Price and service changes

Australia Post periodically conducts comprehensive audits and price reviews of the products and services it provides. On occasion, a price increase is necessary for a variety of reasons and in some instances, a change to an established product or service may also occur.

For information on the specific changes affecting an individual product or service please refer to the information below.

Price changes April 2012

A number of mail and parcel prices will change on 2 April 2012. The following infomation explains these changes in more detail.

Service/Product Information (price) sheets Effective date
Bulk Mail Bulk Mail prices 2 April 12 (pdf 47kb) 2 April 2012
Parcel Post Parcel Post prices 2 April 12 (pdf 52kb) 2 April 2012
Express Post Express Post prices 2 April 12 (pdf 59kb) 2 April 2012

 

What bulk mail prices will change on Monday 2 April 2012?

On Monday 2 April 2012, a weighted average increase of 3.8% will apply to the following products:

  • Bulk Mail products: PreSort Letters, Charity Mail, Acquisition Mail, Clean Mail, Impact Mail and Reply Paid.
  • Individual price points may be greater or less than the weighted average increase of 3.8%.
  • Following consultation with representatives from industry and our major customers, we believe the price increases are well tested in the market.
  • These changes will affect all franked and metered mail services.
  • There are no changes to ordinary letters (including the basic postage rate).

 

What parcels prices will change on Monday 2 April 2012?

On Monday 2 April 2012, a price increase will apply to the following domestic Parcel products:

  • Regular Parcels, Express Post and Express Post Platinum (including prepaid products) and eBay flat rate satchels.
  • These changes affect all franked and metered parcel services.
  • There are no changes to international prices.

 

Are there any other changes occurring at this time?

As well as changes to our domestic bulk mail and parcel prices the following changes will occur:

  1. For Regular Parcels, the 0-250g price point is being merged into the 250-500g price point to create a 0-500g price point. This will apply to retail and contract rate customers.
  2. For contract and business customers, any changes to your prices will be as per the letter lodged on 29 February 2012. Please contact your Account Manager to discuss these changes.
  3. The Reply Paid Parcels product will be renamed Return Paid Parcels. The pricing structure will change including the introduction of an annual fee.

 

Why are these price changes occurring?

Under our Act and as a commercial business, Australia Post is required to, as far as practicable, perform its functions in a manner consistent with sound commercial practice. The price increases are required to help manage increasing external business costs.

 

When will the next price increase for these products be?

Australia Post regularly reviews the performance (including the financial performance) of all its products to ensure that our prices reflect the changing market conditions as well as changes in consumer trends and technology which may impact on the product portfolio or individual products.

In relation to the pricing of all products, Australia Post operates as any other commercial business and maintains flexibility around pricing reviews of these products. Ordinary Letter Services (including the basic postage rate) still require notification to ACCC.

 

When will the Basic Postage Rate (BPR) increase?

There is currently no plan for a change to the BPR.

 

Do you still have to notify the ACCC about the price changes to Bulk Letters?

Australia Post is not required to notify the ACCC of proposed changes to Bulk Letter products.

In October 2011, as a result of a regulatory impact analysis, the Australian Government decided to limit the ACCC's prices surveillance of Australia Post letter services to only Ordinary Letter Services (including the basic postage rate).

 

Are these price changes subsidising the performance of other products?

No. The scope of the price changes for April 2012 relate specifically to the market conditions of the products whose prices are changing.

 

How will this pricing change affect charities?

Discount rates will continue to apply for charities.

 

What investments is Australia Post making to improve customer experience?

Extended hours for parcel collection

  • Parcels delivered to a location of the customer's choice from an initial 100 parcel pick up locations across Australia which offer extended hours including weekends.
  • New 24 hour access electronic parcel lockers in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Competitive pricing and home delivery service

  • New international tracked parcel product called 'Pack and Track International' offering tracked delivery between Australia and USA, UK and NZ with more international destinations to be added in the future and is available online from today and in retail outlets early next year.

Supporting consumers and Australian retailers get online

  • 60 business hubs across Australia focusing on SMB activity, with 22 to open by June 2012.
  • An online label printing service, Click and Send, that makes it simple for customers to send parcels by allowing them to print labels, pay for postage online and organise courier pick up, all from the convenience of home or work.
  • Helping Australian retailers with their online ordering and payments through our SecurePay business and the My Shop in a Box product, which is available online.

 

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