From the subject line of this post, it sounds like I might be writing about our major postal service here in Australia. But it's not really an informative piece about how the service works...it's just some observations. And as well, I'll show off some items I have received recently in the post.
Last year Australia Post (A.P.) raised postal costs considerably as they asserted that the organisation had been making a loss. Stamps for a basic letter went from 70 c to $1. The dollar only gave you what was classed as second class mail service and if you wished your letter to be delivered faster, you could pay more (40 cents more) . So in essence, they upped the price but slowed the service. (We had never had classes of ordinary mail before, mind you!) Postage on parcels also went up in price and delivery dates were extended.
Over the years, I have had a few items of mail that have been sent to me, go astray and never turn up...and that was only mail that I was expecting. ( the latest missing letter was my 'all clear' letter from Breastscreen Q'land) Who know what else has never reached me??? And if the sender hasn't paid for insurance on the parcel or letter, AP's response was always, 'Too bad; we can't do anything'.
For a little while, a member of K4BN who lives in NSW, has posted parcels of yarn to me to hand on to other members. Rosanne posted me a big 5kg pack last September...it never arrived. For months Rosanne and I were 'hounding' AP, wanting to know where the parcel had gone. ( I had filed a disputed delivery complaint)
They seemed to take our complaints a lot more seriously than I've ever experienced before in my dealings with AP. I got text messages and screenshots of the data they had about the delivery...
Eventually one AP employee ringing from Sydney stated that the parcel was delivered to a #24 in my street. (the contractor said he left it on the front stairs). I don't live at #24 and my friend is adamant she put the correct number. However I knew something that obviously the contractor didn't know. Gleefully I informed the AP employee that there is no # 24 in my street...that number disappeared when 2 houses were demolished to build a big block of units. There are a number of scenarios for this but the main thing is that the parcel didn't arrive at my house.
But they made us wait another 6 weeks and last week Rosanne finally got some compensation for the lost parcel...although even that has a sting in the tail...they will only pay up to $50 if expensive insurance hasn't been taken out, and the contents were estimated by Rosanne to be at least $90 worth...but it was a small win.
So lately I've been a bit anxious when someone says they are sending me a parcel. Just like recently Sue from This n That blog sent me word that a parcel was on its way to me; it didn't go astray and I was thrilled when I opened it.
Sue sent me some of her hand painted cards and notelets...absolutely gorgeous!
And as I looked through all these lovely goodies, there was one that was extra special!
Sue had painted Eduardo, my cat. Isn't it wonderful!!!
To be absolutely fair to AP I couldn't write a post about them without mentioning that Seniors can apply for a MyPost card that enables them to purchase a set number of stamps per year ( up to 50) for 60 cents each instead of a dollar. (I think that there are a lot of 'baby boomers' and older people in Australia and we have the time to complain/hound officials etc.)
A few years ago I wrote a post about Rosanne and her New Year Resolution to visit as many Spotlight stores as possible throughout Australia. She planned to buy 2 balls of yarn in every one she visited. Hearing that she was coming to Brisbane, I had offered to meet her and take her to my local Spotlight. The photo below shows Rosanne on the left holding her purchases. The store manager came out to speak to us when she heard Rosanne was visiting the store. There had already been an article about Rosanne's quest published in the Spotlight magazine, so we were with a bit of a celebrity! lol
Last year Australia Post (A.P.) raised postal costs considerably as they asserted that the organisation had been making a loss. Stamps for a basic letter went from 70 c to $1. The dollar only gave you what was classed as second class mail service and if you wished your letter to be delivered faster, you could pay more (40 cents more) . So in essence, they upped the price but slowed the service. (We had never had classes of ordinary mail before, mind you!) Postage on parcels also went up in price and delivery dates were extended.
Over the years, I have had a few items of mail that have been sent to me, go astray and never turn up...and that was only mail that I was expecting. ( the latest missing letter was my 'all clear' letter from Breastscreen Q'land) Who know what else has never reached me??? And if the sender hasn't paid for insurance on the parcel or letter, AP's response was always, 'Too bad; we can't do anything'.
For a little while, a member of K4BN who lives in NSW, has posted parcels of yarn to me to hand on to other members. Rosanne posted me a big 5kg pack last September...it never arrived. For months Rosanne and I were 'hounding' AP, wanting to know where the parcel had gone. ( I had filed a disputed delivery complaint)
They seemed to take our complaints a lot more seriously than I've ever experienced before in my dealings with AP. I got text messages and screenshots of the data they had about the delivery...
Eventually one AP employee ringing from Sydney stated that the parcel was delivered to a #24 in my street. (the contractor said he left it on the front stairs). I don't live at #24 and my friend is adamant she put the correct number. However I knew something that obviously the contractor didn't know. Gleefully I informed the AP employee that there is no # 24 in my street...that number disappeared when 2 houses were demolished to build a big block of units. There are a number of scenarios for this but the main thing is that the parcel didn't arrive at my house.
But they made us wait another 6 weeks and last week Rosanne finally got some compensation for the lost parcel...although even that has a sting in the tail...they will only pay up to $50 if expensive insurance hasn't been taken out, and the contents were estimated by Rosanne to be at least $90 worth...but it was a small win.
So lately I've been a bit anxious when someone says they are sending me a parcel. Just like recently Sue from This n That blog sent me word that a parcel was on its way to me; it didn't go astray and I was thrilled when I opened it.
Sue sent me some of her hand painted cards and notelets...absolutely gorgeous!
And as I looked through all these lovely goodies, there was one that was extra special!
Sue had painted Eduardo, my cat. Isn't it wonderful!!!
To be absolutely fair to AP I couldn't write a post about them without mentioning that Seniors can apply for a MyPost card that enables them to purchase a set number of stamps per year ( up to 50) for 60 cents each instead of a dollar. (I think that there are a lot of 'baby boomers' and older people in Australia and we have the time to complain/hound officials etc.)
A few years ago I wrote a post about Rosanne and her New Year Resolution to visit as many Spotlight stores as possible throughout Australia. She planned to buy 2 balls of yarn in every one she visited. Hearing that she was coming to Brisbane, I had offered to meet her and take her to my local Spotlight. The photo below shows Rosanne on the left holding her purchases. The store manager came out to speak to us when she heard Rosanne was visiting the store. There had already been an article about Rosanne's quest published in the Spotlight magazine, so we were with a bit of a celebrity! lol
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| Rosanne, me, the store manager and another member of K4BN |
