Plague of Australia eBay Sellers Who Do Not Post to PO Boxes?

LRob-4x4 on 13/02/2020 - 13:49
Last edited 13/02/2020 - 14:19 by 1 other user

Has anyone noticed there seems to be a recent increase of eBay sellers in Australia who do not post to PO Boxes?

In my case my only delivery option is a PO Box. Also I have many friends in rural areas the cheep dodgy couriers do not service and PO delivery is their only option.

By not posting to PO Boxes the sellers are just forcing me to buy direct from Asian sellers who do support P.O. Boxes.

I like to support Australian sellers and I don’t mind paying more, but I can’t if they refuse to deliver to me.

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Comments

  • MS Paint on 13/02/2020 - 13:50
    +2

    Yes

    • iDroid on 13/02/2020 - 16:42

      Diagram?

      • Bargain80 on 13/02/2020 - 18:02

        we need venn diagram in ms paint

  • datafellows on 13/02/2020 - 13:55
    +7

    There is an option now on eBay to print Sendle/Couriers Please postage labels which is cheaper than Australia Post, might be the main reason?

    • jimbobaus on 13/02/2020 - 13:58
      +1

      This!
      Sendle when CP is the carrier will not deliver to PO Boxes.
      on the rare occasion you get a carrier that is not CP you might be able to get it sent to a PO box but sellers would not know what carrier they are going to get so blanket NO PO BOXES is safer for them

  • Blue Suby on 13/02/2020 - 13:57
    +3

    Absolutely agree! I've had a PO box for several years now and very handy if you are away- no one can steal your stuff. PO staff will hang on to mail if you let them know you won't be collecting mail for a few weeks.

  • jimbobaus on 13/02/2020 - 14:00
    +1

    You can register a MY POST account and have items delivered c/o the post office near you
    and its free for you

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

    • Ocker on 13/02/2020 - 14:43
      +7

      Under this Parcel Collect facility they will not accept packages from couriers. Nor will they accept any "letter" sized item than can be delivery to a normal letter box

      • Alley Cat on 23/02/2020 - 21:33

        This depends on your local post office. I had letters delivered to mine by accidents a few times (screen protectors, SIM starter packs) and they usually just tell me to not do it the next time. Then again we are pretty friendly. I'll miss them the most when I move lol

  • brendanm on 13/02/2020 - 14:09
    +1

    I use sendle which is far cheaper and easier than Aus post, they don't deliver to po boxes.

    • Rob-4x4 on 21/02/2020 - 07:20

      And sendle does not reliably deliver to many people who live in regional and rural Australia

      • brendanm on 21/02/2020 - 08:13

        Sounds harsh, but not my problem. If I can choose cheaper deliver, and they pick it up from my workplace, versus higher price and having to wait in line for an hour at Aus post, I'm picking the first one every time.

        • Rob-4x4 on 21/02/2020 - 08:25
          -1

          I understand that AusPost is a PITA to deal with but it is disappointing that you are refusing to support Australians who live in regional and rural areas..

          If the dodgy couriers where any good they would have agreements with other business that have a with retail footprint in Australia, like petrol stations, to create pickup services. I would love an alternative to using a PO box

          Some couriers sort of do this.. but for me the nearest dodgy courier pickup points are at least 1 hour return trip away

          • brendanm on 21/02/2020 - 09:38

            @Rob-4x4: Buyers are welcome to organise their own courier. I sure eBay to get rid of things and make money, not lose money and time. eBay even charges final value fees on the postage cost now, so the more I charge for postage, the more I pay in fees.

            • Rob-4x4 on 21/02/2020 - 11:01

              @brendanm: Excellent point about how Ebay makes life difficult for sellers . Trouble is they have a near monopoly .. and seem to be happy to abuse their monopoly position.

              • brendanm on 21/02/2020 - 11:32
                +1

                @Rob-4x4: They do, so sellers do what they have to. Aus post also make it difficult with their extortionate pricing. I used to send everything possible via auspost prepaid express, then they jacked the prices, and sold out the post office I used to use. Service went way downhill and costs had gone way up. Not worth the hassle.

  • SnoozeAndLose on 13/02/2020 - 14:13
    -2

    Many Asian sellers also don't support PO box, I think the rate is higher for Asia seller than Australia seller.

    Drop shipper from Asian use Aus Post and accept PO box and Parcel locker in general

  • [Deactivated] on 13/02/2020 - 14:18
    +5

    just forcing me to buy…

    No one is forcing anything on anyone. eBay sellers are not obligated to sell to anyone.

    No non-government entity is in the business of losing money. There's a reason why they do not support PO boxes. Maybe it is because they are held responsible for any damages whilst the items sit in a PO box they have no control over or maybe it is a scam deterrant.

    • ESEMCE on 13/02/2020 - 14:31
      -4

      So by your logic, if someone refuses to sell me something, then my demand for that product/service disappears…

      If you disagree that this occurs, in refusing to service the demand that they are directing (ie forcing) the customer to shop elsewhere for that product or service.

      • Hybroid on 13/02/2020 - 14:43
        +2

        No one's refusing to sell you anything. You're rejecting their offer's terms and conditions (no PO Boxes) which you're entitled to should you wish.

        • Rob-4x4 on 21/02/2020 - 07:15

          They are refusing to see to people when they will not deliver to them.

          Using a street address for delivery is not a option for many people who live in Rural and regional Australia.

      • [Deactivated] on 13/02/2020 - 14:51
        +3

        they are directing (ie forcing)…

        Forcing even in the most liberal use of the word requires one party to exert pressure on another.

        In this case, the shopper freely and voluntarily enters the marketplace and freely leaves because the terms of sales are unsuitable.

      • waterbottled on 13/02/2020 - 18:09
        +2

        Yes, just like how Lamborghini's high prices for their cars FORCED you to buy a kia or a Toyota.

        • AdosHouse on 13/02/2020 - 18:54

          Bloody Lamborghini, forcing my to buy a Hyundai. i'M GoNnA SuE.

    • Ocker on 13/02/2020 - 14:40
      +1

      Maybe also because AusPost will not accept packages and/or letters from any external source that is addressed to a PO Box?

    • Rob-4x4 on 21/02/2020 - 07:08
      -1

      Yes they are forcing me to buy from overseas companies as the Australian sellers will not deliver to me

      Also they will not deliver to people like Farmers etc who use PO boxes.

      That is how low-life these sellers are and low-life companies like sendle are…

      • TiLLiCoMe on 24/02/2020 - 13:20

        Have you ever email the seller saying that you will pay extra for deliveries to PO Box? I am sure most sellers will accommodate your requests

  • outlander on 13/02/2020 - 15:19
    +5

    It's couriers. Auspost recently increased their prices, and the courier facilitation company Sendle has become the cheapest way to send small packages from metro to metro. But courier companies can't access PO boxes without paying something ridiculous like $15 a package, so they only deliver to houses or to select drop off points like participating newsagencies.

    Meanwhile, packages from Asian countries are being heavily subsidized by their own Governments and Auspost as part of a trade agreement, so they are artificially much cheaper than they would be otherwise.

    If you really want something locally, you might contact the ebay seller first. Its usually only a matter of a few extra dollars to ship with Auspost

    • Rob-4x4 on 21/02/2020 - 07:09

      Tried that and the ones I have contacted don't. I understand that Auspost is a litle more expensive than the cheap dodgy courier companies and I am willing to pay for that.

      I am not a fan-boy of Auspost.. they are overpriced and sometimes unreliable. But at least with a PO box stuff is not stolen from my doorstep and I do not have to spend days sitting at home waiting for a dodgy courier to turn up for me to sign for something …

  • Cave Fire on 13/02/2020 - 16:41

    I don't sell on ebay because of the postage prices. Got charged something like $23 for a pair of sneakers once. The new post bags are a little better, but still not like pre 2012 or so. Cheapest I have found is a company called ego couriers. Will look at sendle as well…

  • Philthy on 13/02/2020 - 18:13

    eh some courier agreements (usually ones with insurance) dont allow PO Boxes as they need signature upon delivery..
    some don't even allow it to be left in a safe place.

    /end thread

    • tonyjzx on 13/02/2020 - 21:16

      ironically Aust Post obviouusly have the infrastruture to sign on delivery

  • timmypete on 14/02/2020 - 08:17

    It's even more annoying when a seller doesn't use eBay's feature to exclude POB at the delivery stage of ordering, or even bother to list no PO Boxes on the item description page.

    • TiLLiCoMe on 14/02/2020 - 14:59

      It is even more annoying when a buyer don't read that seller don't ship to PO Boxes and try to get away with it by putting POBOXES or Box 54 or even Post Office Boxes or something similar

      • timmypete on 15/02/2020 - 10:05

        @TiLLiCoMe possibly more annoying for you, but I think both are equally crappy behaviour.

        I had three or four instances in 2019 where I checked pre-purchase (no info on POB), purchased, and was told 2 days later the seller doesn't ship to PO Boxes. In all cases they were the cheapest for an item on eBay, that I would have paid $10 more from Amazon/other eBay seller explicitly stating they deliver to POB/other retailer.

        • Rob-4x4 on 21/02/2020 - 07:19

          I have had the same experience on a number of occassions

    • Rob-4x4 on 21/02/2020 - 07:18
      -2

      Be nice if ebay allowed people to filter out sellers who do not deliver to PO boxes. Then we can avoid those low-lifes who don;t support Australian;s who live in Regional and Rural Australia.

  • the Unforgiven on 14/02/2020 - 11:57

    I am not the only one - so I am sane-ish ;P

    The way I get around it in the country/bush,
    is I find out the street address from the post office &
    I let them know that I will use this as my postal address at times.

    There are no other people around with my name, so they know it is me :)

  • kaos on 14/02/2020 - 12:24

    I ordered recently from an online seller who doesn't allow PO Boxes. Sent it to my wife's work address.
    It ended up in my post box because wife's work has a redirect in place and the post office knew it was for me- winning!

  • goody on 14/02/2020 - 16:15

    My pet hates:
    1) Organisations (banks, govt departments, airlines, etc) having your PO Box on file but sending mail to your home address!!

    2) People who won't ship to PO Boxes - recently cancelled an NBN order with Telstra as they can't send a modem to a PO Box!
    I live in a regional area and anything that comes with the courier arrives in "kit form" or doesn't arrive at all.
    Pointed out to Telstra I received a passport sent to a PO Box. Aust Post is a govt organisation and have strict POI procedures.
    (End of vent….)

    • Rob-4x4 on 21/02/2020 - 07:12
      -1

      I am in the same situation as you.
      That is why companies like sendle are worse than useless at delivery to regional and rural Australia. Makes a joke of the "Support AUstralian Farmers " stuff you see when Australian business will not sell to Australian Farmers..

  • Rob-4x4 on 21/02/2020 - 08:12
    -1

    I should clarify that I am not a Auspost Fan-Boy.

    They are expensive and can be unreliable. And PO boxes are expensive to rent..

    The reason I have a PO box though is bitter experience of dealing with dodgy couriers.. stuff not delivered .. waiting for at home for days for a promised delivery from a courier so I can sign for a packages, Couriers who just leave a card (Even when I am home) and expect me to pick up from their depot a 1.5 hour return trip away etc.. And yes AusPost has done the same thing in the past when delivering to my street address.

    Having a PO box means I have to travel to Post office to pick up any mail.. so it is inconvenient. However the inconvenience is more than offset by knowing that when I order stuff on line I at least have a fighting chance of receiving it, especially if I have to sign for it .

    I cannot understand etailers who send goods requiring a signature on delivery to a street address and expect that people will be there to sign for it …. All my friends and people I know are at work during the day.. so being at my street address to sign for a package is not an option .. And my employer will not allow me to have stuff delivered to work.

    • Rob-4x4 on 21/02/2020 - 11:06
      -1

      And also remember for the many Australians (like farmers) who live in rural areas, often do not have a street address and for them PO Box or RMB are their only options .

      Unfortunately the discount courier companies like Sendle do not seem to be interested in supporting Australians who live in these areas by not having an option to deliver to PO boxes etc .

  • Rob-4x4 on 23/02/2020 - 17:20
    -1

    Be nice if Sendle offered a pickup service from businesses with a retail footprint across Australia like Auspost has. Then maybe they would be a good company to deal with.

    Unfortunately I suspect they are just a cherry picker.. Only really interested in the profitable easy to service metro areas at the expense of most of Australia.

  • ykickamoocow on 25/11/2020 - 10:41

    its simple its not that sellers dont send to po box. its that couriers are not allowed to take to a post office as the post office only allow aus post only deliveries there.
    people pay for those boxes and part of the deal is aus post deliveries to be kept there at the post office. which make sence, if the post office kept getting parcels from couriers ,why should they work and put away and sign for non post office companies.
    put it this way if you owned a cafe and someone sat there and ordered a uber delivery with a coffee and a cake and used your sugar and table and chair , how would you feel as a cafe shop owner. well po office boxes are the same. they can only be used by aus post deliveries and there business they own like star-track.

  • tonyjzx on 25/11/2020 - 12:15

    I tihnk OP has a point… a point he makes with a bit of self indulgence but unless you're in his shoes and live the rural life then I personally cant slam him for his views.

    You have to go with the flow… a lot of locals dont support PO, then dont support them.

    Its the only way.

    Also realise that courier services local and international really dont give a shit. They're cut throat pirate bastards.

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