Ever-tightening security procedures in the US have resulted in a lot of angst over airport rules, but they have consequences in other areas as well. Case in point? Sending most parcels to the US will now cost you $9 more as a “security surcharge”, and may take up to two days longer.
Useful news if you send a lot of stuff after selling it on eBay: Australia Post is integrating its Click and Send service (which lets you print postage labels, pay for postage and even organise a courier pick up) into eBay’s Australian site, it announced in a press release today. A handy choice for when you don’t fancy taking advantage of free classifieds option and don’t want to queue buying stamps. [Click and Send]
Australia Post has persuaded the ACCC that its proposal to increase the price of basic letter services to 60 cents is reasonable, so the price of stamps will go up from June 28. The ACCC has said, however, that it doesn’t foresee another price increase being approved for two years. [Australia Post]
Last year, Australia Post tried to get the cost of basic stamps lifted to 60 cents, but the plan was rejected by the ACCC which argued the rise hadn’t been sufficiently justified. Now Australia Post is trying again.
Back in August, the ACCC asked for the public’s views on Australia Post’s plans for a price rise that would see basic stamps go up to 60 cents. While many readers thought that was fair enough, the ACCC has taken a different view, rejecting the proposed increase on the grounds that Australia Post hasn’t sufficiently justified it. Hit the link for the full explanation. [ACCC]
Australia Post wants to put up the price of stamps to 60 cents, but if you think that’s a rort, you can offer your insight direct to the competition regulator.
Declining postal volumes are one reason Australia Post wants to put up the price of stamps, but it’s also trying to encourage people to send more mail, and offering a free set of electronic scales to anyone who registers for its Click and Send service is one way of doing that.
Lest you worry that Click And Send sounds like some dodgy campaign that will encourage junk mail, it’s a service that lets you fill out the paperwork for goods being sent overseas online, and then either have them picked up by a courier or posted via your local office. It’s free to sign up for, and would be handy for businesses, eBay addicts and people with overseas relatives, while the scales giveaway is running until September 20. Picture by czardases
Click And Send [via OzBargain]
