Heads up. AUS POST just announced price changes

[purplemon18]

https://auspost.com.au/business/shipping/check-postage-costs/pricing-updates/september-price-changes

[curraone]

Short answer is that the price of satchels are going up (naturally!!!) from 1 October.

Good news is that you will be able to put 5 kg in any satchel from 1 October.

More good news is that you can use all the satchels you already have and from 1 October you can stuff 5 kg into them for no extra charge.

All parcels including satchels are trackable.

Ordinary letters are not trackable.    But you can now buy large prepaid envelopes from Aust Post that have tracking.

[brerrabbit585]

Just to add, there are two sizes in letters that have tracking but the other sizes you can't get tracking for (unless you register them). Nothing's changing there, only the prices.

[curraone]

I didn't bother mentioning the smaller envelope as it has a 5mm restriction - not many things are thinner than 5mm

[grannytakesatrip17]

I also use wine boxes in the 5kg satchels, they fit just about perfectly. Someone else mentioned that they use boxes rather than satchels because they are worried about breakages. But what I do is no matter if I am using any size satchel is basically the following.

Bubble polythene or the white fibre stuff if I can get hold of it. Then thick newspaper, if not too much weight, two layers rolled over and taped and finally cut up wine boxes which I wrap very tightly around the items. Then I use a knife to cut all around the top and fold it over and tape it well.

Touch wood I have had just 2 breakages in 10 years, one of which my husband wrapped, but I didn't tell him the other was sent to a con merchant who I am certain deliberately smashed it to bits as he sold.things made from mosaics.

I expect plenty others do this though 🙂

[grannytakesatrip17]

That is a very useful link. Thank you. What I dislike is by using Aus Post boxes rather than your own packaging, it all adds extra to landfill. I always try to use recycled materials. I admit I have for ease always used prepaid satchels, which I guess are not very envoronmentally friendly. 

But as a casual seller, I fix my price and write my own labels.

I obviously do not understand all the ins and outs of using ebay labels and the worry that goes with the uncertainty of pricing though. Is it actually worth it, if you follow me.

[grannytakesatrip17]

Thank you, still trying to get small brain around it, but it sounds like progress, I think?

[beautbots01]

I was wondering about using the existing satchels after the changes on 1 October.  As all the existing satchels have the max weight printed on them will there be a 5kg sticker that can be put over the top or will Aust Post just accept the old parcels regardless of weight.

[eol-products]

My guess is they will just leave them as is as the weight is no longer used belwo 5kg. It will be confusing at first as my new price list shows the old 1kg as a medum and 3kg as large. 5kg will be xtra large so the confusing part will be size on the satchel.

[brerrabbit585]

If they're prepaid all the PO needs to know is that they weigh less than 5kg. Any old weight label on them will be completely irrelevant.

[go-tazz]

Looks like they may be changing the availabilty of pre-paid satchels as well (OH grabbed a 500 gr satchel for

me yesterday and the staffer had no idea on how to scan it through as those new satchels are for in store

use only and they had to get the red satchel from out the back instead).

Sounds like a crack down on the satchel theft scammers.