Australia Post and 20mm thick question

[zulu_99]

I took a small padded envelope weighing 220g to the post office and got charged $7.60 standard postage.
When I checked later on the website, I saw that postage upto 20mm was $3 and over 20mm was parcel rate.
I recreated the package with the same item and when I measured it it was JUST over 20mm (like 20.1mm) the postmaster didn't even measure it.
I was wondering what would happen if I just put 3 stamps on it and posted it in a post box? Would it get returned to me or would the recipient get charged extra?
Cheers

[brerrabbit585]

I checked my gauge a while back and I thought it was about 21mm, but I just checked it now and it's a smidgen over 20 - same all the way along with no sign of rubbing, and if it was going to wear it'd be in the middle. I used to ask the PO to check the iffy ones and they always slid through theirs easier than with mine. They haven't checked them in a long time because they know I always ask if there's any doubt.

I was told a couple of years ago that they always put bulky letters in a separate bag to the DL size and really flat ones, and that the bigger ones don't go through the sorting machinery, but perhaps that's changed.

[digital*ghost]

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@brerrabbit585 wrote:
I checked my gauge a while back and I thought it was about 21mm, but I just checked it now and it's a smidgen over 20 - same all the way along with no sign of rubbing, and if it was going to wear it'd be in the middle. I used to ask the PO to check the iffy ones and they always slid through theirs easier than with mine. They haven't checked them in a long time because they know I always ask if there's any doubt.

I was told a couple of years ago that they always put bulky letters in a separate bag to the DL size and really flat ones, and that the bigger ones don't go through the sorting machinery, but perhaps that's changed.

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Good to know re: the gauges, a lot of members here tested theirs a while back and there wasn't a single one that was bigger than 1.9cm, even allowing for a small margin of error, it was surprising that they all measured below the max allowable thickness. Realistically, they should be a touch over 2cm if 2cm is the max thickness of the letter, since something that's 2cm will never slide through a slot that's also 2cm (unless it compresses while going through). 

As far as I know, anything in paper envelopes will go through the sorting machines, as long as they meet either small or large letter specs, I'm not sure if AP's tough bags are considered flexible enough, but padded bags and rigid mailers are supposed to be off the list. Anything that's normal paper, yellow craft envelopes and the like, will supposedly go through the machine- content isn't checked, so if it contains rigid items, clothing etc, that's where problems usually occur. 

[glenbankloel]

Your local PO should be able to give you a letter gauge free if you request. Quite large item, but it stands upright on the floor, slides in next to my desk. We find it invaluable.

[jfmgray]

Just measured my AP letter guage - yep 19mm.

I would estimate about 5% of my large letters are slightly over the 20mm mark, including international large letters..  My local post office staff always let them through but occasionally warn me that the sorting centres may pick up the oversized items and bill me. This has never happened so I can only assume that they go through the sorting machines OK

[heihachi_73]

19mm, otherwise known as 3/4 of an inch. The same size as the USPS allows coincidentally. Australia Post would never consider allowing the full inch that Royal Mail does, imagine the profits lost on all those 80 gram items!

I made my own letter gauge two years ago, also using 19mm, so I could see what would fit and what wouldn't. Anything thicker than a regular DVD case in a bubble mailer/padded bag will most likely go as a parcel.

Some staff are also more strict than others, some won't even bother using a letter gauge if it resembles a large letter and will put 2-3 stamps on it even if it was 23mm thick, some will push an item all the way (or even part way) through the gauge and as long as it somewhat fits they will pass it as a large letter, others will halfheartedly push an item through the gauge and if it ever so slightly brushes the sides (even if it was just the flap snagging the edge) they will try to say it's a parcel. I think most of the clueless staff have finally found another job - I can't remember the last time someone has tried to say that large letters are for paper documents only.

What I've noticed when using bubble mailers, at least with the Officeworks (PPS brand) 260x360mm ones (cheaper than AP, especially when complete boxes are on special) and the 160x230mm DVD-compatible ones bought on eBay:

CD, DVD and Blu-Ray cases (and their identically-sized video game equivalents) fit through the gauge with no problems
Old video game cartridges don't e.g. Atari, Sega, Nintendo (nope, not even Nintendo 64 games)
PlayStation 1 games with their original thicker-than-normal CD cases usually don't, although I have had one or two pass as a large letter (I don't recommend it as AP just loves to smash jewel cases, padded or not)
Thick Nintendo DS cases don't (these cases are usually clear instead of black and the games are almost always from European companies like Ubisoft)
Audio cassette cases are 50/50, they are about 21mm thick (loose tapes fit, but I wouldn't try my luck with Australia Post, I could just imagine them being broken and tape going everywhere)
VHS videos, not a chance (AP still sells video-compatible boxes, although IIRC they don't fit the larger style cases that came with older 80s videos or ex-rentals)
Double CD (2CD) cases are miles too thick (use a box anyway, as with PS1 games the case will most likely be smashed to pieces too)
I have never sent records, so I don't have a clue if they count as a large letter or not, especially LPs/33s given their size.

[bluebudgies]

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@digital*ghost wrote:

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@brerrabbit585 wrote:
I checked my gauge a while back and I thought it was about 21mm, but I just checked it now and it's a smidgen over 20 - same all the way along with no sign of rubbing, and if it was going to wear it'd be in the middle. I used to ask the PO to check the iffy ones and they always slid through theirs easier than with mine. They haven't checked them in a long time because they know I always ask if there's any doubt.

I was told a couple of years ago that they always put bulky letters in a separate bag to the DL size and really flat ones, and that the bigger ones don't go through the sorting machinery, but perhaps that's changed.

---

Good to know re: the gauges, a lot of members here tested theirs a while back and there wasn't a single one that was bigger than 1.9cm, even allowing for a small margin of error, it was surprising that they all measured below the max allowable thickness. Realistically, they should be a touch over 2cm if 2cm is the max thickness of the letter, since something that's 2cm will never slide through a slot that's also 2cm (unless it compresses while going through). 

As far as I know, anything in paper envelopes will go through the sorting machines, as long as they meet either small or large letter specs, I'm not sure if AP's tough bags are considered flexible enough, but padded bags and rigid mailers are supposed to be off the list. Anything that's normal paper, yellow craft envelopes and the like, will supposedly go through the machine- content isn't checked, so if it contains rigid items, clothing etc, that's where problems usually occur. 

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If anyone has one that's under 2 cms it sounds like a good idea to try a different post office to see if they have a slightly bigger one.  I'd imagine they'd be made in fairly large batches so it wouldn't pay to ask too often. 

I send a lot of C5 letters that are anything from 10 mm to pushing the 20 mm limit and they're the ones the PO told me they put in a separate bag.  "Anything bulky" in letters is what they said.  They really know their stuff because there's only the two staff (husband and wife).