Just got off the Australia Post help desk and here's a bit of news to those who have not studied the new SOD (Signature On Delivery) service which starts next Monday This "service" replaces the current Registered Post Service.

It will cost you an extra 39% to have the same ie "identical" replacement service for tracking with signature confirmation AND up to $100 in insurance cover.

Right now it costs for example $3.20 for a Registered Label ($2.70 if you buy labels in bulk) to go on an envelope, box or whatever package you make up and you are covered for up to $100 if it goes astray, providing you can show proof of the value of the item you stick in the package.

Well not any more, the new SOD service that replaces the existing Registered Post Service (which included Signature On Delivery already with the first $100 covered by insurance) does NOT give you any insurance cover. You need to pay $1.50 to do that and fill out a separate form as well.

So, instead of costing the $3.20 (or $2.70) that Registered Post did, it will now cost you $4.45 ($2.95 for SOD label plus $1.50 for the insurance) for the privilege of the same service.

We have had some 7 Registered parcels / Registered envelopes vanish in the Australia Post network in the past 12 months, and fortunately we've been covered by the automatic $100 insurance that Registered Post provided.

Well not any more unless we pay the $1.50 in extra cover and fill in the extra form.

Have a think about how it will affect you and your business when you're paying the extra 39% for the same thing. It doesn't cost AP any more, so why should we pay more?

By the way, this analysis excluded the increased postage charges that are a separate issue.

It's time to pass on concerns to the Postal Industry Ombudsman (1300 362 072), otherwise we are going to be the bunnies once again, gouged by another big corporate that basically has a monopoly. It's very similar to eBay with its revised fee structure that will happen in May this year.

Do nothing and nothing will change, we will all pay extra, make less and less and the cycle will continue unabated.