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Posted by pashmina on 27-Dec-2011 23:17 Report
AUST POST... OMG HOW MANY DAYS ARE THEY HAVING OFF?
Went to my local Post Office today...it's shut...it will open tomorrow, and Thursday...then closes and NO deliveries...not even Express Post until next TUESDAY...

It's too many days off !!! 

Be warned if you post ANYTHING via Express Post

Please note the next guaranteed day of delivery for Express Post items posted before closing times on Thursday 29 December 2011 will be Tuesday 3 January 2012 for the National Guaranteed Network. Please allow for the additional delivery time if you are sending time-sensitive material around the Australia Post authorised holiday.


 
Replied by pashmina on 27-Dec-2011 23:18 (Ref 2326272) Report
Monday 26 December 2011:
(Christmas Day public holiday)		  Post offices closed; no mail deliveries
 Tuesday 27 December 2011:
(Boxing Day public holiday)		  Post offices closed; no mail deliveries
 Wednesday 28 December 2011:  Post offices open; normal mail deliveries
 Thursday 29 December 2011:  Post offices open; normal mail deliveries
 Friday 30 December 2011:
(Australia Post authorised holiday)		  Selected post offices open; no mail deliveries
 Friday 30 December 2011:
(Australia Post authorised holiday)		  Post offices closed; no mail deliveries
Replied by lifemagician on 27-Dec-2011 23:45 (Ref 2326278) Report
It was ever thus!  At least for as long as I have been selling online.   Two working days of post office services between Christmas & New Year.  Probably the best time of the year for them to take these holidays.

Lifey
Replied by pashmina on 27-Dec-2011 23:54 (Ref 2326281) Report
I'm sure you're right Lifey...I'm just in a panic as have lot's of parcels to post
Replied by stumpy007 on 28-Dec-2011 00:10 (Ref 2326283) Report
 Yep they are lucky eh!
Might pay anyone who is sending parcels to contact the buyer and let them know their parcel will be delayed due to the extra holidays and backlog from the holidays and no mail delivery days! Grrr

And sellers to post only Wednesday and Thursday! double GRRRR
Thats me included!
Replied by pashmina on 28-Dec-2011 00:13 (Ref 2326284) Report
Stumpy I had 4 green bags...FULL of parcels...I was left standing, looking on in horror at a dark Post Office...doors closed and Holidays sign on the door.....my face looked like this ... >>>>>  ...I mean it really did !!! hahahaah
Replied by pashmina on 28-Dec-2011 00:19 (Ref 2326288) Report
Oh and I forgot to mention...I went to the red postal box...and mail was poking out the top...you could not pull the handle all the way! It was jammed with mail...so I decided to leave it until tomorrow.  One lady went to put mail into the box.. and I warned her not to...she gave me a foul look and walked off...wtf??? A real sour puss....I should of said nothing and let her mail go missing...some people !!!!
Replied by straybooksoz on 28-Dec-2011 00:24 (Ref 2326292) Report
Given that the 27th was a gazetted public holiday over the entire country, why are you surprised?
Replied by pashmina on 28-Dec-2011 00:38 (Ref 2326296) Report
PP...I NOW realise this...but had no idea as I had lost my days

The shops were open and this PO is in the shopping center...I was not the only person confused...I sat and had lunch and over that half hour, watched  how many other people almost crashed into the PO doors (they are automatic opening doors) so obviously most of the general public were expecting this PO to be open as well
Replied by sheila-bloke47 on 28-Dec-2011 06:57 (Ref 2326311) Report
Australia Post deliveries are all over the place lately.  On the 12th client posted me my payments.  I had to ring them and ask did you post it and if so better do a transfer as I've received no payments.  That letter with cheques in it took 11 days to arrive. 
On the 20th they posted me more payments because the driver didn't collect them from the office.  These arrived on the 24th.
This was just for letters not parcels.  And yes I did check out the post date stamped on the envelopes.
Replied by marian-48 on 28-Dec-2011 08:22 (Ref 2326318) Report
AUST POST... OMG HOW MANY DAYS ARE THEY HAVING OFF?

The same amount as they do every year ~ its always been their *picnic day* falling between the 2 breaks. I wont post anything til New Year, everyone knows avout the public holidays and its safer to post after the Christmas back log, Marian
Replied by issabella10 on 28-Dec-2011 08:24 (Ref 2326320) Report
I  had my mail home delivered on Saturday by my PO lady ( also my neighbour ) as she realised I hadn't come in and there was a Registered item waiting to be picked up.

I wasn't expecting any mail and had checked APs website noticing the amount of days off so couldn't be bothered walking down in the off chance something had come through . AP is a a major public service with staff that get the chance to take holidays just like everyone else in the workforce so why they feel the need to close for so many days is beyond me .

With the amount of backlog , I'll bet our main PO takes another 2 weeks to catch up on sorting mail . The amount of franked mail that is at least over 7-10 days old in my mail box is amazing , and the amount of 'wrong' mail shoved in my PO Box leaves me with no sympathy for the lazy gits whatsoever.
Replied by calostemma on 28-Dec-2011 08:55 (Ref 2326332) Report
Since no-one can mail parcels and no-one can receive them. perhaps quicksales should close between 25 and the 2nd as well
Replied by remaynerecycled on 28-Dec-2011 14:44 (Ref 2326364) Report
My guess is that they get the extra one day holiday that the rest of us don't get as they also work the last few weekends before Christmas to try and keep up with demand. Shops choosing to open on these days are paying staff extra wages to work. We're already whinging enough about the cost of AP so imagine if they started working on weekends and public holidays, putting the prices up to compensate for the wages it would cost them.

The most common time for parcels and letters to go missing is over long weekends or public holiday periods. Even if they go over the counter and are sorted they then sit in sorting rooms, mail bags in yards or trucks in locked yards. Australia Post has always advised people to try not to post over these times as vandals and thieves love to shop for themselves while no one is around for days at a time.

Yes trucks, trains and planes still run during these times, but all that means is that if your mail is already on one of those things it will make it to the other end then sit waiting to be moved on from there when normal work resumes.
Replied by issabella10 on 28-Dec-2011 14:48 (Ref 2326365) Report
Luckily we have had no issues with the time it takes to deliver parcels , all mine have been received in the usual time and my buyers have got theirs what appears to be extra quick as well.

One is on a slow boat from China but that's pretty normal .
I didn't realise that the only days AP was having off were public holidays ? It sounded like they were having more

Replied by brerrabbit on 28-Dec-2011 14:50 (Ref 2326366) Report

Personally, I enjoy the break from having to post stuff.  I certainly don't expect them to stay open just for my convenience.  Most of the mail isn't urgent and until ebay taught us all to expect instant gratification I'm sure most people never gave the extra postal holiday a thought.

Most people who work look forward to having a day off on public holidays so why should the PO staff be any different?  Our postmaster and his wife never get holidays so I don't begrudge them an extra day at this time of year.  Lots of others would be in the same position.
Replied by feelin-couture on 28-Dec-2011 17:52 (Ref 2326386) Report
It is ridiculous as they will only be stressed when they get back due to double the amount still waiting there for them.
Proper management would have rostered half the staff to have Thurs off and the other half to have Friday off but after working there myself nothing at that company ever takes any logic into account.
Replied by pashmina on 28-Dec-2011 18:32 (Ref 2326393) Report
Well...there you go...I posted something late yesterday...and my buyer got it today and left me feedback...so Aust Post are working

Some of the comments that I have read up above, are more or less stating that because 'everybody knows' that Aust Post are closed all of these extra days...customers won't mind the delay.

I'm glad you are all so confident about this  

I can assure you the general public- (your buyers), are not as 'in the know' as you seem to think.  

I sent an email out to approx 20 of buyers...and only one person got back to me, that they were aware of this.  Others replied, quite shocked and stating that they needed their goods urgently, others seemed OK.  But the gist of it, was that approx 90% had NO idea.

So all of you, who are being blase about it- better shoot off some emails to your buyers.
Replied by issabella10 on 28-Dec-2011 18:47 (Ref 2326397) Report
I thought yesterday was one of AP public holiday closures ??
Replied by pashmina on 28-Dec-2011 18:52 (Ref 2326399) Report
I posted all my local mail, into the Red Box up the road from me.  All registered and Express mail was posted this morning
Replied by mygifts2 on 28-Dec-2011 20:07 (Ref 2326408) Report
 My postie came this morning - with a bill.  I woudn't have minded if he hadn't come til next week..lol
Replied by cdrhn on 28-Dec-2011 22:54 (Ref 2326424) Report
Wow, so many people must be new Australians or have advanced alzheimers disease. How else could they not know that Australia Post have been having an extra day off every year for at least the last 50 years that I can personally remember.
It used to be called The Postie's Picnic day and was traditionally held on Jan 2nd. The butchers also used to all close on their own picnic day, and the banks had a Bank Holiday. I'm sure other guilds and trades had their own picnic days too, but they didn't affect people as much as the three I remember.
Replied by pashmina on 28-Dec-2011 23:26 (Ref 2326429) Report
My local PO lady said she is extremely worried about the backlog, as she only has a small area in her little PO and feels there won't be enough room come Tuesday. 

Apparently the Express Post is extremely delayed at the moment - she's had customers coming in who posted items almost a week ago. 

So it's not only us who it affects, but the postal workers as well
Replied by memyandi on 28-Dec-2011 23:33 (Ref 2326432) Report
If they paid penalty rates and opened on all the public holidays, they could put postage charges up to cover it.  That ought to make everyone happy.
Replied by missdaisy on 29-Dec-2011 00:10 (Ref 2326436) Report
Public Holiday on Tuesday Pash, and yes, it was advertised!  Shops here were closed as well.  Nothing open.  You get no sense out of anybody between Christmas and New Year.  best not to try as it only frustrates you.
Replied by pashmina on 29-Dec-2011 00:12 (Ref 2326438) Report
Hello MissDaisy...yes i already realised I got my days mixed up...but ...huh...what shops were closed on Tuesday?  Nothing in our shopping center except for the Post Office..lol...actually it was totally packed out !
Replied by remaynerecycled on 29-Dec-2011 08:16 (Ref 2326442) Report
The thread (and I think there was one at Easter being outraged over bank closure too) make me think. There are so many discussions here about the good old days and how they were so much better than what we have now. We all want a simpler life. And then someone takes our instant something away and we find it most inconvenient. Although we usually like to blame the foreigners for not sticking with our traditions and trying to alter our way of life.

The post office is taking one extra day off on top of public holidays and it's a day they've always taken off so nothing new there. Buyers will cope with the closures and most will know of them anyway if they read various signs on doors of businesses, newspapers or listen to radio. I don't think businesses have gone as far as advertising on tv yet for closure hours.

I usually give my buyers a choice of whether they want their parcels posted from before the Christmas closures until after the New Year closures. I've done this since being advised not to post at this time and having items found water damaged in postal bags over this time a few years ago. Just makes sense to me to not take that risk, although AP does compensate for losses.

Here most places were shut over the public holidays. In actual fact most places that do open on those days aren't all that happy about opening but are usually forced into it by the chain stores or money hungry who want to break with tradition and open up for business when they don't have to. Our PO is shut. There are signs on the door and have been for weeks advising of closures. They word damn hard. No one cares if they want to put their feet up for another day. The lack of bills and other stressful mail is rather nice.
Replied by chloecat on 29-Dec-2011 09:31 (Ref 2326447) Report
 I can't see the postal workers becoming too stressed - I know someone who works in a sorting centre and he has said that if they get more than they can handle, they just shove them in a corner until they have the time to deal with them - probably why so much gets lost.
Replied by issabella10 on 29-Dec-2011 11:06 (Ref 2326464) Report
I doubt if they are stressed or overworked any more then many other businesses and the people employed within .

There are many professions where people don't get an extra day off or even take time off especially those in casual jobs around this time of year , a postal service is a public service and like any other business capable of staggering holiday leave amongst it's employees rather then find excuses as to why they all need an extra day off and completely close up shop.

I don't begrudge the workers having time off albeit a forced one , it's the fact that AP doesn't seem to be able to operate like other businesses .

As already mentioned there will be even more work waiting for them when they get back with a huge backlog of mail.

My PO in town doesn't give me the service I pay dearly for , mail isn't sorted every day let alone parcels . I don't have a mail delivery yet a town 4 klms up does and I have to pay over $60 a year for collecting my own mail .

AP is obviously not on my Christmas card list



Replied by pashmina on 29-Dec-2011 11:20 (Ref 2326465) Report
Chloe you're kidding - yikes!

The lady I was referring to owns the PO - and it's a family business - so I guess she actually cares about the quality of service she is providing.

Remayne You've made some good points. Next year I will email all my customers and post out after new years.
Replied by pashmina on 29-Dec-2011 11:24 (Ref 2326466) Report
Bella.. I just read yr reply - I'm on the iPhone so it must not gave refreshed the page.

I worked as am aged care therapist and also nursed part time via an agency as a second job for approx 15 years. Imagine the hospitals all took a break at the same time .. Hmmm
Replied by echo333 on 29-Dec-2011 11:29 (Ref 2326468) Report
I was talking to my LPO this morning about the extra holiday for AP staff. He said that many many years ago, the posties used to deliver mail on Saturdays throughout the year, so the 'powers that be' felt they were entitled to an extra day off for all their hard work :)

Even though there has been no regular mail deliveries on Saturday for a long time (not talking sub contracted couriers here), the 'new boss' of Aust Post continued the extra day off tradition. Then AP counter staff got in on the act and they were given the extra day as well.

Out of approx 4500 post offices in Australia, about 4000 are LPO's who don't get Friday off. It is business as usual.

And yet AP itself are not very supportive of LPO's in general (from conversations with the local LPO).
Replied by issabella10 on 29-Dec-2011 11:44 (Ref 2326472) Report
I made no special arrangements with my buyers parcels , nor did any of the sellers I purchased from ( elsewhere , where I expected delays) and both my buyers and myself have received parcels on time as usual

Maybe city areas are busier but I doubt anything is taking  anything longer then a extra few days ?
Replied by spade on 29-Dec-2011 12:04 (Ref 2326475) Report

I don't know why anybody would be surprised or annoyed about holidays at this time, it is not as if it is kept a secret in some sort of conspiracy. If you post at the earliest opportunity after receiving payment and notify the buyer when you posted then you have done all that is possible.

What does frustrate me is when you require an answer or clarification from a buyer before you post the item and they don't reply for a week or more because they have been away somewhere or not at work or whatever.

Last week I sold an item and received two different postal addresses, one on the sale notification, and another on the PayPal payment notification. I sent an email to the buyer stating that if I didn't hear from them by the next day I would post to the address on the sale notification. Thats what I did and today ( seven days later ), he replied and said he wanted it sent to the other address
Replied by issabella10 on 29-Dec-2011 13:06 (Ref 2326482) Report
Had one of those last week and had to wait until I got a reply from the buyer, sweated on it for two days . As a caution I would recommend using  the PayPal addy especially if the item is Registered.
Replied by aussiebrat69 on 29-Dec-2011 13:42 (Ref 2326488) Report
l have just worked the last 2 days delivering mail and its been flat out so enough of the day off stuff l think!!!!  Our post Office is open tomorrow but posties have friday 30th off.  Really a lot of businesses have time off dont you think us posties deserve a break too???
Replied by remaynerecycled on 29-Dec-2011 16:18 (Ref 2326496) Report
Don't they also work over the weekend for the last week or two before Christmas?

Our parcel deliverers here work their butts off and always have a smile on their face. If they miss someone at home and spot them walking or shopping they pull over and ask if they'd like the parcel handed to them. I've also seen them emptying mail boxes on weekends just because they're going by and it saves the mail sitting in there all weekend.

Perhaps if they called it a stocktaking day it would be more acceptable as other businesses are all over the tv screaming in adverts how they're closed this or that day then coming back with a mega sale when they open.

Perhaps the easiest way would be for AP to offer a delivery service on those days but with an additional fee involved so people could make the decision on whether the item was of such a high priority to be delivered that they'd be prepared to pay the extra, or wait and have it delivered for normal price?
Replied by remaynerecycled on 29-Dec-2011 16:23 (Ref 2326497) Report
oh and addresses on parcels and non contact from buyers.........

Last year I sent a parcel to someone which was returned to me as not at that address. I thought it was terribly annoying. Emailed the buyer and got no reply. Double checked the address, decided to post it again just in case. As I put it over the counter it occurred to me that this was going to a possibly flooded area. PO wasn't sure if that was the case as it wasn't a major town or city but they thought that might be what was going on.

EJ was close to that area so was going to alert the post master if he could or check where the people were. I'm guessing he did as the parcel was never returned to me but Googling afterwards that town was one of the first flooded majorly in the big floods of last year and many houses simply didn't exist there anymore according to the papers.

Much guilt over the thoughts I was having on this rude buyer not letting me know they'd moved addresses and not bothering to answer their emails.
Replied by take-your-fancy on 29-Dec-2011 17:06 (Ref 2326505) Report
Well I was rostered to work Christmas Eve and Christmas night - and what are weekends ?? Not that I'm complaining. But some of us who are lucky enough to have a job are required to work on public holidays. Having said that though, I never begrudge anyone having time off over the Christmas break and New Year's Eve / day ...lucky them !

AP workers deserve the break in my opinion 
Replied by spade on 29-Dec-2011 17:12 (Ref 2326506) Report
I agree
Replied by feelin-couture on 29-Dec-2011 20:52 (Ref 2326537) Report
Noones saying they don't deserve a holiday its just bad timing,  Why do it this week when there are only 2 days of post.  Do it on Tuesday so they get an extra long weekend and im sure many would rather that day for recovery after new years.  Then the public get 3 days post christmas week and 3 days post new years week.
Replied by pashmina on 30-Dec-2011 11:38 (Ref 2326586) Report
Of course I am not begrudging any postal worker proper holiday breaks. My argument is that I believe these breaks should be staggered throughout the country -state by state

Aust post are a huge company - surely they can organise time off for their workers - better than the current system already in place.

Maybe that way the countries mail won't come to a complete standstill.
Replied by Mikes-Mum on 30-Dec-2011 13:17 (Ref 2326600) Report
I was not aware today was a holiday as well, thank you for posting that.

I buy stuff between 2 sites and have a large backlog of things that didnt make it here before Christmas. At least I know it will be mid next week before any of it filters thourgh again.
Replied by kiwiroo1212 on 30-Dec-2011 16:13 (Ref 2326606) Report

Hi, We had notices up everywhere to let us know the post office would be closed today.

As long as i get my parcels i dont mind. I think or at least hope everyone realises postage will be a bit slow. You kind of expect it, well i do around Christmas time.

I have had a couple of sellers email to let me know there will be a delay as well.

Kiwi
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