topic Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing in Selling

Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

mesonquark — Fri, 02 May 2014 07:47:54 GMT

Australia Post has underhandedly announced its biggest parcel cost increases in its history under the guise of reducing the 15 Kg weight limit on B1, B2 and B4 parcels that it previously accepted as Click and Send flat rate products.

On the 17th April 2014 Australia Post originally stated that B4 boxes would have a revised 5 Kg limit. This today has been further revised and B4 boxes will be no longer eligible for any flat rate.

In turn eBay's new "policy" in charging commissions on all P&H from May 6th 2014 closely coincides with Australia Post's announcement about its revisions to its flat rate box weight limits for those using their C&S system.

The 2 lots of announcements are not independent of each other.

Users of the Australia Post Click and Send system will now be paying from 80% to 700% more in postage costs on all parcels (B1, B2) that will have had their 15 kg maximum limits reduced to 1 kg and 3 kgs respectively from May 13th 2014.

In other words, nearly double to up to 7 times what we've being paying when these new weight limits start.

Yes, you read correctly, up to a 700% price rise. Not just a CPI increase or some little price tweak, up to 700% in the worse case scenario. If anyone doesn't believe me, just look up the Australia Post's Regular Parcel Charges table for a 14 to 15 Kg parcel going from 3711 to any postcode in W3 (6700 - 6799) and we send a hell of a lot of parcels to that region.

And guess what, eBay now gets to add to its bottom line with their revised FVF calculation that will include all P&H costs one week earlier. Talk about being prepared.

Forget about eBay wanting sellers to change their listings to "FREE P&H" as that's almost insignificant compared with the money they'll rake off because of the new postal charges and because they will now charge on all P&H, regardless if it's itemized separately.

If nothing gets done about this very urgently, all C&S users are going to suffer the consequences with both Australia Post and eBay rorting us and our buyers.

In comparison to that, the Australia Post’s weight reductions and the subsequent price rises by stealth are the real issue and will certainly affect both buyers and sellers the most financially.

News Flash!

According to an Australia Post representative today, these changes to the weights were requested by eBay to Australia Post and are NOT an Australia Post initiative. This postal charges change has been driven by eBay Australia to bolster their own profits, ignorantly agreed to by Australia Post and approved by the Australian Federal Government.

This is blatant profiteering by both organizations and is a rip-off.

Most sellers and ultimately buyers will find an enormous cost burden dumped on them with these weight changes as they are truly significant. The end result is that this will lead to serious cost increases to buyers, cause hardship to many sellers and inadvertently provide an added bonus to overseas sellers whose parcel costs stay the same because Australia Post have to deliver their parcels regardless for far less.

Many, if not most items that users could up until now post via C&S that used to be accepted in a B1 box will now end up having to go in a far higher priced B2 size box. A 1Kg maximum actually translates to approximately an 800 gram item because the empty B1 box itself weighs 100 grams and most people need to protect the contents with some form of padding/packing material. Just that alone is going to have a huge impact on pricing that eBay sellers have to cover somehow.

Then the withdrawal of the B4 boxes from flat rate processing will mean all items greater than 3 Kg will now have to go out via standard Australia Post variable rates which can mean up to a 700% price hike if sending from Vic to northern WA.

As a quick example, a 14 Kg packaged parcel that we often used to send in a B4 box for $15.05 via C&S to anywhere in Australia is now $100.20 to send to Nth WA (W3). There's a 700% unwarranted increase! That's the worse case, but even if we take an averaged out cost to post a 14 Kg item, we're now going to be paying $50 or more for what cost us $15.05 previously.

At least when we knew the cost of the P&H was flat rate and wasn't destination driven, we could list with the false "FREE P&H" way of listing, but when we have no idea where it's going to end up going to, then it's simply impossible. Unless something changes quick smart, we will have to revise virtually all of our listings to "calculated postage" and pass on these ludicrous postage price increases to our customers.

So eBay, you want us to list with “FREE P&H”? Yeah, right!

And as far as Australia Post goes, there's only 1 week left to get this debacle sorted, so it has to be escalated to the highest levels in government, the ACCC, the Postal Ombudsman, A Current Affair, anywhere that this can get enough publicity to force a reversal of their decision that’s been orchestrated hand-in-hand with eBay.

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

x3n0m — Fri, 02 May 2014 08:15:39 GMT

"And as far as Australia Post goes, there's only 1 week left to get this debacle sorted, so it has to be escalated to the highest levels in government, the ACCC, the Postal Ombudsman, A Current Affair, anywhere that this can get enough publicity to force a reversal of their decision that’s been orchestrated hand-in-hand with eBay."

ebay and auspost are joining forces to create a duopoly .. it already has the blessing of the ACCC .. they are basically closing the door to any opposition gaining traction to compete against them .. ebay is now “incentivising” sellers to use auspost exclusively so as to negate the 10% feegrab on postage .. ebay click and send is being discontinued and we will now need to pay for our postage label via ebay checkout to get the ebay click and send rates .. sinister is not the word for it .. it goes completely beyond the pail of what is acceptable business practice but the ACCC is onboard and auspost is being poised for selloff to private interests with lobbyists and other business interests imploring the government to sell it off even though it generates 200 Million + per year in revenue for the government .. auspost executives have cleverly 100% bought out startrack express and will no doubt spin that off to an insider in the not too distant future once the appropriate contracts have been awarded to it so that it becomes the exclusive carrier for the new post selloff auspost .. just get used to the idea of being squeezed and squeezed and squeezed and forget the notion of making any profit for effort as the only worthy ones are the corporate tax dodgers and those smart enough to outwit the public via monopoly practices .. all done with the blessing of the ACCC ..

Good luck but obviously the time is fast approaching when we need to find alternatives of cop it sweet .. doubtful that fighting the decisions of greedy business people with friends in high places is going to amount to anything .. I feel that when dealing with people of low morality and ethics if you are too successsful in disrupting their plans they may take a personal interest in you ..

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

phantomchris1984 — Fri, 02 May 2014 13:08:30 GMT

THATS CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UP TO 700% INCREASE, HOW DOES HAVING SUCH HIGH POSTAGE FEES ENCOURAGE COMPETITION OR HELP BUSINESS IN AUSTRALIA TO FLOURISH, POSTAGE RATES SHOULD BE AS CHEAP AS POSSIBLE SO THE GOVERNMENT MAKES MORE MONEY ON GST WITH MORE GOODS SOLD.

THATS WHY THEY SHOULD NOT ALLOW AUSPOST TO RISE POSTAGE FEES, HOW MUCH GST MONEY WILL THE GOV LOOSE JUST BECAUSE THEY WANT TO HELP ONE BUSINESS, AUSPOST, MAKE A BIT OF EXTRA CASH, THIS IS DESTROYING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN AUSTRALIA AND THE GOV COULD LOOSE BILLIONS IN TAX JUST TO HELP AUS POST MAKE A FEW EXTRA MILLION A YEAR TO OFFSET THE REDUCTION IN LETTERS EING SENT, CRAZY............

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

davewil1964 — Fri, 02 May 2014 13:55:58 GMT

If you use the eBay label system, you can still use b4 boxes at a flat rate. Up to 5kg. The 15kg was a recent innovation anyway. Before C&S you had to use calculated for anything over 500g that wouldn't fit in a satchel.

i won't comment about the italics and caps locks.

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

davewil1964 — Fri, 02 May 2014 13:58:15 GMT

You might like to study Economics 101. And turn your caps lock OFF.

And realise that whilst AP is owned by the Government, they are not directed by the Government.

Complain to your local MP, without caps lock.

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

iamanark — Sat, 03 May 2014 00:22:49 GMT

AND YOU SHOULD SHOW SOME MANNERS

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

asporty — Sat, 03 May 2014 02:12:14 GMT

I tried a petition with ACCC on ebay pricing but got turned out. But I agree that is seems to be Australia Post which is now bent on pushing us out of business and hence encouraging imports. As an example, it will not accept any package longer than 105cms from local sellers(golf clubs in my case), but happily delivers them from overseas.

Fastway and their reseller Jedcart are good, but talk about WA or other regional locations and the rates go through the roof also. I hope they improve enough to push post office out of business.

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

li.vish — Sat, 03 May 2014 03:15:14 GMT

Hello, everyone. This discussion is getting a little heated. Could we please communicate with a more civil tone. Thanks!

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

k1ooo-slr-sales — Sat, 03 May 2014 06:12:14 GMT

@li.vish wrote:
Hello, everyone. This discussion is getting a little heated. Could we please communicate with a more civil tone. Thanks!

really????

Not meaning to sound disrespectful BUT if iamanark's post prompted your "little heated" post then I am totally confused. My confusion stems from the fact that this response from a moderator seems totally disproportionate considering some of the posts going by without moderator intervention on several of the threads related to the impending changes taking effect from 6th May.

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

curraone — Sat, 03 May 2014 06:24:28 GMT

So how come moderators are all over the boards nit-picking for perceived "heat" but no-one from ebay actually answers any questions on the boards?

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

k1ooo-slr-sales — Sat, 03 May 2014 07:13:25 GMT

@curraone wrote:
So how come moderators are all over the boards nit-picking for perceived "heat" but no-one from ebay actually answers any questions on the boards?

I'm guessing the answer to this would be that the boards are administered by Lithium, with moderators being Lithium employees who are ~~incapable~~ not qualified or authorised to answer questions on eBay's behalf.. Questions that should be answered by the likes of eBay employee Joanna_oz who started the "Welcome to the Autumn 2014 Seller Release" thread remain unanswered.

edit: to keep this post 'on topic' . . . . I find Aust Post prices to be rising every year (I know this is no secret, just keeping the post on topic).

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

ggearstore — Sat, 03 May 2014 22:18:08 GMT

If it was just price rises every year it would be half normal. It seems every few months now we get these price rises.
The most recent ones are massive changes to sellers like me, costs will more then double if I keep using Australia post.
Australia post need competition in small parcels and so does eBay for that matter.

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

curraone — Sat, 03 May 2014 23:34:07 GMT

I agree - we are almost reconciled to the fact the Aust Post change prices every 6 months

But these changes in dribs and drabs with different starting dates, make it so hard to keep up and to keep listings current.

If they wanted to make these changes to click and send, why didn't they have the starting date at 31 March along with the other advertised prices?

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

emeraldtarpon — Sun, 04 May 2014 03:56:05 GMT

Didnt anyone notice that approx' 1 1/2 to 2 years ago,companies like Harvey Norman etc started crying about internet sales (international) not attracting the GST.

WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN UP TO SINCE?

Well,these whingers have now monoploised the market,with the Govt's blessing,and have not only destroyed the average person's ability to earn a few extra bucks (so we can be more than just a working slave) but have preceeded to,along with their mates at the ACCC. make corrupt business practice an acceptable thing.

How selfish and jealous are these people that they will destroy a whole sector because it's hurting THEIR bottom lines.

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

*crikey*mate* — Sun, 04 May 2014 04:03:06 GMT

So, Henry Ford should never have produced a car and not force the eventual demise of the Horse and Cart?

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

emeraldtarpon — Sun, 04 May 2014 04:47:08 GMT

Crikey,that was a VERY poor example and here's why:-

http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/business/henry-ford/

I suggest you be more careful when choosing a "famous" name to lean on.....this guy loved Adolf.

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

davewil1964 — Sun, 04 May 2014 05:31:54 GMT

And his personal racism and ignorance means he DIDN'T invent automobile mass production?

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

*crikey*mate* — Sun, 04 May 2014 06:14:34 GMT

@emeraldtarpon wrote:
Crikey,that was a VERY poor example and here's why:-

http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/business/henry-ford/

I suggest you be more careful when choosing a "famous" name to lean on.....this guy loved Adolf.

sorry, hope you got the point I was trying to make though.

Head's somewhere else today (assignment) just taking breaks everynow and then to stop the mind numbing boredom I am experiencing from sending me to sleep.

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

*crikey*mate* — Sun, 04 May 2014 06:21:09 GMT

@davewil1964 wrote:
And his personal racism and ignorance means he DIDN'T invent automobile mass production?

Yeah, I never knew his personal philosophies/ideologies, i just knew he made cars, an industry which ultimately saw the demise of another sector of transportation>

*shrugs*

Does this mean that when exploring the separation of powers and the concept of a responsible government that I'm not allowed to compare ours with that of germany's circa 1935 onwards? No one is ever allowed to refer to anything with which Hitler even had a remote connection?

Re: Urgent Action Needed Regarding New Australia Post Parcel Pricing

emeraldtarpon — Sun, 04 May 2014 10:53:49 GMT

Of course he invented mass produced cars,you know that.

You do also realise that the petroleum industry had a BIG part to do with Henry's sudden ability to mass produce the vehicles that relied on petroleum,don't you?......i mean,how ya gonna fuel all these "horse and cart" destroyers without petrol?

Why would you risk spending millions of dollars mass producing cars when there was no petroleum being mass produced at the time.

See how collusion works and bolsters every players pocket.

Nowadays,big business has turned colluding into an art form which leads me back to my original point....destroying the average man's ability to "make ends meet".