Australia Post has been on the receiving end of some major criticism the past week as frustrated customers take to social media to vent their frustration at the postal service’s bizarre process of sending parcels across the country instead of directly to their final destination.
While many assume when they drop mail in the post box it would simply go from point A to B without any problem, some parcels are doing more cross-country travel then a domestic pilot before they arrive at their final destination.
Customers have complained about tracking their parcels and watching them go from Queensland to Victoria and then Western Australia before chucking a u-turn and heading to the address on the parcel.
“I would really like to know how an express post parcel sent from Northcote in Melbourne to Albert Park can end up in WA?? I’ve been told by your office that I have to wait five days for a search by your system, yet I was able to find it in 30 minutes by doing a search. Maybe you need to do an overhaul of your sorting depo!” one person queried on the company’s Facebook page.
“A company our business has been dealing with arranged for a laptop to be sent to us in Victoria Point Queensland from East Brisbane. It’s literally a 40 minute drive from us. Australia Post has managed to incorrectly sort our parcel and have our laptop sent to VICTORIA,” another commented.
“I’m in Melbourne’s east, my parcel was going to Broadmeadows. How did it end up in Tasmania? #Auspostfail,” a third said
While others were left utterly confused by the long wait times for parcels to be delivered or the fact that their post boomeranged between states before finding its home.
One person detailed watching as their parcel was moved over the course of 17 days, from Chullora in NSW to Underwood in Qld, then Granville in NSW before heading to Brendale in Qld, then Underwood in Qld and back again to Granville.
Another asked why it had taken six days for a parcel to be moved from Sunshine to Sunbury in Victoria.
“In six days you can drive between Sunshine and Sunbury 288 times and still have time to scratch your head. I guess the direct lack of competition in Australia in services than a malnourished pigeon. Disappointed,” the disgruntled Aussie said.
While Australia Post was not able to explain why parcels are taking such peculiar routes, an Australia Post spokesperson said they are committed to helping customers uncover the reasons behind their parcel’s delayed delivery times.
“We’re committed to delivering mail as safely and efficiently as possible across Australia and our posties, drivers and facility workers take pride in our service,” they told Starts at 60.
“We actively seek customer feedback and encourage those with issues to contact us so we can investigate. If customers have any enquiries about their mail delivery we encourage them to log an enquiry at auspost.com.au/help or call 13 post.”