Has Australia Post lost the plot?

[moviemem]

I have been having a lot of trouble getting answers to questions about the new pricing structure which starts on Monday.

I just rang the Aust Post Business Line and was told "we cannot discuss the price changes or increases because they may change before Monday". I asked her if this meant that they might be revising the published structure and she said "yes"!!!

I then asked about tracking. The Aust Post website clearly states that "all domestic parcels lodged
through an Australia Post retail outlet will be traceable through our online tracking tool". That is EVERY package that is lodged. I have a contract with Aust Post. My parcels are all in my own packaging and they are collected. I just put a "Postage Paid Australia" stamp on each package. There are no tracking numbers. When I asked the girl how my parcels would be tracked she said she didn't know and I should check the website for updates on Monday!!

My various local Post Offices have said that they have not been properly trained and they are desperately trying to find out answers to their questions before the changes take effect.

The potential problems seem to particularly affect Business Account holders but I wonder how many others are having trouble getting information.

[extra-keen]

So if the new postage for click and send 500g satchel is $7.20 plus the cost of the satchel - aprox 15c, it will be cheaper to buy bulk regular AP satchels at around $7.23 purchased bulk. So what is the point now of click and send - at least for satchels?

[davewil1964]

Paypal protection?

My understanding is that the Parcel Post Plus satchel rates will increase on 8 April. Apart from that, C&S payment is per satchel, your quotation requires a $723 capital outlay. So there is a HUGE reason to use C&S. At least for those of us who don't care to tie up a significant amount of money in unused, as yet, satchels.

[thecatspjs]

I have been having a lot of trouble getting answers to questions about the new pricing structure which starts on Monday.

I just rang the Aust Post Business Line and was told "we cannot discuss the price changes or increases because they may change before Monday". I asked her if this meant that they might be revising the published structure and she said "yes"!!!

Well now we know why they were not saying anything.. and yes indeed more prices have changed X-(

[foxette-in-sox]

Don't know if I'm repeating anyone because I'm not really following this thread but there was an announcement put up at 4.26pm today.It's at the side of the Answer Centre.

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/au/201304.shtml#2013-04-05162608

[glenbankloel]

Thanks Foxy, I use C&S, was wondering what was happening with them. Well sob, sob now I know!!!! 

[lind9650]

Just an incident that happened a month ago.

I posted a 2Kg parcel with tracking from Victoria to Queensland.

The tracking showed the parcel accepted on 05/03/13 by our local PO.

Then nothing. No transit, no delivery.

Thankfully the receiver was my daughter and rang when she received the parcel. Today I checked the tracking number again. Still nothing about delivery or transit.

Now, what could happen is when you mark your sent item as posted and give the buyer the tracking number. The buyer sees that there is no delivery mentioned on the tracking site even after receiving the item. All you can do is pray that the buyer is an honest person and does not claim "Item not received."

You have proof of the item having been posted, but parcels will still go missing. Do you refuse to give a refund to the buyer just because you can?

So what is tracking really worth? 

?:|

[thecatspjs]

Have to agree with that.  I think that AP promoting the tracking on satchels etc are walking a fine line with misleading advertising.

With my own parcels I invested in fluro "please scan on delivery stickers to "encourage" couriers to provide the service that AP promotes.   Most  of my parcel delivery events are now scanned, however from time to time their are still parcels that only ever show the initial lodgement scan. 

[browncatpurrs]

Hello Moviemem 

From our training info:

Bulk Mail lodgement for charge account customers:

With the introduction of tracking and scanning for all domestic parcels products, full-rate bulk mail customers will now be able to apply a FREE parcel post or express post tracking label to their parcel. 

In addition to introducing tracking labels, BML customers will also be able to purchase the prepaid signature on delivery labels for both express and parcel post.

If you are sending any parcels express you will also need to apply the pink sticker ( aviation security and dangerous goods declaration) to your parcel as well.  ( We will no longer be using the current express labels on parcels, those will become obsolete on Monday 11th)

If you just wish to have tracking on your parcels then you can apply the free labels to your parcels. They will then be scanned as lodged when the driver hands them over to the delivery/business centre.

The free tracking labels are available at all Post Offices, we have all received a supply and can easily order more.  They come in little boxes and they can be handed out to charge account customers.

Hope that helps,   🙂

[moviemem]

Hello Moviemem 

From our training info:

Bulk Mail lodgement for charge account customers:

With the introduction of tracking and scanning for all domestic parcels products, full-rate bulk mail customers will now be able to apply a FREE parcel post or express post tracking label to their parcel. 

In addition to introducing tracking labels, BML customers will also be able to purchase the prepaid signature on delivery labels for both express and parcel post.

If you are sending any parcels express you will also need to apply the pink sticker ( aviation security and dangerous goods declaration) to your parcel as well.  ( We will no longer be using the current express labels on parcels, those will become obsolete on Monday 11th)

If you just wish to have tracking on your parcels then you can apply the free labels to your parcels. They will then be scanned as lodged when the driver hands them over to the delivery/business centre.

The free tracking labels are available at all Post Offices, we have all received a supply and can easily order more.  They come in little boxes and they can be handed out to charge account customers.

Hope that helps,   🙂

Thanks very much for that. Problem is that my local PO which is also a major delivery center has NOT received the labels. I also use another PO and they dont have the labels either but I am going to copy and paste the info you sent and take it to them on Monday. It has been very difficult to get information and Aust Post staff do not seem to have received proper training.

[jumpydj]

Our Post Office ordered the labels some 3 weeks ago and have still not received them. They have 2 pages of labels that will last for the first dozen parcel post customers.

The information is very contradictory & confusing from Australia Post about the changes. One thing we noticed is that Registered post still applies for letters but not parcels yet Ebay have not allowed that option from Turbo Lister listings which is another stuff up from ebay.

Both Australia Post & Ebay staff have little idea of what they are doing.