@digital*ghost wrote:
@thegaminggamer wrote:
By flat rate pricing, are you talking about things like the BX boxes and 3KG satchels?
Printing all of the international related labels sounds like a bit of an ink and time waster so it might trouble me a bit. I prefer to just write the addresses on the parcel myself and scribble quickly on the green customs forms. Does the discount apply to both Economy Air and Standard Air options?
Are there any discounts on signature on delivery (both local and international)?
Neglected to answer these Q's earlier - but first, I just wanted to mention that I'm now not certain an ABN is required for the new program. I know it used to be, when it was called Business 250 (which had a much more limited range of discounts, and it was only 10% no matter what your volume as long as you sent 250+ parcels a year).
I looked up the eligibility requirements for Send & Save, and there's no mention of an ABN. I clicked "sign up" and the only info it asked me for was the usual (email address etc) and Business Name (which doesn't have to be a registered business name). They might ask for it after, maybe, but the other thing is that the discount was applied to most pre-existing accounts for 8 weeks before Christmas (if I remember correctly), so people were opted in automatically without ABNs.
By flat rate pricing, I did mean BX boxes and satchels. You technically need to use the red and white satchels, not the eBay branded ones (available forom the Aus Post shop online - both on ebay and their own website, and some Aus Post outlets), and they come in 500g, 3kg and 5kg sizes (you can print standard or express post labels and put whichever one on them). However, I use own packaging because flat rate pricing is a touch more expensive (500g flat rate is $8.15, so after the lowest discount of 10% it becomes $7.35 if I remember correctly. Own packaging is $7.95 for 500g, so becomes $7.15 after a discount. I print my own labels and use a plastic document envelope to attach, and even buying the satchels and pouches separately, it's cheaper per satchel than the cheapest price AP provide for satchels with pouches). The same applies for express 500g parcels - own packaging is cheaper than flat rate. Above 500g, flat rate is cheaper than assessed in most cases (assessed can be cheaper if sending within the same state).
As to label printing for flat rate - some Aus Post outlets will let you print labels there (I believe you'd need to save the PDF to a USB stick to take it in), but I know not all of them provide this service, and I'm not sure if it's reserved for 'emergency' situations or if they don't care how frequently you get them to do it.
At the first tier (10%) the discount is applied to domestic parcels (standard and express), and international parcels (also standard and express), plus extra cover (that is always a 33% discount no matter what your tier for domestic, and from memory it's also on international extra cover, but at the tier discount, so 10% to start with. International extra cover is hardly worth it even after a discount, unless the item is worth a couple hundred IMO, because it's $9.60 to cover just the first hundred at full price, or $8.64 with a 10% discount, and only provides cover while the package in in Australia Post's possession. Total rip if you ask me).
At the second tier (10+ parcels a week, 12.5% discount), the discount extends to international economy services, but not on the lower 10% tier.
There's a discount on SOD for international packages, but I'm not sure if that follows the same percentage discount as your tier. I do remember seeing it go up to $5.49, then back to $4.99 when I was migrated from Business 250 to Send & Save, and I started out on the lowest 10% discount tier, but I haven't checked if it got any cheaper when I went up.
Lastly, just for the sake of 100% clarification in case others find this in the future, these discounts are only in conjunction with parcel services, so you can't get any discounts for postage or add-ons with letter rate items (domestic or international).
Thanks for the details, it is appreciated.
Come to think of it, why is a 500 gram satchel (that has size limitations) $8.15 when you can package the item yourself with no size limits for $7.95?
Regarding label printing at the Post Office, that does sound potentially troublesome (putting online AusPost labels on a USB stick etc). I thought it was as simple as getting the staff to print the usual small rectangle labels and just scan then and there.
Now I come across probably my biggest downfall: the fact that the 10% discount doesn't apply to International Economy Parcels. 99% of my air mail parcels are economy so this is a big disappointment. 5 parcels a week (10% discount) I can do but not 10 parcels a week (12.5% discount). And here I was hoping for much needed discounts on my expensive economy parcels to places like the UK and Brazil and France and other expensive countries to post to ($22-$25+ per 500 gram parcel). Again, big disappointment.
Again, thanks for the info in your posts.
