That’s right. The post office still exists. Even when most people rely on the Internet now to communicate and send gifts to anywhere; the old way of “mailing stuff” is still on hand and at your disposal.
But can you send just any thing through the post office? Can you send, for instance, prescription drugs or any item worth at a certain value or perishable foodstuff? And is there a specific way of packing some goods before the post office accepts it?
Here are the things you need to know when sending packages through the post office:
Potentially dangerous or difficult, (even offensive) items are not allowed through the post office.
The post office has safety regulations and policies in place to determine what goods can and cannot pass through the system. These items include flammable, explosive, and radioactive substances.
Some dangerous goods are accepted but have to follow specific conditions. Prescription drugs subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, for instance, are illegal to send overseas unless they are for personal use and comply with all other conditions set in the Dangerous and Prohibited Goods Guide.
Goods in a single consignment worth more than $2,000 in value have to be registered with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Services. Perishable foodstuffs are prohibited through all post services unless packed according to the prescribed regulations.
You are responsible for packing your items securely.
Take extra care when packing fragile, sharp, crushable, and perishable goods and sending them through the post office. Powder, liquid, and liquefiable articles also need secure packaging.
Even when you add, “handle with care” and “fragile” on your packages, these warnings might not matter much when they are mixed in with other parcels. The Australia Post provides guidelines on how you can pack specific goods.
Postage costs depend on the size and weight of your parcel.
Domestic-bound parcels are charged according to actual weight or cubic weight, and international bound parcels are charged according to actual weight.
Items weighing less than 500g and no thicker than 20mm are considered letters.
It also has to have a rectangular shape, have no flexible items in it, and it should not exceed a B4 envelope’s dimension. Otherwise, that “letter” your mailing is going to get classified, and therefore charged, as a small or large parcel.
The post office now uses advanced technology to read addresses.
So you need to follow the right format. Use the right postcode. Print using dark ink, and write legibly. Never indent or stagger lines. Never underline words. Machine addressed envelopes are recommended to use Courier 12-point type. And always include a return address in the top left corner or back flap of the envelope.