Postage rip off-Post office ripping me/customers off

[zelly888]

If there is an Australia Post rep out there then can you please explain to me why Aust Post is ripping people off with postage cost as I have been ripped off many times now and all I get for an answer is sorry but you are wrong.For example I have just been ripped off today,I went and posted a letter with registered postage and it weighs 35 grams and when the postal worker placed it on the scales it came up as 246 grams which she then charged me $1.40 instead of $0.70 **bleep**???????.The letter did not weigh 1/4 of a kilo! The scales are totally out of wack and the post office knows this and I am sick and tired of being ripped off.I remember years ago when Coles in my local area tampered with their scales to make things weigh more and they were caught and fined for it,I have a feeling that this is what is happening with my local post office?

I think that I might have to carry my own scales with me when I go to the post office from now on.

I don't mind paying for postage as long as I am charged the correct costs but to be totally ripped off like this is just very unfair.

[highland_cat · Accepted solution]

I guess the way to be sure of this would be to take a calibration weight along with you: eg 100g and stick it on their scales to test that they are out (or not). You can buy calibration weights pretty cheaply from eBay 😉

[lane-ends · Accepted solution]

Weigh your items before you go and write the weight on the package. When they put them on the scales and there is a significant difference, refuse to let them process them. That way you will not be caught wondering.

In that case of a letter, just ask for stamps and put them on yourself and put it in letter box..

[cq_tech · Accepted solution]

That's a very good idea. Following a number of discrepancies with item weights at my local LPO, I started writing down the precise weights on all of my articles, whether they be letters or parcels, and in some cases there was in excess of 100g difference between mine and the LPO's indicated weights (in their favour, of course) so after nothing was done about it, I made an official complaint to AP and amazingly, the very next (and subsequent) times I took my mail to the LPO, their scales suspiciously began measuring precisely the same as mine, and have done so ever since.

I'm not for one moment suggesting that all LPO franchisees are dishonest but given the number of articles they process on a daily basis, there is certainly an incentive to increase their profits quite substantially by adding just a very small amount to every item processed, and the absolute vast majority of customers wouldn't have a clue.

[clarry100]

We have invested in a set of good quality digital scales at home.

When we go into our LPO we always weigh the package on our scales before we go.

We know that the weight given by the LPO scales is always within one/two grams of ours.

They tell us that their scales are calibrated every 12-months.

Just make sure that there is no other items/paperwork touching the scale surface at the time they are weighing the item.

So we are confident our LPO is not ripping us off, but that may not be the same for all LOP's.

[zelly888]

Thanks for your advise,I usually do put stamps on the envelopes myself apart from when I need to send items registered.And I do weigh my items before I post them and this letter only weighed 35 grams so there was a hugh difference in weight,my eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw the scale weight when the worker placed it on the scales.I even told her that this envelope only should weigh 35 grams not 246 grams but she refused to agree with me.

[zelly888]

I'm not suggesting that all post agencies are dishonest either but this one seems to be dishonest and I'm always one step away from going crazy.I post 100s of items each month and when you are getting ripped off it adds up to plenty of $$.

[zelly888]

Hi thanks for your advise,I have scales and I do weigh the items that's why I couldn't believe what their scales showed so from now on I will be taking the scales with me just to prove my point cheers

[cezm2012 · Accepted solution]

I took my scales down to a post officce once to prove a point, but I have changed post offices since then. I always write the weight and price on letters and parcels now so I know what to expect.

Also remember that letters over 5mm thick cost $1.40 minimum. I have a letter gauge to keep an eye on that and the 2cm meaurement.

[5kazam]

35g to 246g is a huge discrepancy.  

Surely there must be a dept of Aust Post that you can contact, so someone in authority can check the scales at your local PO.  It may well be a franchise LPO, but would still come under the jurisdiction of Aust Post, and as such should not be able to get away with such blatant over-weighing/over-charging.

I believe it is time for you to be proactive on this one.