Australia Post Parcel Tracking

[Sir Stinkalot]

The other day I ordered some non woodworking items over the internet from a store that appears to be based in QLD. I received an email from the on line store advising that the item had been sent and it could be tracked via the Australia Post - Track Your Item feature.

Now I have had experience ordering items from the USA before (UPS and USPS) and have enjoyed watching my goodies get logged at numerous points as it bounces it way across to here, constantly being amazed at how quickly it is zipping around.

So just out of interest I popped over to the Australia Post site and punched in my tracking number. The items have been sent in two packages, the first seemed to be lodged fairly quickly with Australia Post and the tracking shows it being "Processed at Sortation Facility" - location Underwood QLD at 8:00pm on Tuesday (I placed the order at about 2:00pm on Tuesday), the second package does not show up. On the tracking site it shows a nice little picture stating that the item has been "Sent" and is now "In Transit". When you click to find the definition of "In Transit" you get the following:

When tracking my item, what does ‘in transit’ mean?Published 12/07/2013 03.52 PM | Updated 14/10/2013 03.07 PM
When using our track your item (http://auspost.com.au/track/) tool, the term ‘in transit’ means that your item is on its way to be delivered.


The item has been lodged by the sender and processed by us and is on its way to its destination.
The item has not been delivered yet.

After ‘In transit’ the next tracking term you should see will be ‘Delivered’ or ‘Awaiting collection’.

I am not too fussed about the time it will take to get here but I am interested in seeing how useless Australia Posts on line tracking will be compared to UPS or USPS. I can't decide at the moment if the package is still stuck in Underwood and hasn't moved for the past few days, or if it will just magically just pop up as being "Delivered" or "Awaiting Collection". I would have thought that a tracking service would allow a bit more information about where in the system the package is rather than just we have it and we will then update you again when you get it.

Cheers

Stinky

[Pac man]

Yes it is useless since the recent upgrade of the auspost site.

[Mulgabill]

Yes it is useless since the recent upgrade of the auspost site.

:whs:

Agree the tracking is absolutely useless. I've had experience that where the item is reported to be at the originating mail centre for some days and then next getting a knock on the the door by the Auspost courier.:o

[KBs PensNmore]

Getting stuff from the US by UPS or USPS, on several occasions I find the tracking stops when it leaves US soil, very annoying.:((
Kryn

[Sir Stinkalot]

Well that was well worth tracking. I just checked again and got the following:



15/10/13 20:19 Processed at Sortation Facility UNDERWOOD QLD

18/10/13 06:43 On board with driver for delivery today BEVERLEY SA
18/10/13 11:56 Delivered


And this is the detailed view of the tracking process :U. I would have thought that detailed tracking would be handy to enable the receiver to have an idea of when to expect the item and when to be home.

Australia Post could even dumb the process down even further by implementing a simple traffic light tracking system:

Red - The seller still has the package
Yellow - We have the package
Green - You have the package

Still no news of the second package as the tracking number hasn't been found - although to be fair to Australia Post the seller may have assigned a tracking number to the order despite not having the item in stock to send.

[A Duke]

Hi,
I found the thing that was spot on was that I had signed for it. I checked before opening my package and while the driver was still in sight and it said "delivered". That hand held pad sure does it's job.
Regards

[Scott]

I sent a package which costs $30 to post on the 12th of October in Melbourne and it was delivered on the 22nd of October in Perth. For my tracking dollars (about $3) all I got was a 'received' and 'delivered'.

About a month ago I ordered something from the U.S. (Eastern States). It took 5 days to arrive and I received at least 12 tracking updates.

Go figure.

[Scott]

I sent a package which costs $30 to post on the 12th of October in Melbourne and it was delivered on the 22nd of October in Perth. For my tracking dollars (about $3) all I got was a 'received' and 'delivered'.

About a month ago I ordered something from the U.S. (Eastern States). It took 5 days to arrive and I received at least 12 tracking updates.

Go figure.

By the way, the postage from the states was around $25.

Go figure again.

[malb]

Re USPS tracking dropping off the radar once the goods leave the US, there are several catagories of tracking in the US and most do not comply with international tracking categories. Ones that don't map to our international standard tracking system simply drop off the system because no system outside US formally recognises them, or alternatively USPS will not pay the recipient country to scan tracking details and return them to USPS. A typical group that drop off are ones with a code starting with LC or LJ, but there are others as well that I can't remember as its now 3 years since I stopped delivering. I know AP gets very po'd if contractors even scan the ones that that drop out as AP then has to filter them out of the data stream.

Re local items, AP Parcel depots have much more info on every item, but don't list it on the tracking site because it becomes overwhelming and a security risk. But if something is delayed, lost or damaged, they can track movements to virtually everybody in the chain that touches the package from the collection driver to the recipient or parcel pickup centre or post office agency staff accepting goods to hold for customer pickup.

In relation to security, take into account that a lot of business ship multiple truckloads of product via AP each day. It's not hard to work out the customer prefix from the tracking labels if you get a dozen or so packages from the supplier over time, and from there make a search for an random package from the supplier. If full tracking data was released, criminal gangs could identify which of the red trucks on the highway were carrying 20T or so of packaged wine, or which had a load of mail order watches and jewellry, which vans were carrying passports etc. Sooner or later the crime rate against AP and contractors would soar.

Re the second package that hasn't hit the tracking system, check the tracking label on the delivered one in case it says 1 of 2 or similar. If the package is part of a multi consignment, the delivery contractor is supposed to advise depot admin if a consignment is not complete, and hold the stuff they have for up to 3 days while waiting for the balance to get to the depot. Meanwhile the depot staff are supposed to trying to track the delayed parts of the consignment to ensure that they catch up.

Failing that check with the supplier to find out whether the package has left them, and if it has, have them place a tracking request with AP to locate the package. Because your supplier is the AP customer, only they can instigate a tracking request. The recipient is regarded as a non involved third party.

Hope this helps

[Sir Stinkalot]

Re the second package that hasn't hit the tracking system, check the tracking label on the delivered one in case it says 1 of 2 or similar. If the package is part of a multi consignment, the delivery contractor is supposed to advise depot admin if a consignment is not complete, and hold the stuff they have for up to 3 days while waiting for the balance to get to the depot. Meanwhile the depot staff are supposed to trying to track the delayed parts of the consignment to ensure that they catch up.

The second packaged arrived today after I sent an email off to the seller on Sunday. The initial tracking number that they provided suddenly worked tonight and shows:


21/10/13 06:09 With Australia Post for delivery today BEVERLEY SA

21/10/13 12:38 Delivered BEVERLEY SA

​
If I was using my simplified Australia Post tracking system I would only get the green light for "you have it" ...... nothing for the other steps.

I can understand the security issues but if the tracking system cannot provide decent information why bother with it at all?
Why do the tracking numbers need a customer prefix? Couldn't they just be random?

[malb]

I can understand the security issues but if the tracking system cannot provide decent information why bother with it at all?
Why do the tracking numbers need a customer prefix? Couldn't they just be random?

Glad that the second package turned up for you.

The public access tracking system is really only intended to provide confirmation that a package has;
entered the system (been collected from sender, post office outlet or posting box for express package),
has reached the depot serving the delivery address,
has been delivered to recipient or has been transferred to a pickup centre if unable to be delivered.

The public access system does this effectively and would generally meet sender and recipient expectations in this regard.

Aus Post offer a number of tracked delivery systems, including Express, Registered, and eParcel. The tracking codes for registered and Express are psuedo random, the codes are created sequentially, but generally allocated randomly as customers purchase the service over the counter. Even if the customer purchased a bulk supply of say 100 Express pouches with sequential numbers, the set would not really identify them or their packages to the general public. Same cannot be said for someone sending out 2000 passports or 200,000+ cartons of wine every monthin the eParcel stream.

The eParcel codes have a lot of data built into the code sequence, ranging from the senders code, how the delivery is to be handled (Must be signed for, Must be signed for by recipient with ID, Person to Person-must be signed for only by adressee with ID, Requires proof of age, Can be left in a secure location at delivery addres, Must be carded and left at a pickup centre, and others), a consignment tracking number, the number of packages in a consignment, and the individual package id within the consignment.

The system is set up to handle a huge number of variables to cope with virtually any eventuality. The main thing for a customer, recipient and delivery contractor is that the scanner software understands all of the parts of the code and won't allow the contractor to stuff up and for example safe drop (leave in a secure location) something that had to be signed for by a particular person.

The dedicated software that high volume senders use to check tracking for packages uses the senders code component to limit what the sender can search for, i.e the system declines requests to track goods that were sent by others, again as a security and business protection feature.

[Chris Parks]

I sent a package which costs $30 to post on the 12th of October in Melbourne and it was delivered on the 22nd of October in Perth. For my tracking dollars (about $3) all I got was a 'received' and 'delivered'.

About a month ago I ordered something from the U.S. (Eastern States). It took 5 days to arrive and I received at least 12 tracking updates.

Go figure.

The 12th of October was a Saturday and the 22nd was a Tuesday, I'll come back to that. It was my job before I retired to do a large part of the interstate parcel despatch out of Sydney for AP and I will try and explain why it took so long. Firstly all the stuff coming into Oz is air freight, if it were surface as all parcel movements in Oz are then you would not see it for over a month and if you are an old fart like me that was the normal thing not so long ago and we just accepted it.

Posted on the 12th the item did not get despatched from the PO until PM Monday.

Sorted and despatched from Melbourne Parcel Facility by road Monday night.

I presume that a Monday night despatch is sent straight to Adelaide and either road trained through to WA or put on a train.

The timing from Melbourne to Perth, no hiccups involved, is for the parcel to be in WA by Friday.


Sorted over the weekend and delivered to Metro Perth or near regions on Monday and further a field some time after that

The parcel was effectively stalled by weekend down time for about four days. In fact if it had been posted Monday the time from Melbourne to Perth would have been exactly the same. If everything gels and the backlog in Perth is not really heavy then it is possible for it to be delivered in Metro Perth on Friday Morning which is a time of four and a bit days, not too bloody bad in my book. Out of Sydney on Monday it is guaranteed to be in Perth for Friday delivery but that service is by road train with two drivers going at it non stop from Parkes and having no trouble on the trip. The guys that do this are either good mates or totally nuts, they couldn't pay me enough to do it.

[rsser]

As an aside, AP contract couriers give me the right royals by leaving a no-signature parcel on the front porch in full view of the street.

I've had a sign at the front door saying 'Do not drop parcels here' and spoken with the local PO to no effect.

[Chris Parks]

The reality is the local PO has no way of influencing what has happened, you need to contact AP as they employ the local contractor who does the delivery. The local PO, the parcel delivery and in some cases the mail delivery are not inter related these days as they once were when the PO was owned by AP and all deliveries were controlled from the PO that they were delivered from.

[rsser]

Yeah, the local PO gave me a contact to put my case to. That had no effect either.

Re the couriers (and they change month to month almost) some do the right thing and others don't. I appreciate they're under the pump to make a quid.

I gather Auspost owns a chunk of StarTrack but the couriers who service my area just have an AP courier sign on their vans.

[Chris Parks]

AP are now set up with independent streams of business, I guess that is the best description. Keep in mind that all country deliveries have been contracted since God played full back for Israel.

They franchised most of the postal outlets right through Oz. Only enough are left to make an appearance of AP still being in the front line and they are all in major centres.

They contracted all parcel deliveries in Oz, metro or not.

They contracted mail deliveries in a lot of places that were not metro but were still AP employees. I live in a town that has about 5,000 people and they contracted the mail delivery here and moved their employed posties elsewhere.

It is no longer possible as you found out to utilise the PO as a point of complaint, bad luck and seeya later is what you get if you try. Like all other semi government corporations it is all about the bottom line and like all others it has become a shadow of its former self when people actually cared. There has been no investment in the structure of the company and it has run down but now it has bitten them and they are being forced to invest in new structure and systems nation wide.

Startrack is now wholly owned by AP, it along with Australian Air Express were both owned 50/50 with Qantas. AP & Qantas did a deal where AP took 100% ownership in ST and Qantas got 100% of AAE. AP have plans to integrate ST into their structure to utilise ST's expertise in moving product that is not containerised but loose loaded into trucks which is what we did years ago and they moved away from for some very good reasons. The cost savings are huge and all their new parcel facilities will have loose loading capability. Pity the poor grunts who have to do it though.

Things are not healthy in the letters delivery business world wide but the decline was predicted 15 years ago and is no surprise to anyone, least of all AP. As an aside NZ Post has forecast a three day delivery system for mail in the coming years due to low volumes. There is a nice little problem here, More houses thus delivery points are being built but less mail! I am glad it is not my problem as there is only one answer, staggered deliveries using the same or less employees. What has caught them and every other company by surprise is the parcel delivery business, it has gone nuts and no one has adequate capacity to deal with it. Delivery to the end recipient is a problem that is being dealt with now. TOLL for instance were (are??) looking at utilising Caltex servo sites to put 24 hour lockers in and AP have already started that process and have some on the ground. This is not a fool proof method and there will be issues involved like what happens when someone stuffs a locker with the wrong parcel?

I am happily retired and don't want to go back as the lower end of the management have with few exceptions no further interest in the whole thing apart from protecting their own backsides, getting the joint to run better is not something they care about. BTW they have gotten rid of thousands of middle management in the last few years and disposed of their headquarters building in NSW.

[Sir Stinkalot]

The reality is the local PO has no way of influencing what has happened, you need to contact AP as they employ the local contractor who does the delivery. The local PO, the parcel delivery and in some cases the mail delivery are not inter related these days as they once were when the PO was owned by AP and all deliveries were controlled from the PO that they were delivered from.

Another parcel another level of frustration with Australia Post. The latest package was an eParcel. Unlike the parcel that caused me to start this tread the tracking on this one was very good. I guess it was all down to the seller entering the correct details but I got constant email updated from Australia Post advising that the item was initiated, in transit, on board etc ..... a real improvement there. Delivery times were also acceptable.

Anyway today I received an email advising it was on board for delivery today - again all positive for the tracking system. As it always happens however I had to go out this morning and the delivery was unsuccessful. The contractor left the card, but for the second time in as may attempted deliveries, the parcel was taken to an Australia Post business centre over the other side of town for collection. A quick check of the Australia Post site indicates that there are no less than 10 Australia Post outlets closer to the delivery address than the place they take the parcel for collection.

Fortunately being in Adelaide a trip across the other side of town isn't the end of the world but it certainly is inconvenient. I asked in December why my small sized package was delivered to such an inconvenient location and was advised that due to Christmas many of the smaller LPO's were struggling for space and as such more packages were going to the larger business centre where there was more space .... at the time I thought this was a reasonable explanation and accepted it. I asked the same question today when collection another small package and basically got the same explanation with Christmas being replaced with just being busy.

I notice that Australia Post now offer additional services such as rescheduling deliveries, redelivering packages or lockers (all at additional costs). The cynic in me would tend to think that by making collection more difficult Australia Post are trying to double dip with their new "services". Perhaps they are hoping for a future where it is up to the recipient to collect any packaged directly from Australia Post avoiding the need for attempted home delivery.

When I asked if it would be possible to have future deliveries sent to one of the 10 closer Australia Post outlets, I was advised that I would have to register a complaint via the Australia Post website ..... for what use it is consider it done :(.

[_fly_]

Whats worse is the receiver can complain all they like, and they will listen and seem like they are recording it all.
BUT, AP do nothing unless the SENDER complains.

And for tracking I constantly get on van for delivery 7am and delivered 11am, Then I question why at 5.30 pm it isn't here.
It must be, maybe they put it somewhere because you weren't home, No I was home all day. They have little idea.

I also have a lazy postie, I'm home all the time and if she has something to bring to the door, she's too lazy and cards it (but only half the time).
The other half she takes it to the LPO and doesn't bother to card it.

Lazy cow she is, And you can complain but they do nothing.

After 24 years working with post.....

Oh, And I don't think I've ever seen a disabled person working at HQ.
There is 2 but they got disabled after starting to work there.

[Big Shed]

I wish I could complain about Australia Posts' delivery, but we don't get any:no:.

The price we pay for living in the country, no roadside deliveries either, so we get to PAY for a Post Office Box so Australia Post can save on delivering our mail.

We have to drive 20km to get our mail, and 20 km back.

Oh and a rapidly increasing number of Ebay sellers (especially in China) are refusing to ship to PO Boxes:~

[malb]

I know it won't ease the frustration for you but I can see some of it from afar. I got out of the Parcel Post game 5 years ago, and I know that volumes have increased a lot since then.

I used to work for one of 14 contractors working out of the Port Melbourne depot, our contractor had 6 guys on the road covering 4 different postcodes. Other contractors had from 2 to 12 drivers (and vans) on their contracts, and some drivers worked with Jockeys as well.

For our contract, we serviced an area with 4 AP operated Post Offices, 6 contractor operated Post Office agencies, and our depot which occupied about 8 acres for receiving and delivering mail, packages, and providing Parcel Pickup. All of our LPO's operated out of retail premises, some dedicated PO agency and some mixed business and agency. Those that offered a PO Box facility would accept packages for the boxes only, no parcel pickup due to the storage volumes and security required. My undelivered always went back to the depot Parcel Pickup, while others working for the same contractor had to return packages to a mixture of the deopt Parcel Pickup and up to three of the AP operated outlets.

Since I got out of the game volumes have increased to around 400% of what they were, and in the summer holiday period we were often running about 50% undelivered (no one home or no safe drop arrangements in place). That means that if we take out two 1tonne van loads a day to attempt delivery, we could transfer about about 1 load back into one or more Parcel Pickups for collection each day, and if the recipients are away on holiday, it could sit and fester for close to 3 weeks (second notice sent after 10 days and then 7 working days before being returned to sender as unclaimed).

Many of the LPO's established their contracts and leased their premises before I started (pre or very early stages of online shopping) when volumes were quite low, and simply could not expand their premises to accomodate the volumes that are being handled today, more so because LPO's are not paid by volume for providing a Parcel Pickup service, so cannot recover the cost of extra space and staff.

I suspect that the 10 outlets nearer than the Parcel Pickup you mentioned are LPO's, though you have a legit gripe if any are large AP operated outlets.

[Timless Timber]

The Indian bloke lives next door to me, drives a parcel delivery truck.

His old Mother from India & his own infant kids, tell us that "he rents a big storage facility" - that's chokers full of any electrical appliance you could possibly want (Some kind of aladdin's cave apparently) :? .

Takes his family there whenever they need anything, opens the roller door, and emerges a few minutes later with an assortment of brands and models for them to choose from (At huge discount prices) :wink:.
Apparently he sells a lot thru gumtree and evilbay also.
It all falls off his delivery truck apparently, but it's completely OK, because insurance pays for it, so no one really loses. :rolleyes:
And he is a very successful business man / role model for his family - has a big double story place in a expensive suburb (as well as the slum lord palace next door that he rents to his relatives) and brings out (sponsors) their relatives from India, who all work for him in various enterprises (brochures delivery etc) and he even pays them $100 a week, which is a fortune back in India.
(Of course they all get Centerlink as well).
Australia truly is the "lucky" country.
Yeak - lucky if you ever see your parcel! :D
None a my business, I don't wanna know. :doh: :no:

Cheers

[Sir Stinkalot]

I know it won't ease the frustration for you but I can see some of it from afar.

To be honest it is not the biggest problem the world is facing .... but it does come with some frustration ..... and the need to vent every now an again. I can see it from the point of Australia Post and can only imagine how frustrating it would be taking a package to a recipients home, and then having to take it back again as they were not home. I am always pleased to find a parcel (no signature required) tucked away in a safe position if I wasn't home and I think this reflects well on the contractor doing the delivery.


I suspect that the 10 outlets nearer than the Parcel Pickup you mentioned are LPO's, though you have a legit grip if any are large AP operated outlets.

Yep most are LPO's (although one is also the Adelaide GPO - however parking would be difficult for collection) but they do vary is size with some/most being AP operated. We did have BC very close however it is no longer showing up on AP's website. I know they closed the retail shopfront down last year but as far as I was aware it was still a collection point (and convenient!) .... I will have to ride past and see what is happening.

The more I think about it the more I think AP are trying to implement a depot to depot style system for parcels - removing the option for delivery to the home. They would simply receive truck loads of packages at their business centres and send out a text or email to the recipient advising it is ready for collection (or the 24hr lockers). Given your figures (50% undelivered) you can perhaps see why they would be interested in this. The problem is AP will not reduce the cost to reflect the reduced service being offered, it will just be a level of service that is cut back.

I don't believe however that all of the LPO's are at capacity. I think it is easier for AP to load up the truck, drive around the suburbs and then just bring any undelivered items back to the one depot. I wonder how the LPO's feel about it - whilst they don't have to handle the packages they also miss out on any additional sales of the other goods they sell.

Any idea what the different coloured failed delivery cards represent? When I lodged my "suggestion/comment" with Australia Post they ask what colour the delivery card was - mine was blue but in the past they have mostly been red.

[Big Shed]

Or do what an ever increasing number of people are doing which is having parcels sent to their place of work.

To the point where a lot of companies are stopping this as their mailroom people are having to handle all these parcels and they clutter up a mail room never designed for this sort of volume.

But AP are certainly not on the ball and creating openings for the likes of Lindsay Fox to set up in competition.

[Timless Timber]

The tracking on my jigsaw from the UK last week, said that it was loaded into the delivery truck 0712 am 6 Jan 2014.
Evening of 6 Jan 2014 it was updated to "Unable to be delivered - no one home to sign".

Thing is I was home all day on the 6th and pretty sure no one came (coz my dog goes apeshyte off his tits if anyone comes into the yard and he never made a sound all day).

So I checked and there was no card in the mail box to say the delivery man had been.

I guessed he musta come and gone somehow unnoticed.

So for the next day I put a sign on the front door saying "For deliverys if no one answers - please come around to the back door - I am definitely home".

Next day 7th a guy knocks on the door and I get my jig saw.

I apologized for no one answering the previous day 6th at 1645 when he called.

He looked quizzical and said - I never came here yesterday - this is my first call.

I explained that the tracking said it was in his truck from 0712 am on the 6th and showed that he was unable to deliver at 1645 previous day coz no one home to sign.

He said that's weird....coz he definitely never came the previous day and this was his first attempt to deliver.

In essence you can't believe anything on the tracking websites its all porkie pies - BUT - it makes it look good for the customers. :)

[A Duke]

Love the way people think nobody looses when the insurance coughs up. We all pay in higher premiums, the insurance companies have to pay for their buildings as well.
Regards

[Cliff Rogers]

Oz Post Sux. :~

There are a few people in there that care but most of 'em don't. :no:

[malb]

Any idea what the different coloured failed delivery cards represent? When I lodged my "suggestion/comment" with Australia Post they ask what colour the delivery card was - mine was blue but in the past they have mostly been red.

When I bailed, we had access to cards printed on blue card or white. The blue ones for our area were a dedicated 'Pick up at the Depot Parcel Pickup centre' with preprinted address and a map. The white ones were generic and in addition to handwriting the recipient and parcel details, the driver had to write in or rubber stamp the pick up location, e.g. 'XXX Post Office' and the address. The dedicated cards were much quicker to issue unless you had rubber stamps made and prestamped batches of cards before hitting the street, PIA if you have to transfer to multiple Parcel Pickups during the day. We also had safe drop cards so we could leave a note in the mailbox explaining where we had left a package if we safe dropped, but they weren't compulsory.

I had the feeling that individual regions had their own styles for carding, so things could be different at your end, and things might have changed since I left.

[A Duke]

Hi malb,
:2tsup:
Thanks for giving us the other side of the view. But like anything it only takes one dick head and they all get tared with the same brush.
Regards

[_fly_]

As I said my postie is useless.
But my local AP courier driver is fantastic.
Works all day non-stop. delivers at anything up to 7pm, when he knows people are home.
Even had him do delivery on a sat and sunday to get thru everything he has to deliver.

[dabbler]

As I said my postie is useless.
But my local AP courier driver is fantastic.
Works all day non-stop. delivers at anything up to 7pm, when he knows people are home.
Even had him do delivery on a sat and sunday to get thru everything he has to deliver.

It's the reverse for me. If my postie sees the garage door open, he swings the bike past the driveway. If I appear, he'll hand mail to me or wave me away if none.

OTOH - AP courier will wedge the "unable to deliver" card behind the doorbell without a ring or a knock unless I happen upon him !!




Sent from my S7 using Tapatalk 2

[Chris Parks]

Or do what an ever increasing number of people are doing which is having parcels sent to their place of work.

To the point where a lot of companies are stopping this as their mailroom people are having to handle all these parcels and they clutter up a mail room never designed for this sort of volume.

But AP are certainly not on the ball and creating openings for the likes of Lindsay Fox to set up in competition.

Lindsay Fox is already into it. My job was to manage out of Sydney sub-contract parcel transport to other states. Linfox are the prime contractors for most of it and even built special trucks to carry the wire cages. If needed they subby work out to other companies as the volumes are growing very fast. No company in Oz has got the capacity to handle the parcel volumes and they are all looking at how best to deliver to the end point. TOLL were (are?) looking at putting in 24 hour lockers at service stations to overcome the problem. AP have looked at special centralised facilities like shops where parcels would be carded back to for pick up.

Back in the old days when AP had there own staff delivering parcels I can recall sitting at the back of Maroubra PO and carding every parcel that was addressed to a unit or flat as there was never anyone at home. We never even attempted delivery as it was a 99% return rate to the PO and just handed the cards to the posties for delivery.

[Sir Stinkalot]

Whats worse is the receiver can complain all they like, and they will listen and seem like they are recording it all. BUT, AP do nothing unless the SENDER complains.

Well for those who are interested Australia Post replied to my comments/suggestions today. Not a bad effort to get a personal reply within 1 business day:

"Hi Sir Stinkalot [name changed to protect the innocent],

Thank you for taking the time to contact Australia Post about the concerns you have with receiving parcels in the mail. I can see that travelling so far to pick up your parcels would be quite frustrating. I would like to help you to resolve this ongoing issue today.

Our delivery drivers will take the parcels back to the closest outlet accepting parcels for collection at the end of their route. As the driver's take all parcels on their route back to the one location,it needs to be the most convenient location for all residence needing to collect their parcel. There may also be situations where post offices are unable to accept parcels due to space restrictions, and as such it would need to go to the next closest available outlet.

As you have advised, there are several other post offices you could collect your parcels from. Should this happen again, I would suggest that you call Australia Post on 13 13 18 and request an Inter-store Transfer. We can transfer your parcels to any post office.

You may wish to consider registering for a Parcel Locker. Registration is free and you are can collect your parcels 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can register by clicking on this link:
http://auspost.com.au/parcels-mail/parcel-lockers.html (http://auspost.com.au/parcels-mail/parcel-lockers.html)

A list of our Parcel Locker locations is available here.
http://auspost.com.au/parcels-mail/flexible-delivery-options.html (http://auspost.com.au/parcels-mail/flexible-delivery-options.html)

I hope this information has been of assistance today. If I can help you with anything else, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Digital Sales and Service | Australia Post
Online Services Consultant"

Ok so in summary:

1. They would like to help me resolve this ongoing issue today - but will not do so.

2. The driver will take the parcels to the closest outlet at the end of their route - It would seem that AP contractors are now operating out of the Business Centre (10 outlets away) so this is where they will end their route and drop off any parcels - not particularly convenient to all residences at all. Heaven help us if they get to the business centre and it is full so they have to go to the next closest outlet.

If they wanted to make it convenient the contractor would attempt to deliver in a certain area surrounding the local post office, and any unsuccessful parcels would be dropped off at the local PO before moving onto the next area - much more convenient for residences.

3. Basically Sir Stinkalot - you are stuffed. If you want your parcel collected you can pay to have it transferred to your local post office, or pay for a parcel locker - with your most convenient locker location being 10 post offices away.

Now I am convinced we will shortly be paying for depot to depot delivery at the same cost (if not more) than what was previously depot to home delivery.

[Big Shed]

3. Basically Sir Stinkalot - you are stuffed. If you want your parcel collected you can pay to have it transferred to your local post office, or pay for a parcel locker - with your most convenient locker location being 10 post offices away.

Now I am convinced we will shortly be paying for depot to depot delivery at the same cost (if not more) than what was previously depot to home delivery.

The way I read that, and the link provided, is that the Parcel Locker service is free, but you need to collect it within 48hrs.

Fees and charges
While there are currently no fees and charges for use of the Parcel Lockers service, in the future this position may be revisited. However you will be given adequate notice if Australia Post decides to introduce any fees or charges for this service.

Please note: Australia Post will accept domestic and international parcels from other carriers to our Parcel Locker locations, if those parcels have been lodged by the carriers as Australia Post articles addressed to the recipient's Parcel Locker address. To lodge parcels into our network, carriers must pay Australia Post for the service. StarTrack is a subsidiary of Australia Post, and parcels carried by StarTrack will be accepted for delivery to Parcel Locker locations.

We have informed other carriers of our policy and it is up to the carrier to decide if they wish to pay to deliver to the Parcel Locker location.

Where possible, customers are advised to check which shipping partners or parcel delivery provider(s) are available on the website they're buying from.


They also say they can transfer a parcel to a PO of your choice, but the way it is worded also seems to suggest there is no charge for this?

Yes, I think we are heading to depot to depot deliveries, just look at NZ, they have reduced home delivery to 3 days a week there.

Just for laughs I put my address in the search for the nearest Parcel Locker to my place - Sunbury 95 kms away:D:rolleyes:, all the others were in suburban Melbourne 100+ km away.

I think I may stick to my PO Box at my LPO, at least I get service with a smile there:)

[Sir Stinkalot]

The way I read that, and the link provided, is that the Parcel Locker service is free, but you need to collect it within 48hrs.
They also say they can transfer a parcel to a PO of your choice, but the way it is worded also seems to suggest there is no charge for this?

Parcel Locker fine print:
While there are currently no fees and charges for use of the Parcel Lockers service, in the future this position may be revisited. Code for - get them to try it and then make them buy it!

Also the problem is with the limitations of what the Parcel Locker can accept (a few of many):


parcels that require proof of identity
parcels that require a signature on delivery
parcels that require the recipient's ID to be recorded at delivery


Generally if the package doesn't need to be signed for a good contractor will leave it somewhere safe at home so no point taking it to the lockers.

I would think the transfer parcel to a PO of your choice would fall under:
Same State Redirection - $5.70.

The business centre where packages seem to be delivered now seems to have fairly good operating hours at least - with early pickups available. The only problem is the distance required to get there - especially when there are 10 outlets closer (with many open on Saturdays).

[Big Shed]

Yes, probably, but the fact of the matter is that it is free as of now.

As I have said in an earlier post, I and many thousands of other people already pay to get ALL our mail (not just parcels), it is called a Post Office Box and we have to have that because Australia Post refuses to deliver to our street address or even provide a roadside deilvery service.

[Sir Stinkalot]

As I have said in an earlier post, I and many thousands of other people already pay to get ALL our mail (not just parcels), it is called a Post Office Box and we have to have that because Australia Post refuses to deliver to our street address or even provide a roadside deilvery service.

I do understand that this is an issue for many and it boils down to the practicality of delivering mail over large areas. Given that the sender (or you as receiver) has paid the same cost that Australia Post charges all other users for to the door delivery you would think that could at least offer the PO box free for users who cannot receive home delivery mail (do they? I know you need to pay for a box if you can have deliveries).

Perhaps AP should have offered once a week drop off for remote locations, but I am sure there are many that would like to check for mail more regularly. I cant see them ever offering this service now.

[Big Shed]

No, with a few exceptions (Community Post Office Boxes in some areas) people living in the country need to pay for a PO Box.

In our case, there is roadside delivery in most of the areas surrounding us, even areas further out from Bendigo, but AP refuses to supply that servcie here (without explanation).

Our situation is not unique.

So, AP providing Parcel Boxes free of charge sounds to me like a good service (which may or may not have to be paid for in the future).

As you said above, the delivery of mail and in particular parcel post, will change rapidly in the next few years and the daily deliveries will go the way of twice daily deliveries and Saturday deliveries of times past.

If AP gets privatised, as seems likely, this process will accelerate. Bear in mind that a lot of AP's work is already done by private companies and contractors, as alluded to by Chris Parks earlier.

[Sir Stinkalot]

Just another interesting Australia Post tracking experience.

Two small items were purchased from the same Ebay seller on Monday 22/12/14. The seller wouldn't combine to postage as they claimed they has sold the good below cost (If you want the market to decide perhaps raise your opening bid a little higher next time). No problem I was happy to pay for postage on both items, but just to be petty I did request that they be sent as two packages to avoid the seller charging two postage costs only to pocket one to boost their margins.

So here is the summary direct from AP for one of the items. I have added travel distances as well just to see how far this puppy is running:


<tbody>
Mon 22/12/14
13:46
Received by AP @
North Ryde NSW



Tue 23/12/14
00:49
Processed through AP facility @
Chullora NSW
(15km)


Tue 23/12/14
05:41
In transit @
Villawood NSW
(23.6km)


Tue 23/12/14
12:35
Processed through AP facility @
Chullora NSW
(32.2km)


Mon 29/12/14
06:20
Processed through AP facility @
Inverell NSW
(605.2km)


Mon 29/12/14
07:01
In transit @
Inverell NSW



Mon 29/12/14
19:15
Processed through AP facility @
Tamworth NSW
(812km)


Tue 30/12/14
10:37
Processed through AP facility @
Chullora NSW
(1219.2km)


Wed 31/12/14
12:30
Processed through AP facility @
Chullora NSW


</tbody>













Adelaide ????? (2607.2km if it goes direct!)


I'm not quite sure why the package has taken a short holiday to northern NSW for a week only to end up again where it started - so much for two day delivery. I am starting to get a little concerned that the seller may have replaced my toilet roll holder with a tourist magnet from the picturesque suburb of Chullora NSW which is why it keeps gravitating back there.

There is also quite a big difference in the information between the online tracking via AP website and using their phone app. The app shows, Villawood, Chullora, Chullora, Inverell, Chullora, Chullora, Inverell, North Ryde, Tamworth :doh:


Timless Timber stated earlier in the tread: "In essence you can't believe anything on the tracking websites its all porkie pies - BUT - it makes it look good for the customers." I would agree that you cannot believe anything shown on their tracking website however I cant see how this makes it look good for customers - I, like most customers, welcome the opportunity to keep track of a package but with the current system it more often than not makes AP look incompetent and they would be better off showing nothing. If the tacking for this package is correct it has travelled 1200+km (in 9 days) to end up 15km from where it started - no wonder AP is loosing money.


For the record, the other of the two packages, posted the same day, same location, same time, same size - arrived in Adelaide at my door on Monday 29/12/14 @ 11:00. perhaps it is just karma biting me in the bum for being so petty asking the seller to send as two packages :U

[Bushmiller]

The frustrations of the postal system! I am waiting on a parcel that was posted from Minnesota in the US on 15 December 2015. It arrived in Brisbane 5 days later where it apparently "departed" over a period of 11 days until it was processed through the sort facility on 31 Dec. What the hell is going on?

I am hoping to receive my parcel sometime this year :rolleyes: !


http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/images/imgTrckIntransit.jpg
Processed Through Sort Facility
2014-12-31, 07:31:00
Departed
2014-12-20, 15:26:00, Brisbane
Departed
2014-12-19, 19:35:00, Tokyo
Departed
2014-12-18, 10:55:00, Chicago
Arrived
2014-12-18, 03:55:00, Chicago
Arrived at Sort Facility
2014-12-17, 10:55:00, ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS)
Processed Through Sort Facility
2014-12-17, 10:55:00, ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS)
Departed USPS Facility
2014-12-16, 02:42:00, KINGSFORD, MI 49802
Arrived at USPS Origin Facility
2014-12-15, 20:51:00, KINGSFORD, MI 49802
Picked Up
2014-12-15, 15:41:00, MARQUETTE, MI 49855


Regards
Paul

[Chris Parks]

Oh and a rapidly increasing number of Ebay sellers (especially in China) are refusing to ship to PO Boxes:~

I have the same issue and my address line contains both the PO box and the street address.

[Chris Parks]

The frustrations of the postal system! I am waiting on a parcel that was posted from Minnesota in the US on 15 December 2015. It arrived in Brisbane 5 days later where it apparently "departed" over a period of 11 days until it was processed through the sort facility on 31 Dec. What the hell is going on?

I am hoping to receive my parcel sometime this year :rolleyes: !


http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/images/imgTrckIntransit.jpg
Processed Through Sort Facility
2014-12-31, 07:31:00
Departed
2014-12-20, 15:26:00, Brisbane
Departed
2014-12-19, 19:35:00, Tokyo
Departed
2014-12-18, 10:55:00, Chicago
Arrived
2014-12-18, 03:55:00, Chicago
Arrived at Sort Facility
2014-12-17, 10:55:00, ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS)
Processed Through Sort Facility
2014-12-17, 10:55:00, ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS)
Departed USPS Facility
2014-12-16, 02:42:00, KINGSFORD, MI 49802
Arrived at USPS Origin Facility
2014-12-15, 20:51:00, KINGSFORD, MI 49802
Picked Up
2014-12-15, 15:41:00, MARQUETTE, MI 49855


Regards
Paul

I reckon it got held for customs inspection which due to Mr Abbott's cost saving measures and pulling personnel out of the system takes a lot of time these days.

[Simplicity]

I'm seeing a whole new racing industry
Think about it for a bit
Two parties buy same item posted same day and time
Via a mobile app we can place bets on arrival distance traveled
Then you get to watch it in real or unreal time via a tracking app
The winer could be either first to arrive or longest traveled
I think I'm on a winner here any financial backers

[62woollybugger]

Seems AP was sending lots of parcels on free Christmas holidays. I ordered some items from Seaforth, on the North side of Sydney, a week or so before Christmas. The tracking showed it went from Seaforth - Chullora - East Wagga - Chullora & then finally to my place in Holsworthy, SW Sydney.

[Sir Stinkalot]

I'm thinking of buying a little post box in Chullora as it seems like the place to be.

[skot]

AP aren't the only ones.

Several years ago I purchased a parcel from a Melbourne supplier....was told it was on it's way to Bris. After a week there was no show so I contacted the supplier and he was able to track it.

Apparently it got to Sydney ...took a left and headed for Perth. The freight mob tracked it down in Perth and directed it back....to Sydney and then on to Brisbane, only to arrive crushed & damaged.

Good news is that the supplier is one of our forum sponsors and he replaced the item at his cost. I sent back the damaged one & hopefully he got some refund from the freight company.

[Chris Parks]

How things can go wrong....

I worked for AP doing interstate parcel dispatch and organising the loading out of one of the Sydney depots. We started to get some errors in loading and to make it worse some Brisbane product was going to Perth. When we looked at the problem some genius had put the Perth next to the Brisbane and the forklift drivers were sometimes picking up the wrong cages and not checking the labels, understandable really when it is 2am in the morning and they had started at 6pm. The other big problem was wrong labels on cages, it happens all the time and is human error as we were manual sorting. It did not happen off the machines as the machine labelled the cage. Every company suffers from it, I was at Toll one morning picking up something and they were running around like headless chooks, someone had sent the Wollongong trailer to Newcastle and vice versa.