How to use Australia Post post for items more than 20mm thickness

[prime.gadgets]

I have seen many Australian sellers listed items which have thickness more than 20mm for prices around $5. How do they do this?

As I know, if the item thickness pass 20mm goes into parcel post which cost $8.95? How do they trick the system?

I also want to point out two buying experience I had.

1) Once I bought over 20mm thick Envelope pack via $5.35 Australia post large prepaid envelope. But for the item, I paid only $4.9 !! The seller seems to do a lot of sales, so cannot be just selling for loss trying to impress the buyers. The sale is not possible unless they print their own fake prepaid envelops...

2) Bought an item which weight around than 150g (over 125g limit) with $2 stamp. Thickness was also a little bit over 20mm. Does Australia Post allow this kind of deviations on $2 stamp post?

Kind advises from experienced members are highly appreciated as I'm still new to this business 

[kitty-kat-kollection]

With all this discussion about prepaid standard envelopes, I find myself again wondering how sellers can so often use these and not be at risk of a lot of buyers claiming not to have received their item. No tracking, no proof = refund and loss of the sale.

And yeah, you can't compete with the Chinese. It's a whole different market.

[davewil1964]

I suppose it depends on whether or not you think buyers are thieves.

I choose not to.

In a lot of cases for me, sending as a parcel (or even registered) would mean I'm selling to make profits for AP and eBay, with nothing left over for myself.

I have had less than 5 INRs from 2000+ items sent as letters, so it makes sense to me.

[brerrabbit585]

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@kitty-kat-kollection wrote:
With all this discussion about prepaid standard envelopes, I find myself again wondering how sellers can so often use these and not be at risk of a lot of buyers claiming not to have received their item. No tracking, no proof = refund and loss of the sale.

And yeah, you can't compete with the Chinese. It's a whole different market.

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You've obviously never done the maths.  It's pretty simple:

Assuming your items can post in an envelope rather than a satchel and that your buyers aren't in the habit of buying several items at once so that a satchel actually works out cheaper, you've got the choice of sending an item in a $4 or $5 envelope (perhaps even less) or for $9.20 in a satchel.  

If buyers will pay $20 for the item + $9.20 for a satchel that's $29.20 that they're willing to pay in total.

If you post for $5 you can add an extra $4.20 to the price so that the total is still $29.20.

That means the extra $4.20 goes in YOUR pocket rather than AP's.

You can use that $4.20 as self insurance to cover any item not received claims.

You can buy envelopes with tracking now (for about a dollar extra, from memory) so if you use those instead of untracked envelopes you don't get to put as much in your own pocket but it's still way better than satchels.  Also, their prepaid envelopes are quite strong and are less likely to tear than a satchel is.

Tracking won't protect you from a dishonest buyer, especially not when you're selling clothes.  All they'll do is say the item isn't as described, and if they buy your clothes for a specific event they'll wear them and then deliberately damage them to get a full refund.

I think I've had one item not arrive in the last four years so AP is pretty reliable.  If you're selling into a market where theft is rife you either have to find something else to sell or build some losses into your business model.  I'd send as cheap as I can because you get to keep more of the money and you can use it to cover any losses. 

[brerrabbit585]

Just to add, if buyers know the item will post in an envelope they'll resist buying it if you're charging for satchel postage, therefore you're reducing the chance of the item selling - and increasing the likelihood of someone scamming you simply because they're miffed at paying extra postage than needed.