I usually lodge my parcels in the post office to get the receipt. I pay for them online. That way items are scanned in.
I recently posted one in a red box because it was convenient and then couldn't locate it for a week. It was going from Victoria to WA. It didn't show up in the system until the day it was being delivered. I had expected to be able to track it assuming it would be scanned in the night the box was cleared. Not the case. Apparently if you post in the red box, the item will only be scanned once it reaches it's destination or at least the day it is being delivered.
Now I always take them in to the post office.
