As of Monday, Australia Post has bumped up prepaid parcel prices by as much as 30 per cent as online shopping continues to boom.
For example, getting a signature on delivery has now increased from $1 to $2.95. Full listings of price changes can be found here.
However, an Australia Post spokesperson has defended criticism the company has copped from upset retailers emphasising a 30 per cent blanket does not apply on everything but the changes vary across individual products and services.
“Australia Post understands that price increases are never easy for our customers. However, like all businesses, we are operating in a challenging business environment with increasing external costs – particularly related to delivery and transport. We regularly review prices across all of our products and services and ensure we communicate those changes to our customers,” the spokesperson said.
Australia Post has also streamlined its domestic parcel products to make them more flexible and easier for customers to use.
In addition, more international delivery zones are being introduced to ensure prices for international postage reflect the costs incurred when sending internationally.
“To continue to improve our parcels services, today we have launched a simplified domestic parcel range which will make it easier and more cost effective for our customers – large or small – to send and receive parcels. Customers will now choose a speed – same day, next day, or regular; choose their size – S, M, L – and then choose add-ons such as extra cover or cash on delivery. And tracking will now come as standard for this simplified parcel range,” the spokesperson said.
Basic postage rate of 60 cents per stamp have not been altered.