"Jeßus" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:46:18 +1100, Pete wrote:

snip


Over time this whole situation ought to improve - if only because slowly
but surely I am finding suitable companies willing to send by Aus Post
(after they witness what happens here) and/or learning each and every
quirk of the various courier companies. By then, I'll better be able to
choose *who* to buy from, based on their shipping methods.


As a matter of interest I have noticed in the past few years that mail can
be delayed upto 3 weeks in getting to country Queensland. I sell seeds and
blank plant labels/tags on eBay & Oztion. These are not sent by parcel post
but fit in standard and prepaid envelopes which travel by air from Perth. I
figure at worst they would take 3 days to get to Brisbane and a day or 2 to
get to the country areas.

The delay happens mainly every 2 or 3 years so I am assuming that the
smaller areas have mail contractors who put tenders into Australia Post. My
theory is not many reapply hence the delays at these times.

These courier companies jack up the prices so much on items I can't see why
they can't to be mailed using Australia Post Express or do a deal with
Australia Post in remote areas to deliver items.

Barbara makes no sense because if she has a contract to cart items from A-B
the price is quoted taking all factors into consideration (time & vehicle
upkeep). Here we have a price already supplied by the courier company to
have it delivered to the door. They should never take on anything they can't
make good on and should quote a price to make the end couriers efforts at
least profitable.

I have had only one hassle using Australia Posts Express Post where a
customer said the 3kg Satchel had not arrived. I filled out a form to say
the item had disappeared supplied the number on the satchel. I received a
letter from AP saying the item had arrived at the Post Office in that town
and the date. The item was sitting in the post office for a week.

As the customer was not notified by a card in the letterbox or had it
delivered to the home address I thought I would be entitled to a free 3kg
Express post satchel. I made a call and was told it arrived at the port
office in good time so they would not honour the guarantee. I was peeved by
this and wrote a letter. I stated how I had mailed the item etc etc and how
I had to waste my time filling in forms. I got a letter of apology and a
free satchel.

On Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:44:06 +0900, Loosecanon wrote:

"Jeßus" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:46:18 +1100, Pete wrote:

snip


Over time this whole situation ought to improve - if only because
slowly but surely I am finding suitable companies willing to send by
Aus Post (after they witness what happens here) and/or learning each
and every quirk of the various courier companies. By then, I'll better
be able to choose *who* to buy from, based on their shipping methods.


As a matter of interest I have noticed in the past few years that mail
can be delayed upto 3 weeks in getting to country Queensland. I sell
seeds and blank plant labels/tags on eBay & Oztion.

Actually, I think I have bought seeds from you
Shoalwater W.A, right?

These are not sent
by parcel post but fit in standard and prepaid envelopes which travel by
air from Perth.

Now I am pretty sure of it...

I figure at worst they would take 3 days to get to
Brisbane and a day or 2 to get to the country areas.

The delay happens mainly every 2 or 3 years so I am assuming that the
smaller areas have mail contractors who put tenders into Australia Post.
My theory is not many reapply hence the delays at these times.

Good point there. I've lived all over the country, almost always rural
places. There has been the odd time that mail delivery was patchy, almost
invariably these places had contractors come and go, so yes, good point...

These courier companies jack up the prices so much on items I can't see
why they can't to be mailed using Australia Post Express or do a deal
with Australia Post in remote areas to deliver items.

Tell me about it. I do try to explain this to some businesses I've dealt
with, along with the fact that I know I'll recieve it within a reasonable
time frame, without endless phone calls chasing said package up, and
without driving all the way to Launceston. Some have come to the party,
most don't... theyve set up their shipping system and have little desire
to alter it, I guess.

Barbara makes no sense because if she has a contract to cart items from
A-B the price is quoted taking all factors into consideration (time &
vehicle upkeep).

This would also be my philospohy if I was in the business. If they can't/
won't honour the contract (which is essentially what it is) - don't
accept the job! It seems simple enough to me! I just couldnt treat people
in that fashion, I'd rather find some other way to make a crust.

Here we have a price already supplied by the courier
company to have it delivered to the door. They should never take on
anything they can't make good on and should quote a price to make the
end couriers efforts at least profitable.

Agreed. And also ensure the intended recipents are aware that a different
company is now handling delivery wouldnt hurt either.

I have had only one hassle using Australia Posts Express Post where a
customer said the 3kg Satchel had not arrived. I filled out a form to
say the item had disappeared supplied the number on the satchel. I
received a letter from AP saying the item had arrived at the Post Office
in that town and the date. The item was sitting in the post office for a
week.

As the customer was not notified by a card in the letterbox or had it
delivered to the home address I thought I would be entitled to a free
3kg Express post satchel. I made a call and was told it arrived at the
port office in good time so they would not honour the guarantee. I was
peeved by this and wrote a letter. I stated how I had mailed the item
etc etc and how I had to waste my time filling in forms. I got a letter
of apology and a free satchel.

Aus Post cop a lot of flack, to be sure. Sometimes for good reason of
course. I have to say though, the odd time I've had damaged items,
they've done the right thing.

You can be unlucky and live in an area with delivery people who, for
example, will just plonk your parcels in plain view of the street. That
sort of thing... which can be a right pain in the arse.
The last time I personally had such a problem was in Eumundi QLD. Quite a
few years ago now, but again a rural area, the 'postie' insisted on
plonking all parcels in the driveways, perfect for the dishonest to pull
over (in complete privacy) and grab your parcels... no need to even get
out of the car to do it!. The then new owners of the local post office
couldnt have cared less, and wouldnt hold any mail for anyone with a
fixed address in town. They were both relatively recent American or
Canadian immigrants as well, just to add a nice touch.

Happy holidays.

On Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:15:09 +0000, Jeßus wrote:


Aus Post cop a lot of flack, to be sure. Sometimes for good reason of
course.

Can honestly say that when we have used them for mail order sales, we have
never had a problem. Only ever had one idiot ring up and complain about
oder not arriveing and abuse SWMBO about it, then say "I'm fed up with
stuff being pinched from my mailbox"

Lol, if the silly bugger had been polite, his order would have been in
the post the next morning, but the rejoiner was "we are not responsible
for that" CLICK.

On Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:55:18 +0000, terryc wrote:

On Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:15:09 +0000, Jeßus wrote:


Aus Post cop a lot of flack, to be sure. Sometimes for good reason of
course.

Can honestly say that when we have used them for mail order sales, we
have never had a problem. Only ever had one idiot ring up and complain
about oder not arriveing and abuse SWMBO about it, then say "I'm fed up
with stuff being pinched from my mailbox"

Lol, if the silly bugger had been polite, his order would have been in
the post the next morning, but the rejoiner was "we are not responsible
for that" CLICK.


Just as another example of the huge contrast between the couriers here
and Aus Post, I picked up a parcel sent from China this morning. From my
payment until I had the item in my hands - nine days - and that includes
the xmas break.

I also routinely recieve express post satchels from Victoria within 24
hours.


--
"Some days we don't let the line move at all. We call those weekdays"
Patty and Selma Bouvier, 1996

Loosecanon wrote:


Barbara makes no sense because if she has a contract to cart items
from A-B the price is quoted taking all factors into consideration
(time & vehicle upkeep). Here we have a price already supplied by the
courier company to have it delivered to the door. They should never
take on anything they can't make good on and should quote a price to
make the end couriers efforts at least profitable.

It makes no sense because you don't know how things go and what happens. I,
on the other hand know the story from both sides of the fence. As pointed
out I have a carrying company, I occasionally have to use couriers.

The point is, people lie. Suppliers lie, customers lie and we in the
transport industry are also guilty, there's no disputing that. Yes we give
quotes taking all factors told to us, but when you're told that something is
just 10 minutes off the highway and you've quoted taking those factor into
consideration, then when you do the delivery, you realise that the "10
minutes" off the highway is timed by the customer whilst flying his
helicopter or perhaps he has a Ferrari and that's how he does it in 10 mins
and that's just to his front gate, his house could be a further km on down a
goat track. Or you go out of your way to do a COD and the customer's wife
has the cheque book and she's gone to visit her mother, so that means a
second call to collect the money, that's not always factored in the price.

On Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:44:06 +0900, Loosecanon wrote:

These are not sent by parcel post
but fit in standard and prepaid envelopes which travel by air from
Pert

Should really be there the next morning if by air. Their are some WA
electronic companies that owe their success to being two hours behind
Eastern states and can take orders to 7pm AEST time and have it their
tomorrow.


The delay happens mainly every 2 or 3 years so I am assuming that the
smaller areas have mail contractors who put tenders into Australia Post.
My theory is not many reapply hence the delays at these times.

Chuckle, but there is always another person to quote too low to take their
place.