On 06.07.2023 i have placed an order for an iPhone with Centrecom. 10.07.2023 they shipped the phone out and 13.07.2023 Australia post claims it was delivered. When i got home there was no parcel anywhere. To my big surprise i had to realize that Centrecom shipped out a $2500 phone without signature on delivery. The postie chucked it close to the front door and by the time i got home someone stole it.
17.07.2023 after checking with all neighbors if it was maybe dropped off at their place i contacted Australia post. Within an hour i got an response saying "XXX, our apologies that this item was left in an unsafe place. The driver should have left the parcel in a safe place without public view, it would have been out of sight and not left totally visible to the street. I am deeming this item lost in transit due to the unsafe delivery location". It took auspost literally less than an hour to come up with the results of the investigation.
Same day i contacted centrecom and received as response "Thank you for contacting us. After checking your order was delivered and it was put on a safe place. Please see attached proof of delivery." How they knew that it was a safe location i still wonder. Australia post says the opposite. I objected that and said that i already contacted auspost and that they deem the parcel as lost in transit.
Response was "We will lodge an investigation with Auspost and our account manager there. PLEASE NOTE that Auspost investigations can generally take up to 7 business days, we have no influence to expedite their process". As someone who has a business account with auspost i know that this never takes 7 business days, maybe one or two tops.
20.07.2023 i emailed centrecom again asking about an update. No response.
21.07.2023 another email, and of course no reply.
I am leaving next week for my holidays and wondering if there is anything i can do to get them to move a bit faster. It is irresponsible to send an item worth $2500 without signature on delivery. Australia post has already accepted responsibility for the loss, this has been forwarded to centrecom and they have also received the case number. Something that should take a couple of hours, if even that, is taking now ages because centrecom simply doesn't give a shit about their customers.
Doubt it would expedite the investigation process, as you're still waiting on various teams within Oz post, seller, etc..
Dealing with post office (or any other government bureaucracy for that matter) is much alike Superannuation performance; Past customer service experience is not indicative of future interactions.
This is sadly something OP seems to miss:
"It takes three minutes to ring them up and quote the case number and they will confirm the outcome of their investigation"
Having insurance would definitely have helped in recouping $ for lost items:
https://auspost.com.au/business/shipping/domestic-shipping/o…
Personally I would have paid for additional insurance on a $2500 delivered phone (~$60 ins. cost in this instance), but each to their own.
Stores should by default include freight instrance on their web purchases over say $100, allowing customers to 'Opt out' of purchasing insurance. Then when packages are lost/stolen it was their choice, not to pay for it…