topic Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers in Selling

Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

gizmoclearance — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:05:09 GMT

today at post office the staff rejected my letter size item and I had to pay $13.70 for a small item only priced at $7. I used to go to the other post office and the staff there had no problem with it and the postage was only $3.5.

he also rejected all my other large letter size item so they cost me $13.70 each for just regular postage without tracking.

and the staff told me I have to bring the packages to the post office every time so they can check my ID. there is NO OTHER WAY.

this is such an inefficient way to do business. fill out the form every time and queue at the post office, it's just not worth it.

how do you guys cope with it? i don't think it's possible to ship large volume overseas in this way.

Re: Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

davewil1964 — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:15:38 GMT

I rarely sell overseas, but I haven't had a problem sending large letters.

What was the reason? What were the contents? Given you have to fill out a Customs declaration, I can't see how you can avoid lodging at a PO.

Maybe go back to using the other PO.

Re: Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

2106greencat — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 19:23:55 GMT

Can't help re the costs, but why don't you have customs dec's at home, pre filled, then just needing to add the relevant details.

Re: Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

***super_nova*** — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:19:34 GMT

If it was under 2cm then they have no right to reject it, I would have argued with them, and if they would not accept it , I would have gone to another PO, and I would call the customer support number and ask why is staff at this PO overcharging. The charges are clearly set so I cannot understand why do these people think they have a right to over rule them.

My PO does let me send items as large letters, now, but I have had problems in the past.

Re: Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

suitcase_of_memories — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:01:49 GMT

Remember some post offices are PRIVATELY owned. There have been instances of PO's overcharging because they own it & think they can get away with it.

Get yourself the latest Post Charges booklet, issued 22 oct, 2012, you will be able to quickly check requirements i.e. width of large letters can't be any thicker than 2cm, otherwise they become a PARCEL.

Re: Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

gizmoclearance — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 23:58:52 GMT

they are just around 2cm. if they give it a pull they will go thru the gauge. the other post office does pull the package but this one doesn't. they reject everything that does not freefall thru the hole.

my point is the only 1mm makes a big difference from $3.5 to $13.70..

and even though I prefill all the forms I still have to queue up at the post office and present ID for every item. say if I ship 50 items overseas everyday I have to take a container to the shop and jam-up the queue for the other customers.

is there any workaround?

Re: Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

curraone — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:12:52 GMT

if they are under 2 cm and can go as a letter, buy international stamps and post them yourself in a red box.

If you send a large letter to Aunty Mary who lives in u.s. you don't need to go to the post office, and you don't have to fill in a customs form.

Re: Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

curraone — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:14:48 GMT

Although the weight needs to be considered;

250g to 500g to u.s.a. for a letter is still $14.20.

how much does your item weigh?

Re: Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

extra-keen — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:20:10 GMT

I believe, but I may be wrong, that if the item is not paper (a letter), regardless of the size, the declaration has to be signed.

However I know from past experience it depends who is behind the counter at the PO.

I stopped selling overseas a year or two ago and my stress levels more than halved. I have concentrated on local sales and that is working fine for me.

Re: Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

fred_fred_2004 — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:30:02 GMT

yes that's right if it's anything but paper the cn22 needs signing and it must be over the counter

Re: Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

tall_bearded — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:30:50 GMT

The double whammy of high Australian postal charges coupled with ridiculously low postal prices being paid by overseas sellers who send items to Australia, low prices which are being subsidised by the Australia consumer, and the adverse effect that both are having on Australian sellers ability to compete both locally and internationally, is becoming an increasingly hot political topic.

So if you want something done, contact your local Member and give them an earful. Also contact those Senators who are supposedly servicing the interests of your State and demand, vide Senate Estimates , that Aust Post be directed to answer why they are doing nothing to level the playing field.

Re: Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

annies_fancy_dress — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 02:09:46 GMT

If it a softish item, put it under a heavy object (like a wash basket full of clothes) to make it as flattish as possible.

You can also get a letter gauge(big piece of cardboard with slots cut in it) from the post office, to check at home.

Re: Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

lyndal1838 — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 02:51:45 GMT

Everyone is complaining about the high AP rates. Has anyone done the exercise of comparing the AP rates with rates from overseas for the same service?

There was recently a seller on the boards commenting on how expensive it was to send a parcel to the UK and wondering what it would cost to send the same item from the UK to Australia.

Just out of curiosity I took the time to do just that...compare the postal rates from both countries.

I was surprised to find that it was actually cheaper to send mail from Australia to the UK.

I have since done the exercise with packages to the USA and Canada and again, AP comes out as the cheapest.

Re: Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

flashback_deals — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 04:17:15 GMT

Each time I post overseas and you have to frill out the little green customs form, I always have to show photo ID and they write down D/L and my drivers licence number

Re: Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

animecat2 — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 06:12:56 GMT

AP clearly stated that the Letter Rates charged for overseas are for Documents only so they have every right to reject it and make it a parcel rate.

Re: Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

cezm — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 06:46:50 GMT

I believe letters are supposed to slide easily through the slot rather than having to be pushed through. My PO always drops them through the slot to see if they fit easily.

The international post guide states that written documents can be posted in a street posting box but anything else needs a custom declaration so must be posted over the counter ....

Letters*

• Letters, uninsured, containing written correspondence or

documents only

No customs documentation required. May be lodged in a

Street Posting Box

• Letters, uninsured, containing items valued at no more than $500 CN22 – Green Form (8832667). Must be lodged over the counter.

• Letters, uninsured, containing items valued at over $500 CP72 – Blue Form (8832659). Must be lodged over the counter.

• Letters, insured CP74 – Red Form (8832661). Must be lodged over the counter.

http://auspost.com.au/media/documents/international-post-guide.pdf

As someone else suggested, perhaps have a supply of declarations at home.

Also investigate click and send for (possibly) cheaper rates and tracking to some international destinations.

Re: Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

2106greencat — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 09:06:37 GMT

I think it is called 'having the market cornered' - who else can we use? X-(

Re: Costly postage and ID check makes it difficult to sell to overseas buyers

flashback_deals — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 09:14:35 GMT

AP clearly stated that the Letter Rates charged for overseas are for Documents only so they have every right to reject it and make it a parcel rate.

My DVD's always go to the UK as letter rate fine, never had a problem, same as records and a coiple of cassettes and cd's