does Australia Post compensate for lost unregistered parcels?

[clickbaitoz]

i am wanting to list a rare cd that should fetch between $20-40, not an amount i can really afford to lose if it goes missing in the post.  My local po now say i can't send it as a registered letter because its a solid object (even though i used to do that). So it means i have to pay their exorbatent parcel rates for such a light small item at $6.95 plus $3.40 for registered, total $10.15 which i think might put buyers off. X-(

If they still offer the compensation for items valued up to $50 then i don't see the point in making the buyer pay for registered post. I'm asking because i haven't made a claim for a lost item for about 3 yrs & AP seem have become really stingey lately.?:| (also they have never provided compensation for lost unregistered letters)

[*new2vintage]

A CD can be sent as a large letter for $1.20 if it's under 2 cm's think when packed. Ask to speak with the manager if staff at your local post office want you to pay the parcel rate. By the way a parcel can now only be insured by paying for Signature On Delivery and Extra Cover which together cost more than Registered Post. Only letters can be insured with Registered Post now. Members have said it isn't easy to obtain compensation now so don't rely on that.

[chezzy]

In my Post Charges easy guide within Australia  As at 8 April 2013 it says:

Compensation up to $50 may be paid at Australia Post’s discretion upon production of a receipt or other proof of lodgement for loss or damage.

This is in the Letter Post section (Large letters by ordinary post)

Whether that is enough to help you if something untoward happens, is anyone's guess

Like you I haven't had to put in a claim for a number of years

Maybe find out what the current Registered Post Prepaid Envelopes say on them about contents. The B4 one might be overkill size wise but allows a thickness of 20mm, a charge of 'only' $5.10 and compensation up to $100 (my old style Registered Post Prepaid Envelope does NOT say contents are limited to papers/printed matter)

[putney32]

kewl, the 'missing parcel' may not be your problem .... but rather the 'I didnt get my item' claim via paypal. so sending with a paypal approved method should be your only concern if you cant afford to loose the $$

[dotcomdotayu]

I just want to point out ... You really shouldn't charge your buyers for Signature on Delivery or Registered Post.

It's better to put that cost into your start or BIN price because a lot of buyers don't like the idea of paying for your seller protection.

Just some food for thought.

[zelly888]

But dotcom even if you put the price into your BIN or start and then have free postage everyone should still realise that this is what the seller has done and therefor the buyer is still paying for sellers protection.

[digital*ghost]

I just want to point out ... You really shouldn't charge your buyers for Signature on Delivery or Registered Post.

It's better to put that cost into your start or BIN price because a lot of buyers don't like the idea of paying for your seller protection.

Just some food for thought.

Only people that think that's all reg. / SOD is for. Considering registered post was around 100+ years before eBay and PayPal, some people believe it has a different purpose, like protecting the value of the item should anything happen to it in transit. 

Registered / insured post also means the seller has a legal obligation to seek any compensation payable and pass it on to the buyer, so if the seller has protection without a registered / insured service being used, the buyer may be lucky enough to get a discretionary payment from somewhere, but it's by no means guaranteed. 

[dotcomdotayu]

Not everyone realises that though DG. I've spoke to numerous buyers who always believe the seller should "cop" that out of pocket expense. They believe buyers should only pay for exact postage and a small handling fee.

Zelly, I don't mean free postage items. The ones with a postage price on them. Instead of adding, say $2.90 for Signature on Delivery to the postage price, it's best to add it onto the auction or buy-it-now price.

It's of course, up to each seller how they prefer to do it but from those I've spoken with, they believe buyers don't like to pay for a sellers protection.

[digital*ghost]

Not everyone realises that though DG. I've spoke to numerous buyers who always believe the seller should "cop" that out of pocket expense. They believe buyers should only pay for exact postage and a small handling fee.

Zelly, I don't mean free postage items. The ones with a postage price on them. Instead of adding, say $2.90 for Signature on Delivery to the postage price, it's best to add it onto the auction or buy-it-now price.

It's of course, up to each seller how they prefer to do it but from those I've spoken with, they believe buyers don't like to pay for a sellers protection.

I understand what you're saying, and as a seller it's been my experience that 99% of the time, given the option a buyer will choose non-registered / uninsured - it's usually less than half the price of the registered option, and as you say, many believe that the seller will cover any loss (or be made to by PayPal). 

The problem with that way of thinking, particularly now that there are numerous ways a seller can have protection without increasing the basic cost of postage (eg all the basic postage options via C&S are the same price, uninsured but provide seller protection), is that the seller is more protected than the buyer, and now, choosing a registered / insured option gives the buyer at the very least a legal right of recovery (assuming the loss was due to AP / courier negligence). 

As much as it's great for the seller to provide discretionary refunds for uninsured packages where proof of postage is established, it would be a shame for buyers to find out the hard way that they don't have to. 

[clickbaitoz]

Thanks for pointing that out deja, its all so complicated nowdays, i don't understand why they have a seperate charge for sod & extra cover. i have now downloaded & read some of the Aust Post guide. From what i can gather, sod just confirms they received the item, does not cover for damage, but then sod should cover for loss right?

In terms of proof of postage for paypal seller protection do i just need sod? Of course i have no problem providing both if the buyer wants it, but as already pointed out, most buyers don't when given the choice.

chezzy maybe its more depending on how much the ap staff at the local po know the rules &/or are prepared to enforce them 😉 But i guess they can't argue with what it says on the reg post envelope about contents if anything, i will have a look at one next time i go.

digital ghost, i'm confused, how does it mean the seller doesn't have to provide refunds?