some sellers encounter problems when sending some non-printed-matter at letter rate.

An item will qualify for large-rate for both Australian and international addresses if it conforms to AP's guidelines for dimensions and weight AND IS PRINTED MATTER.

I've seen various ebay discussions in which sellers admit to posting non-printed matter items at large letter rate. You then seem to be at the mercy of your PO staff as to whether they will allow you to post it at the cheaper rate. Of course, it's easier to post such items domestically where the seller does not have to list the contents on the packaging. However, it becomes trickier when sending to an international address and needing to declare the parcel's contents.

total rubbish!

why do the post office sell CD mailers that go as a large letter, the only thing you need is a cn22 and it can contain anything

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

mark_bvt — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 04:33:17 GMT

Yes you are right. I have a prepaid domestic registered post envelope and there's nothing written on it about being for documents only. There is a list of prohibited items which include the usual drugs and explosives etc. These envelopes cost $3.90 each. If it is classed as a standard letter then postage is $0.60, registration is a further $2.60 leaving the price of the material envelope at $0.70, which is about right.

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

chezzy — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 05:47:31 GMT

I am not sure where people get their information that letters/large letters is for printed matter only. I think there are a couple of products that specify this (one being express post envelopes I think?)

I have a domestic prepaid Registered Post envelope and it does NOT specify printed matter only. It does say that it is not suitable for sending jewellery or precious stones. It is also says Small rigid items such as keys or coins should be securely packed to avoid loss or damage.

On an International Post prepaid envelope I have it does not specify printed matter either!

But it does imply that if the envelopes contain goods (not letters/docs/printed matter) that a customs form needs to be used or it won't be carried.

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

chezzy — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 05:50:31 GMT

Letter sized items can go at letter rates but if it is for overseas and contains something other than letters/documents/printed matter a completed customs form must be attached

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

fred_fred_2004 — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 06:15:06 GMT

Letter sized items can go at letter rates but if it is for overseas and contains something other than letters/documents/printed matter a completed customs form must be attached

100% correct 🙂

I send lots of things overseas using the large letter rate

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

jawsnine — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 08:16:47 GMT

chezzy wrote

"I am not sure where people get their information that letters/large letters is for printed matter only."

The latest postage calculators for Australia Post (including the link on the Ebay site) ask what you are sending and only come up with the letter rates if you tick the box for a document.

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

sonya0576 — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 11:54:33 GMT

I always assumed that large letter rate could be used to post anything that fit the size criteria until a few weeks back I was posting some satchels too and so went into the AP store. I was told the item in the large envelope should be getting sent in satchel because it was not printed items. Needless to say I now use a different AP store lol. The staff there never question it.

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

digital*ghost — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 12:14:05 GMT

As mentioned, there are dimension restrictions on large letters via standard delivery, but not content restrictions. There are content restrictions on express letters, though.

I was reading the letter guide the other day, and the examples used as contents for large letters are things like jewellery, which is neither a document nor printed material.

Interestingly, though, particularly as I often questioned the advice that letters must be documents with the whole CD mailer thing, I found out that when AP say "document", they are not referring to printed matter only. According to their letter guide, a document is anything that contains reproducible content, including CDs, SD cards etc. So, while you can't send jewellery at an express letter rate, you can send a CD as an express letter because it's considered a document.

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

ozstockman — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 07:14:08 GMT

You can post registered post letters in your own envelope. Just pack in yours and tell guys in your LPO that you want it to be posted registered post.

You do not have you have to use AP pre-paid registered post envelopes.

And one more important thing that is only the biggest pre-paid registered post envelope can be used for non document content. The small ones are for documents only. It is written on them and I have been told about it many times in my LPO.

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

twyngwyn — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 07:30:10 GMT

all my envelopes contain printed matter, as I wrap EVERYTHING in junk mail ?:|

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

thevintageread — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 07:54:06 GMT

Off I go to Click, click, click, click, click, click, click and Send (surely one of the slowest, clunkiest sites in the entire universe) and enter the package dimensions 23 x 16 x 0.8 and am promptly told that the minimum thickness for a parcel is 5cm.

Re: If it's neither a letter nor a parcel what is it?

thevintageread — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 07:59:03 GMT

I put in a comment above with my carefully selected quote and it disappeared into cyber space!

Just had to say "hear hear" about click and send! It is soooo frustrating and such a clumsy interface. Has anyone else had a nervous breakdown trying to get it to accept a correct postcode?

...walking off satisfied with my "click and send" vent!