On 31 December 2023, there was a rail incident that impacted Australia Post services: Level crossing collision between freight train 7SP5 and a truck at the Barrier Highway level crossing near Cutana, South Australia, 31 December 2023
I sent a package from QLD to WA that somebody purchased on eBay for $200. I received a call from Auspost today saying the package can't be recovered, and they aren't liable for any compensation (not even the basic $100 cover).
Australia Post is not providing any compensation to either sender or receiver for the loss of items in the train crash as it is considered outside their control. Australia Post is not obligated to provide compensation under Australian Consumer Law for this type of accident. They did offer a goodwill compensation for the postage, which you have received.
Their "compensation offer" was for the postage price of $10.60.
It seems they won't even compensate people who purchased extra cover over $100: Compensation
Extra Cover payment or compensation is not available for loss or damage to any items you’ve sent with us where damage was not caused or contributed to by Australia Post.
I would argue that the damage WAS contributed to by them as it was inside their network and they chose the rail service to send it on.
I need to refund a customer $200 for their purchase. What am I to do? Cheers.
Its similar to the negs on the TID deals where past customers said their claims were denied due to natural disaster affecting their mode of transport which affected their travel. It seems unless the natural disaster directly affects you they won't cover you, but that's usually not the case, a cyclone will not blow you away or earthquake will not suck you in, it will affect public or private infrastructure which affects the train or airline companies, which in turn affects you. That's how they wriggle out of it, the more links in the chain, they tell you to claim from them.