Auspost Flat Rate Satchels - Can You Use Old Ones?

cooperdog on 01/11/2022 - 15:24

I tried to send an old ebay/Auspost 500g (small) satchel for a 600g item, but was told it would be $13.85 based on weight, rather than $9.70 for the 'if it packs under 5kg. I ended up buying the identically sized $9.95 satchel and putting the parcel inside this.

Seems a pointless thing to do, since I've effectively just added a layer of plastic not very environmentally friendly. The issue was the fact it said 500g. So I might just print a 'Small' label and try that next time :)

Anyone else used older Auspost packaging with the flat rate service or did I just get a fussy employee?

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Comments

  • USER DC on 01/11/2022 - 15:42

    Their website says YES

    from my experience NO

    When I went to use old eBay label at post office they said I'll have to pay for label to get the cheapest postage rate.
    I contacted then AUSPOST website or Ph no. they said my label should have been accepted. They asked for receipt and refunded me the charge for the shipping label .(I think 15 cents or something like that)

    Nevertheless its still a pain in a$$. Feeling so bad, because I bought quite a lot satchels in past from eBay Australia post listings. Its all same size and dimension etc). The person who refunded me 15 cents said if this happens again you can contact auspost support again if store doesn't accept old postage label.

    Anyway eBay shipping is not always best
    Usually "If It Packs, It Posts" range is the cheapest
    https://auspost.com.au/flat-rate-sending

    • cooperdog on 01/11/2022 - 16:02

      Sounds identical to my experience. Hardly worth the effort for 25c, but totally pointless.

      Could reuse any received satchels for the true OzBargainer!

      The boxes are certainly worth reusing as they charge $2+ for those. Again not sure if non Auspost would be ok.

      • USER DC on 01/11/2022 - 16:05

        Yeah I think I paid like $10 or something like that for a bunch of small, & medium satchels.

        But I stopped sending parcels so they have all been sitting in storage.

  • Quantumcat on 01/11/2022 - 15:57
    +2

    You can use old satchels. Have been doing this for years (stocking up hundreds just before postage rates increase).

    • cooperdog on 01/11/2022 - 16:04

      Prepaid postage would be honoured as you say,

      My question is when paying post are you getting charged $9.70 for a small satchel (e.g. the old eBay 500g ones)

      • Quantumcat on 01/11/2022 - 16:58

        If you pay for a satchel after the price increase then yes you'll be paying the new rates. But satchels don't say anywhere on them what was paid for them, they just say 500g or small satchel. From my experience the new "if it packs it posts" still applies to old satchels even if they say "500g" on them

  • Empharand on 01/11/2022 - 16:10
    +2

    They honour the pre-paid satchels, I still have an express satchel from like 5+ years ago I haven't used.

    OP I believe you're referring to the satchels where you need to print the label and place it behind the transparent window and seal it? Those will always subject to the current Australia Post price structure at the time of printing the label, doesn't matter if you have the old style satchels as you're essentially just buying a label for it.

  • AssociatedD1rt13rS4nch3z @ Australia Post on 01/11/2022 - 18:58

    If it's the flat rate satchel you should have been charged at the current if it packs it posts rate. They're meant to scan the barcode on the satchel to assess it at the flat rate price. The PSO may have just assessed it as if it was "your own" packaging, which is assessed by weight.

    • AssociatedHamBoi69 @ Australia Post on 01/11/2022 - 20:46

      I second this. For OP, don't, under whatever circumstance, print a label that says small and stick it on. Chances are it'll fall off and jam our machines or the sticky glue could cause problems elsewhere.

  • [Deactivated] on 01/11/2022 - 22:04

    I've used old ones dozens of times with no issues.

  • uwuwu on 02/11/2022 - 21:07

    Had the same experience, used old ebay/ap satchels (not prepaid) and they would just weigh it and check postcode to calculate the cost

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