AusPost Bends in Half & Stuffs My Parcels into My Small Mail Box - Says It's My Fault. Who's in The Right?

Blue Cat on 20/12/2019 - 17:15
Last edited 20/12/2019 - 17:57 by 1 other user

This has been happening for quite a while. First big annoyance was when I received some official A4 sized documents that need to be kept in pristine state, yet, the delivery guy decided bending and stuffing it was the best treatment for it. But when they bent my glass tablet screen protector in half, I just had to do something.

I called AusPost and after a 30 minute wait finally got through. They just told me to go the the local AusPost office and file a complaint there.
This is probably where I should have stopped and forgot about it, but I want to prevent this happening in the future, so decided to go anyway.

At the post, I explained them the situation and they got the manager out. He took a look at it and said to me:

If the delivery does not have a "DO NOT BEND" sticker, label or writing on it, the delivery man has full rights to bend the letter or parcel in half to fit it in the mailbox.

Said it's my fault for not instructing the sender to put the "DO NOT BEND" writing on the parcel. I explained the document scenario too, said it's my fault again for not instructing the sender to put the "DO NOT BEND" writing on the letter.
His solutions were for me to buy a bigger mailbox (I can't, I live in a unit) or to ask senders to send my stuff in cardboard boxes.
Can't they just not deliver the item and give me the blue card? I don't mind going to the office to pick it up and would be better than getting it bent. I think it is pretty unrealistic to always try to instruct the senders to write "DO NOT BEND" on the big parcels, nobody at AliExpress would care at least.

So, does anyone know what are the rules regarding bending letters and parcels for your mailbox? Are posties really allowed by law to bend the stuff and cram it?

Sometimes I really wish they would be actually lazy and just put in the blue card…

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Comments

  • CodeXD on 20/12/2019 - 17:17
    +13

    Get a parcel locker. It has solved 100% of my Auspost issues.

    • Blue Cat on 20/12/2019 - 17:18

      Yes, I have one, however, sometimes I need to order stuff directly to my address so I can't keep using a parcel locker all the time.

      • CodeXD on 20/12/2019 - 17:20

        sometimes I need to order stuff directly to my address

        Examples? I can't imagine you're getting certificates/official documentation on a weekly basis. The screen protector example should have been parcel locker unless it wasn't packaged right and was placed in envelope (not suitable for parcel locker).

        Otherwise work address is something you can try however YMMV

        • Blue Cat on 20/12/2019 - 17:23
          +2

          Sellers who say "NO PO BOXES OR PARCEL LOCKERS".
          I think StarTrack doesn't deliver to parcel lockers too.
          Also, sometimes if I know I won't be working overtime in the next few weeks and will have time to go to the post office, I order to my address and mostly get a blue card to pick it up.
          The post office is a lot closer to me than the parcel locker.
          But with incidents like this, I might just order everything to the lockers now.

          • Ughhh on 20/12/2019 - 17:49

            @Blue Cat: If you have the app, sometimes you can redirect to your parcel Locker.

          • kerfuffle on 20/12/2019 - 17:58
            +5

            @Blue Cat: StarTrack definitely deliver to Parcel Lockers. They're a subsidiary of Australia Post.

            Source: Had an item delivered to my Parcel Locker yesterday via StarTrack

            • CheapskateQueen on 20/12/2019 - 21:56

              @kerfuffle: you can't make letters to parcel locker. I had my certificate of title for my property delivered to parcel locker and they diverted it. one of the most important pieces of paper you can ever have, and they just diverted it without warning. couldn't believe it. (obviously i was using parcel locker instead of registered post because I couldn't get to a post office in time and didn't know the no letter rule)

            • ascorbic on 20/12/2019 - 23:48

              @kerfuffle: I had an experience where they wouldn't deliver to a parcel locker. Instead of being redirected to the post office nearby (which would happen if an item is deliverable to a locker but the lockers are full), it went to a StarTrack depot (only open 9-5 on business days). When I called both AusPost and StarTrack up, they both claimed that they can't work with each other to redirect it due to being separate entities. Another time, they delivered successfully so who knows?

              As for third parties, DHL delivers to lockers but Fastway definitely does not (they are a shocker in general).

          • Xyzzy on 21/12/2019 - 12:30
            +1

            @Blue Cat: If the Parcel Lockers aren't in convenient location, you can also register for a "parcel collect address" to have items sent to the post office directly.

            It works the same as a parcel locker, but instead of a parcel locker number you get a "Parcel Collect" number.

            Anything addressed to this goes to the post office and they notify you when it's ready to pick up.

            https://auspost.com.au/receiving/alternative-delivery-addres…

    • mattyman on 21/12/2019 - 22:50

      They'll redirect letters to your home address.

      • CodeXD on 21/12/2019 - 23:24

        Mine don't. They'll send you an email saying it is not suitable for parcel locker and ask you to pick it up from post office.

  • spackbace on 20/12/2019 - 17:18
    +8

    Get the app, redirect everything to the local post office.

    Or parcel locker

    • westzod on 20/12/2019 - 17:20

      +1 to this

    • Blue Cat on 20/12/2019 - 17:29

      Do I have to redirect every single delivery or can I just toggle "always redirect everything"?

    • [Deactivated] on 20/12/2019 - 17:34

      Don't even need the app. Just register online. Simples

      • spackbace on 20/12/2019 - 17:38

        App is handy for getting alerts when the parcel gets put in the system, so you could redirect it before it's even in transit, rather than having to check manually

        • [Deactivated] on 20/12/2019 - 17:49

          They email or txt you a notification to let you know your parcel is on its way, with a link you can use to redirect or leave in a safe place if you want to .

          You can also register to have all your parcels left in a safe place ( you get to nominate where) if you choose to. You only have to do that once and its works for all your parcels. Not sure about letters though.

          Can you re-direct letters with the app ?

  • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 20/12/2019 - 17:18
    +2

    My postie never bends any of my stuff he just leaves it at the door if it doesn’t fit in the letter box or sometimes leaves a notice to pick it up from the post office.

  • trex on 20/12/2019 - 17:27
    +4

    Contact the seller where you bought the screen protector from and lodge a goods damaged in shipment claim. Bending could have taken place further up the delivery process and not at your mailbox. Can't blame the postie since there's no "Do Not Bend" sticker. It is the seller's responsibility to pack it in a manner that the contents are not damaged while shipping.

    • Blue Cat on 20/12/2019 - 17:29

      Happens all the time with magazines and other parcels from different shipping companies, definitely a postie issue.
      I guess I could claim with the seller in hopes that he thinks it happened during shipment to get the money back.

      • trex on 20/12/2019 - 18:26

        From the time it leaves the seller until it is sitting in your mailbox, it is in shipment. So if it gets damaged just before being put into your mailbox, it is damaged in shipment. I don't fault the postie for bending an envelope unless a sticker states otherwise.

  • HighAndDry on 20/12/2019 - 17:46
    +3

    I was all ready to pile on but yeah the manager is right here - all the screen protectors and other stuff that can't be bent I buy do come with "Do Not Bend" labels. You can't expect posties to:

    1. Be Superman and have X-ray vision, or
    2. Remember the size of your post box every time to hold those items at the post office.

    Plus, how many complaints do we get about posties not even attempting delivery and just sending the blue slip?

    Can't have it both ways.

  • Downvoter on 20/12/2019 - 17:49
    -1

    Stop whinging and get on with your life

  • holdenmg on 20/12/2019 - 18:06

    Your letterbox should be large enough for the mail you regularly receive but, as a minimum, an A4 envelope should be able to lie flat inside.
    https://auspost.com.au/content/dam/auspost_corp/media/docume…

  • Ocker on 20/12/2019 - 18:23

    So, if the postie was to return the item to the send with a notation that it would not fit in the address's mail box would that make you happier?

  • aussieprepper on 20/12/2019 - 18:27

    Do you think it would work if you write do not bend in the special instructions? Or does it have to be official looking like stamped on the letter?

  • CC123 on 20/12/2019 - 18:44

    Never had an issue with my postie, they always carefully slip it around the front gate onto the veranda

  • ShannonN on 20/12/2019 - 19:10
    +10

    OP get a sign made to stick under letter opening, DO NOT BEND ITEMS to fit in box

    • Blue Cat on 20/12/2019 - 19:40
      +1

      OK I feel stupid, I should have thought about this myself!
      Thanks. I hope this will work!

      • ShannonN on 20/12/2019 - 23:33

        NP also get a piece of 90mm pvc water pipe cut to fit across brick letter box front to rear and glue it above your letter box portion then magazines etc can be just lightly rolled and put in. If Body corp spews petition for a bigger letter box

  • Fysh on 20/12/2019 - 22:00
    +5

    Delivery address
    Line 1: 2 useyabrain ave
    Line 2: Do not bend my shit
    Suburb: Sydney
    Postcode: 2000

  • chumlee on 20/12/2019 - 23:21
    +2

    I would move to a house with a bigger mail box. No other solution is feasible

  • [Deactivated] on 20/12/2019 - 23:58

    Let me tell you something that may help. Firstly if you send a document along with parcels then that is going to travel with all random shaped articles as heavy as 20 kegs, it would also be treated like a parcel which includes being tumbled around etc. protect all your parcels with enough packaging otherwise it would be damaged in transit. I had a similar experience but you just need to protect your items. Either send documents as letter so that it travels with other documents or protect it from other parcels.

  • MeesusEff on 21/12/2019 - 03:19

    Tbh, neither is at fault. Postie's job is to deliver foremost and follow instructions, ie. If there's a "Do not bend" then he can't bend. If your letterbox can't fit an A4 document without bending then perhaps you have to get it delivered to a friends/relative/office. Imagine if they carded everyone's "document style" envelopes and people having to trek to the PO to get some stupid magazine/junk mail lol.

  • OzHunterNSW on 21/12/2019 - 11:47
    -1

    Had this done b4… I contacted the Postal Service to complain.
    Look, these people will one day be replaced with robots, they are the neanderthals of our society.
    They bend, shove, poke, drop, lose, misplace, forget, tick boxes, kick boxes - they are the neanderthals of our society.

    You have to ask the sender to ENLAGE your details and place an eye catching warning: DO NOT BEND… bc remember, you are dealing with the neanderthals of our society.

    • whooah1979 on 21/12/2019 - 22:18

      Auspost doesn't offer a fragile or do not bend service. Ask the sender to use proper packing material.

  • dylanando on 21/12/2019 - 13:09

    Wait for your postie one day and speak to him. He probably thinks you would just rather the package so shoves it in your mailbox, thinking he’s doing you a favour.

  • No Username on 21/12/2019 - 16:28

    Same experience here. Had my graduation certificate destroyed. :(

    • whooah1979 on 21/12/2019 - 22:15

      The sender should've used a mailing tube or a A4 card mailer.

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