Post cost rise?

[amalan11]

Im just curious has Aust Post done a massive price rise lately on parcels? I usualy buy using Ebay post satchels but twice this week have ordered plants in  boxs off private sites . They are not heavy but the cost  of post was amazing . Got one this morning from Brisbane 4kg or less about 60cmx30cm x30cm . It was $55  it was express but i was just stunned . I was told they now charge by size not weight or something but I thought it would really put me off using anything but satchels  . 

[davewil1964 · Accepted solution]

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@amalan11 wrote:

Im just curious has Aust Post done a massive price rise lately on parcels? I usualy buy using Ebay post satchels but twice this week have ordered plants in  boxs off private sites . They are not heavy but the cost  of post was amazing . Got one this morning from Brisbane 4kg or less about 60cmx30cm x30cm . It was $55  it was express but i was just stunned . I was told they now charge by size not weight or something but I thought it would really put me off using anything but satchels  . 

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No.

Flat rate postage has never had any congruence with satchels. AP always charge by size/weight, whichever is more, and are unlikely to change. IF your items are suitable for satchels, which I suspect plants aren't, you can avail yourself of satchels rather than calculated postage. If you wish sent in a satchel, and the seller is silly enough to agree, then understand that satchel dimensions are not particularly conducive to posting plants.

MAYBE, shock, horror, go to your local nursery.

[amalan11]

They were only ever going to be safe in boxes they were huge Clivias and Agapanthus , I was just surprised how much it cost comparable  to the satchels ,I usualy get daylilies. unfortunately I dont drive so local nurseries are near impossible to get to and you can get great plants on here that nurseries do not stock. The closest  i get is the local bunnings .I guess the trick will be to order enough goodies to fill the box . 

[designers*n*more]

It's because if it's not a satchel the cubic charges apply. From what I was told it's because of the "space" the box takes up so you are charged the weight of the parcel and then they add extra depending on the size. 

So so if you had say 2 items the same weight but one box bigger than the other, the larger box will cost more than the smaller box. It's always been that way.

[heihachi_73]

Sent a Nintendo 64 game via Parcel Post (not express) yesterday, it was still $7.45.

That said, who knows how long regular parcels will stay at that price after the stamps go up next month. I'm sure someone in AusPost HQ will somehow figure out that is $0.70 becomes $1.00, $7.45 could surely become $10.00 "without anyone knowing"...

[transport-posters]

I am sure it will change soon.  I am hoping they will see the light and reintroduce a lighter parcel cost of about $5 or so to help us deal with it better.  I'm often taking flak from buyers over the cost of sending a poster because it is classed as a parcel but weighs under 100 g in most cases, and then there's eBay's included commission on the postage cost to add on.  I used to absorb some of the cost and also include the tube for free but not anymore, as it made no difference on how buyers rated me or sales numbers.

[anotherfrednerk]

Australia post gives Ebay 10% off their rates to pass onto sellers but Ebay stopped passing it on and then charge us up to 10% on top of the postage in fee's.

Just go onto click n send or over the counter to see we pay the same rate not a discounted one.

With that and the almost 6 monthly postage price rises its becoming harder to give an affordable option to buyers.

When an item can leave china for mere cents for postage and travel through the same system here to get to buyers it makes you wonder if we are subsidizing the cost.

As sellers we are rated on postage which is always out of our control and often wear the dismay of buyers at the huge cost for what seems simple items because of the size, weight, dimension, etc.

Answers unfortunately i have none but would be helpful if eBay would get rid of the profiteering on postage and stop leaving us sellers to take the blame.

[black*poppy]

I think you might have got stung by the express post.  It's not just a bit more but ALOT more.

I put your mm into the aus post calculator, and Brisbane to Sydney was $28.70 parcel rate, and $82.80 express. Just as an example.

Parcel rate is not flat rate on the dimensions and weight of the parcel - it also factors in the distance that it is travelling.  Parcels within the same state up to 22kg are relatively cheap.

Hope that helps.

[lyndal1838]

I have a feeling amalan has got it sorted by now.....nearly 14 months after the thread was started.

[black*poppy]

Still good solid information, I stand by it. 

There are somethings in this thread that are so unchanged it's eerie...