Sending items as a large letter.

[licoricebabyandfabmama]

Ok so Ive started selling small light items,  Ive done my research and seen that everyone else is selling the same thing as a large letter or stamp mail in a padded envelope.     Go into the post office today to post an item and see how many "stamps" ill need.   Guy tells me oh no thats a parcel rate.    Argue it with him,  he pulls out the slot measure and makes a feable and failing attempt to push my parcel through.    Show him another item which would clearly fit,  oh no thats a parcel too.    What gives?      I know Auspost is privatised,  are they making more money making sure small items do not go through as large letters.       I know my first mistake was taking it to a teller in the first place,  but I dont really want to be sneaking my items through the mail as letters either.

However,  I cant sell this item with 7 dollars extra postage tacked onto it,  I just wouldnt be able to compete.      So the only other thing I can think is to get some stamps and just put it myself in the red box, and squeeze it through right and proper,  but now do I run the risk of having it returned or my customer having to pick up the cost on the other end.

Any advice,  comments?

[licoricebabyandfabmama]

So i  wanted to test what i could fit into the post box slot,   I forgot to get the gauge but i did grab a cd mailer box.  It was a 10 mm box  and it didnt fit into the box.  Am i being a dumb blonde here lol.  Is the gauge thing in the post office wider then the mail slot.    I know i can open the shute and throw the package in, but i was under the impression i guess it also had to fit into the mail slot on the red post box.

[phorum_junkie*]

Forget the box slot, you need the cardboard PO one. If your PO is unhalpful try another. Mine didn't have a spare one until they sent their next order in so they photocopied theirs on a piece of paper and I stuck it on a sheet of thickish card and cut out the hole.

[dickos-extreme]

Hi. You could possibly pack the earings into a Bx7 CD mailer. It may seem a little weird but it's a cardboard box (so, pretty protected) and about 10mm thick, which is easily small enough for a large letter rate. You could add a little bit of padding on the inside (not too much or it won't close) and see how you go. You might want to ask Aus Post is you are allowed to put earrings in a "CD" mailer but if you can, it might be an option.

The Bx7 costs about $1.50 and should bring the total send within Aus to about $3, give or take.

I send a lot of my items i the Bx7 CD Box.

I buy them in bulk for about 0.60c each. 100 at a time.

You can put anything you like in them, so long as its legal.

And conforms to Aust Post policy on dangerous goods etc.

[putney32]

So i  wanted to test what i could fit into the post box slot,   I forgot to get the gauge but i did grab a cd mailer box.  It was a 10 mm box  and it didnt fit into the box.  Am i being a dumb blonde here lol.  Is the gauge thing in the post office wider then the mail slot.    I know i can open the shute and throw the package in, but i was under the impression i guess it also had to fit into the mail slot on the red post box.

the mail slot in the red boxes has NOTHING to do with Aust Post regulation sizes.

if you purchased the 10mm CD mailer, just check if your dummies fit in that box, when taped close.

ask at the nearest LARGE post office for one of their mail gauges

[iscrap76]

I use 100 MAILING BOX 100x180MM Envelope Size - purchased off eBay work out cheaper than Aust Post CD boxes, I put buttons in them to post and then they can go via letter post.

[822642]

Hi can anyone tell me if I can post watch ( it is flat ) via small letter to Aus and to oversea ? Or is the item prohibited as I must go as a parcel

[digital*ghost]

---

@822642 wrote:
Hi can anyone tell me if I can post watch ( it is flat ) via small letter to Aus and to oversea ? Or is the item prohibited as I must go as a parcel

---

I'm not well-versed in this area as none of the items I send have batteries in them, however I do know that there are specific requirements for items with lithium batteries, as well as valuables / jewellery. 

If it's a valuable item, where you would want a registered (or equivalent) service, parcel post is the only way, as registered letters are only for documents (you can add insurance to an unregistered letter, but not signature on delivery). Otherwise, items with lithium batteries need to be packaged in certain ways, however they can travel by air if the packaging requirements are met (they largely refer to electronic devices like mobile phones, though, however the main thing is that the battery is installed in the device, and the device can't be switched on - I'm not really sure how that translates to a watch, some you can switch off, either digitally or with a tab), and I would think the requirements can generally be met as a letter or parcel. 

Your best bet is to look through Aus Post's Dangerous & Prohibited Goods guide, and / or (if no one more knowledgable on the topic replies) speaking directly with staff at your local post office. 

[bluebudgies]

---

@digital*ghost wrote:

---

@822642 wrote:
Hi can anyone tell me if I can post watch ( it is flat ) via small letter to Aus and to oversea ? Or is the item prohibited as I must go as a parcel

---

I'm not well-versed in this area as none of the items I send have batteries in them, however I do know that there are specific requirements for items with lithium batteries, as well as valuables / jewellery. 

If it's a valuable item, where you would want a registered (or equivalent) service, parcel post is the only way, as registered letters are only for documents (you can add insurance to an unregistered letter, but not signature on delivery). Otherwise, items with lithium batteries need to be packaged in certain ways, however they can travel by air if the packaging requirements are met (they largely refer to electronic devices like mobile phones, though, however the main thing is that the battery is installed in the device, and the device can't be switched on - I'm not really sure how that translates to a watch, some you can switch off, either digitally or with a tab), and I would think the requirements can generally be met as a letter or parcel. 

Your best bet is to look through Aus Post's Dangerous & Prohibited Goods guide, and / or (if no one more knowledgable on the topic replies) speaking directly with staff at your local post office. 

---

This isn't correct.  It says on the tear off label on the back of the prepaid registered envelopes "Warning: this envelope is not suitable for sending jewellery or precious stones.  Small rigid items such as keys or coins should be securely packed to avoid loss or damage."

It also says on the back of the envelope, "when sending articles exceeding $100 in value, extra cover may be purchased...."  Note the use of the word articles, nothing about documents.

You may be confusing registered letters with express post letters, which have to be documents only.

Note that my comments are not in relation to the issue of batteries, only what you can or cannot send as a registered letter.

[imastawka]

Forget all that.   A watch with suitable packing is going to be thicker than 20mm,

so will have to be sent as a parcel anyway.

[gec2002]

A Belated Happy Birthday to this Topic which turned 5 Years Old Last Week