postage tracking question

[barney_rubbles]

if i send an item in an Aust Post prepaid satchel just putting it into a street box does it still get tracked? or do i need to lodge it over the counter at the PO?

[padi*0409]

It may not get tracked until it reaches the first hub, so yes it's probably best to hand it over the counter at the PO.

[barney_rubbles]

i see i omitted the letter T & now i can't edit it lol. Anyway thanks but i mean more as proof it was delivered to the buyer if they claim it has not been. My back is playing up & i don't want to wait in line at the po to lodge if i don't really need to. Then i could just bulk buy a few satchels at a time & drop in po box. (keeping the sticker of course)

[gutterpunkz05]

The items should be scanned at some point,  but you may incur ebay metric defects for late shipping, if the first scan is not within your stated handling time.  Over the counter is best, but I do use street boxes on rare occasions.

[lezned-toycollector · Accepted solution]

The whole purpose of prepaid products is to avoid the need to personally attend an AP outlet. In fact, AP themselves advise that their prepaid products can be placed in a street mailing box.

In saying that, lodging over the counter not only commences the scanning events sooner (may be required to avoid late shipping defects if the item is delivered after the latest estimated delivery date), but it also affords you proof of lodgement - something you don't get if you drop it in a mailing box. Of course, that will never be an issue though, unless you try to lodge a claim for compensation without that proof. It's really not advisable to give AP any reason to deny a claim.

However you choose to lodge your items is entirely your preference. Mine is to lodge any items which require scanning over the counter - but I most definitely never wait in the queue when doing so. 

[curraone]

Yes you can use the street box and it will get tracking once it passes a mail centre.    As this may not be for 2-3 days, just make sure you have the appropriate time in your handling time e.g. 5 days.

[barney_rubbles]

Thanks all. No need for me to rush out to the po then. I am the type of seller who only lists occasionally & i put my handing time to 3-5 days. I sell collectibles & dvd's etc mostly $15-40, i think most buyers are just happy to get their item in a reasonable time frame as it's clear i'm not a professional seller. Never had a complaint yet, my postage time rating is 5 stars.

As for lodging a claim if it goes missing, since it's tracked postage & they can see if its been delivered or not, i don't see how they can deny a claim. Surely the tracking should be proof enough of sending it? I also keep my receipts when purchasing satchels.

[barney_rubbles]

' As this may not be for 2-3 days, just make sure you have the appropriate time in your handling time e.g. 5 days'   this is why i only post in boxes outside a po, or at least near a busy place like a shopping centre.

Never again with the ones in back streets as i know they only clear them maybe twice a week if you're lucky. Someone posted an item to me from across suburban Melbourne recently, it took 4 week days to arrive, not happy Jan!

[lezned-toycollector]

---

@barney_rubbles wrote:

As for lodging a claim if it goes missing, since it's tracked postage & they can see if its been delivered or not, i don't see how they can deny a claim. Surely the tracking should be proof enough of sending it?

---

You're forgetting that items placed in a street mailing box won't be scanned until they pass through a scanning point. There's no tracking to see before the first scan. Usually this will be at the sorting centre, but not always. In some instances the first scan may well be the point of of delivery. 

If your item should happen to "disappear" before it is scanned, you would require proof of lodgement for any compensation claim. No scanning events and no proof of lodgement equates to no compensation. 

---

@barney_rubbles wrote:

I also keep my receipts when purchasing satchels.

---

Just to clarify... proof of purchase is not the same thing as proof of lodgement. One is proof that you paid for the prepaid satchel, while the other is proof that Australia Post has your item. They're 2 entirely different animals which are not interchangeable. 

[barney_rubbles]

'If your item should happen to "disappear" before it is scanned, you would require proof of lodgement for any compensation claim. ' ok so that would mean parcel going missing in the post office or sorting centre, i would think that would be a rarity. ATM its just too hard for me to get into a po though so i will have to take the risk. Also from what i understand signature on delivery is the only way of actually proving the buyer has received the item, so they're all risky anyway.