Aust Post Increase in Prices

[tangleberrys]

Thanks to jlb225oz for sending me this link

http://auspost.com.au/about-us/price-changes.html

I have also seen a printout that announces new prepaid satchels as of Monday March 5th. These replace the current red/white prepaid bags and are dearer BUT they do include tracking AND there is a 3kg-5kg bag. I really would like a 500gm -1kg, but no one in Aust Post listens to me.

[carouselbookssale]

Now that they have us all using the flat rate satchels, they have increased the price by $1.20 for 3kg-$9.35 to $10.55 and .70c for the 500g-$5.50 to 6.20......the normal post bags are only $11.40 and $7.20 so when you factor in paying for the satchel, .15-.20c and the ink we use printing the postage labels it really hardly makes much difference in price. Now it would be a saving of around .50c. Hardly worth the effort:_|Notice that our postage calculators didn't go up properly either.

[straybooksoz]

The difference is still that they eBay C&S satchels are still cheaper AND provide Paypal approved tracking, which the standard AP satchels don't.

So C&S is still more cost effective, just less so than previously.

[zigzagdot]

TV News last night reported that whilst Aus Retailers are struggling Aus Post Online Sales Business is booming, I think a 26% increase?  Well done Aus Post, that's why you've increased prices, kill off the goose that lays the golden eggs, as per usual.

I cannot understand WHY 2 Items that cost AU$0.85cents to post from China to Aus costs AU$6.20 locally.  A bit extra I can process but not +- 700 % more??? (if my math is right)

Time to SERIOUSLY look for alternatives

[judy-oz]

How interesting. On April 1st, the AP information page about the Price changes on 2nd April stated:

A weighted average incease of 10% will apply to eBay flat rate satchels.

It now states

A weighted average increase of 13% will apply to eBay flat rate satchels.

And there's an 'apology' on the C&S message page, together with the updated satchel prices. Those updated prices should have been there weeks ago.

[nutrition_it]

How is it that I can buy a mobile phone case & have it delivered from China for $1.00 !!! Take away ebay fees, paypal fees & item cost. WTF? Yet, the postage alone here is more than 6 times the price!

I for one, don't think small business in Australia can survive Australia's government.

[straybooksoz]

The cost of living in China is a tad less than here. Maybe the seller is loss-leading. Maybe if you pay $1 you get $1 worth of value.

I doubt you can sheet postage costs to the Government. Think economies of scale, ie China has about 50 times as many people as Australia. And an area about 20% more. So population density about 40 times ours. And it is run by a dictatorship. Do you think if the Mad Monk becomes PM suddenly postage prices will drop? Unless, of course, we become a dictatorship.

I prefer to pay a bit more in postage and make it up in customer service. And I reckon I could post a mobile phone case for $1.50.

[figurebot]

Thanks Australia Post for your 250gm abolishment! Now that I'm not getting any sales, YOU have also lost sales as I have not posted anything.

Great work AP!

[zigzagdot]

I prefer to pay a bit more in postage and make it up in customer service. And I reckon I could post a mobile phone case for $1.50.

Reality though is that it is NOT about what YOU prefer, it is all about what the CUSTOMER WANTS.   Customer Service against a dictatorship nation that will work almost 24/7 for a pittance?   The only leverage you, as an Aus Seller had, is that you could supply goods MUCH QUICKER (you're local) in the previously reasonable 250g postage category, now that option is gone,  Why?  Because Aus Post noticed that on-line sales are booming, not because they are experiencing loss.  That makes no sense, it does not encourage the boom, quite the reverse?

Yes, you could squash a mobile phone case into a 60c envelope and hope it survives the letter sorter, is that good customer service though?  Isn't part of providing great service about using proper parcel packaging?

[oaklands3500]

?:|helplessly~

[straybooksoz]

Well, I, as an AP customer have never used the 250g category, so I, as an AP customer, have no problem with this particular initiative. Nor do my buyers, because I've never offered it.

The old 250g rate was $5.00 was it not? Plus packaging materials. Versus the old C&S 500g satchel at $5.50 plus packaging materials. Hardly worth the 50c saving when you get PP acceptable tracking with C&S.