Shame shame shame Australia Post!!

[extremeshoppingonline]

Hi everyone

Not sure if you are aware or not, but Australia Post has just increased their postage charges by 30% and this will flow on to buyers & sellers alike. Whether you buy with ‘free postage’ or buy with postage as an additional expense, we can all expect to pay more.

What has really got up my nose is how Aust Post can justify the previous charge of $1 for ‘signature on delivery’ with an increase today of $2.95 for the same service! This charge is now being applied to the ClickandSend ebay/austpost satchels that many ebay sellers in Australia use.

We are already fighting a losing battle to remain competitive in the global market because of our extortionate postage costs within Australia and to post internationally.

Sadly to say, I feel we are going to see ‘free postage’ go by the wayside now. Because 90% of buyers are using Paypal, sellers need to show ‘proof of delivery’ in the event of a buyer opening a dispute in Paypal, claiming an item has not been received. So many parcels go missing, whether through theft, damage, fraud or abandonment and if the extra $2.95 for a signature on delivery is not taken up, then the seller will automatically have the case closed in the buyer’s favour. It is that simple. Registered Post is no longer. If you want Registered Post, it will cost $2.95 for the signature on Delivery plus $1.50 to cover than article up to the value of $100!

Anyway, if you want to read more, here are a couple of links. There is an online petition which has over 1000 signatures that you may like to add your name to. This petition now has media interest with a phone interview from Karen with ABC Radio the Sydney Morning Herald’s article and callers ringing into 2GB Radio in Sydney.

In closing, if I can say one thing… there is nothing that riles an aussie more than seeing fellow aussies kicked when they are already down 😞

Cheers

Evil Elle aka Ellen

https://www.change.org/petitions/australia-post-reconsider-the-parcel-price-increases

http://www.smh.com.au/business/postage-costs-soar-by-30-as-online-retail-booms-20130407-2hewv.html

[*crikey*mate*]

There are food businesses doing exactly that, cherries, apples and pork that I know of first hand without looking for info.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Australia+Post+fresh+produce

[donnashuggy]

From the Sydney Morning Herald page 3 today, this is our friend fuggsy mentioned

http://www.smh.com.au/national/pass-the-parcel-as-backlash-hits-australia-post-over-price-rises-2013...

[catsnknots]

Hm.. Toll... bundy to melbourne $69   

nope.. not gonna work.. lol 

Wish it was a legit alternative. 

[donnashuggy]

It is a legit alternative, they have a range of options.

[cherry*135]

None where I live (online ordering for fresh fruit/vege or meat) and I would say that would apply to most places that aren't in bigger metro areas.

crikey - my money, I will spend it where I want and I don't want to contribute to Aust Post profits.  It is a few bucks per parcel, which will add up to quite a lot over time.

As far as online retailers go, even before the recent postage hikes some would charge a minimum of $10 for a small parcel, when you could (and still can) get the same thing oseas for around $5 post.

Again we support the Aussie farmer by buying their produce in the supermarkets. This thread is about online shopping and most items purchased by online shopping are not fresh fruit, veges and meat.

[cherry*135]

Bookshop owner Chris Elworthy from Port Macquarie said he would now have to pay $11.70 in postage to send an $8 paperback book. Booksellers in Britain can send the same book to Australia for about $3.

''They are bleeding us dry,'' he said. ''Why would people buy from Australia when they can buy from overseas?''

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/pass-the-parcel-as-backlash-hits-australia-post-over-price-rises-2013...

That is the point.

There needs to be a backlash also.

[cherry*135]

We deliver to all states across Australia, except Northern Territory and Tasmania, covering most metropolitan areas and some regional towns.

Fresh food and produce isn't delivered by Aust Post either, so again, irrelevant to the opening post.

[donnashuggy]

Bookshop owner Chris Elworthy from Port Macquarie said he would now have to pay $11.70 in postage to send an $8 paperback book. Booksellers in Britain can send the same book to Australia for about $3.

''They are bleeding us dry,'' he said. ''Why would people buy from Australia when they can buy from overseas?''

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/pass-the-parcel-as-backlash-hits-australia-post-over-price-rises-2013...

That is the point.

There needs to be a backlash also.

Let's hope that they adjust their increases, it is tough on book sellers in Australia.

[**meep**]

I have 100's of C&S satchels sitting here.  I thought the $1 extra for delivery with signature was excellent value.  It went up to $2.95 yesterday.

I havent really looked into alternatives.  For someone who mainly uses the 500g and 3kg satchels, are there better options?

 As of next week, 500g satchel will cost $10.10 to post (according to my calculations) instead of $7.20 which included del with signature.

[donnashuggy]

I am on a parcel contract with Australia Post which is roughly about 1/3 cheaper than using satchels over-all. Toll  have satchels too and letter rate options, I am waiting for them to get back to me with pricing but it is sounding good.

Fastway satchels are good value too.