Anyone heard of this from Australia post

[almighty_auctions]

So i just got of the phone to Australia Post and I am absolutely gobsmacked I just got told that the items I post mainly little punchie packs should be sent as a parcel and not in a standard envelope which are apparently strickly for documents and letters has anyone else heard of this my items i send generally are not even that big they are tiny and a letter would be thicker .... They said I should be sending them as a parcel .... 

[digital*ghost]

Contents of letters are dealt with on several other pages - none referred to on this page - just because they are on another page on the website, does not mean they don't have relevance or apply - for example dangerous and prohibited goods etc etc

Then I'll just ask the question, if what qualify as letters should only contain paper documents, why do they make mailers intended to go as letters for things that are certainly not made of paper, nor qualify as documents?

Also, "what can I send in an envelope" is not the same as "does my envelope qualify as a letter / large letter", in that regard, it is open to interpretation, which is probably why this sort of thing varies from PO to PO, and I'm willing to at least say neither of us can be 100% certain our interpretation is the correct one....though I do keep looking at the CD mailers and wondering why they exist if a CD doesn't qualify as a letter. 

I also have to wonder why AP would make it very clear that standard (not large) international letters can only contain documents yet fail to do so for regular domestic letters if that's what the regulation truly was. ?:|

[***super_nova***]

I also have to wonder why AP would make it very clear that standard (not large) international letters can only contain documents yet fail to do so for regular domestic letters if that's what the regulation truly was. ?:|

Exactly, and I think that the reason international mail is different is because in some European countries there is a strict distinction between printed matter and parcels.  Actually "printed" matter even such as books could be sent at discounted rate up to much higher weight than here.  But if it is an item, even tiny, it is a parcel.

[thecatspjs]

Australia Post makes no bones about promoting their "safe packaging" products so the mail can be processed safely and efficiently. 

They retain the right in their postal guides to refuse to carry a lot of goods including letters that will slow or damage the process of the mail sort due to their high volume processing mail sort machines.

[motherbear2003]

I've been sending my items as large letters for 9 years and have never been queried as to what's in them; my local post office has had a change of ownership four times in that period:-)

[purple_haize]

I send kids clothes in large envelopes, my post office guy knows they are clothes and he has never ever said I shouldnt be doing it.

I think it depends on the post office staff.

I also receive large envelopes with scrapbooking stuff in them and clothes.

[thecatspjs]

Done a bit more research, so in addition to the statement on  Australia Post's website - what can I post in a letter

Found From Letter Post Guide - link on australia post website

L2.5.1 – Contents of a Small Letter
Small Letters should not contain stiff objects such as bottle tops, pens or pencils, computer diskettes,
and so on. High-speed machine processing could damage such objects, or the objects could damage
other letters.

So back to OPs question - if the object you posted was a "stiff" item ( lol) ) in a small envelope (Aust Pos schedule 6 small letter =standard letter ) then the above excerpt 2.5.1  from the Letter Post Guide may shed further light on their call to you.

[licoricebabyandfabmama]

I NEVER take my large letters to the counter  I always post them through the box,  nearly every time the clerk tells me it has to be sent as a parcel  even after I have measured and weighed the item myself.   

[woolywoolenwools]

That last part is interesting ; "..may be torn from the envelope or damaged if not packaged appropriately."

In that case, if there are paper documents inside, then they could get damaged too. 

Just logics, I guess?  :^O

[*bazinga*bazinga]

As a buyer I think it looks really cheap and unprofessional when I receive an item in an envelope.

[***super_nova***]

As a buyer I think it looks really cheap and unprofessional when I receive an item in an envelope.

Well, I am just about to post small item with 3 x60c stamps; as a buyer what would you rather pay; $1.80 for envelope or $6.60 for parcel.  That is for $5 item.  For most people "professional" does not come into it.