A question to all sellers

[the_wondering_turtle]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone can help me with this. I was just speculating if any sellers here use Australian Post satchels when you sell an item and just go to your nearest Post Box to post them instead of the Post Office? and my second question is can you take your pre-bought Australian Post satchel and had it over the counter at the Post Office or do you have to post them in the Post Box outside yourself, because I’ve heard that the staff at the Australian Post counter tell you to post them in the Post Box outside provided, only if it’s not a satchel or if it’s too big for the Post Box only then they can take it.

Any help will be gratefully appreciated, thank you.

[harley_babes_hoard]

I lodge mine over the counter and always ask for a lodgement receipt to which I stick the satchel tracking number on.

[cathyjoyjoy]

Over the counter is better ONLY if it is scanned and you see that happen and hear the beep.  I'm pointing this out because recently I have experienced at 2 small post offices (not agents, actual POs) where they do not scan a prepaid parcel OR an item where you may have already placed stamps and a tracking sticker on the item.  I was told we don't scan; it will be scanned when it reaches a sorting facility ........ so in that case it's the same as placing the item in a red PO box.  So after those two experiences I always make sure it's going to be scanned, otherwise (and I have done this !!!!!) ...... I've taken the item back and gone to another PO where every item is scanned.

And as others have mentioned here and AP confirms, some items can miss out on being scanned altogether ....... leaving a seller open to a false INR claim.

[digupatin]

In an honest world I wouldn't hesitate just to post items in the nearest box, however because I'm not a big seller and only have a small margin there's no way I'd do this.

I always lodge items over the counter, doesn't matter what the size is.

I've never been told to post them in the box outside by PO staff and I'd refuse to do this as that's not what I've paid for.

[the_wondering_turtle]

Thank you all for your feedback, I really appreciate it. I now have a better understanding, thanks once again.

[onekiwi0]

I hear you cathyjoyjoy there are post offices out there that must be struggling as one near me said  they scan satchels all together at the end of the day to save the till paper which is special "paper" - you know the paper that has your receipt on it.  when I said I wanted proof of lodgement they said you have a tracking no., you didn't buy your satchels from me - take it elsewhere.......they literally wanted me to go away because they weren't making any money out of me, despite me having stamps required for international post at the same time...... seriously you can't win sometimes! (when I complained to australia post - along with the fact they wouldn't provide me with the tracking no. given as part of the parcel post service another time and the actual boss was totally rude to me, my complaint was noted but it was also explained that some franchises altho representing APO run their business differently ........and as in your case, they are in a post office not a newsagent - geeeesh!!!

[phorum_junkie*]

Having tracking is not the only reason I try to avoid posting parcels into red boxes. How many times do we hear of idiots setting fire to them? I have heard tales of disgusting yobs urinating in them then there was the classic case when Foxy went to the local store and the red box outside was wide open and full of parcels, no PO there to report it to. She went home and rang AP then went back again with her camera!

[clarry100]

PJ when we use our local red street box for out large letters we drop them in there as close as possible to the clearance time (5pm for ours) so they sit in there for the least amount of time as possible for the very reasons you stated. Sad but true.

[joethenuts]

correct clarry the only problem in years to come is all these payment machines which are already at post offices, banks years ago trying to push people onto te machines outside of the bank.  tis morning at kmart only i checkout with a person open ,the rest were those machines, but the best was one day at the supermarket ,the bloke next to me was talking to his machine , saying to the screen [how in the #### would i know what type of apples they are.  lol

[scubadiver00]

I used to post all satchels in the red letter post boxes but since one went missing I ALWAYS hand over all satchels at the post office and make sure I get the receipt as well. 

[teriosullivan]

I find that it depends on the austrlia post office whether they will take it or will make you stick it in the post box.

Some are great and others don't want a bar of people.