Australia Post Rate Increases & Unaddressed Mail (UM) Service System Upgrade
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As of Monday 4th July 2011, Australia Post price increases take effect for all service types with the exception of Print Post which has already been increased in April this year.
The following link will take you through to the new official price tables for each service, from Presort to Reply Paid: http://auspost.com.au/about-us/price-changes.html
These changes are coupled with advancements in the booking system for Unaddressed Mail (UM), an overhaul designed to directly improve 'how' to create bookings by offering new online search tools for demarcating delivery area boundaries and number and type of delivery points per mailing. You have the option of searching by 'localities' or 'postcodes'.
The Access to National Address File (NAF), Australia Post's enterprise-wide delivery point database,for nationwide Unaddressed Mailings, is the most authoritative source for accurate figures. The file is updated quarterly to reflect any changes in postcodes or delivery points. Here is your link to get started on locality or postcode oriented lists state by state.
Data is now automatically generated and made available so you online so you can go on to immediately action other important processes with a mail date in mind (always using a 4-week advance booking as the rule, the minimum wait time on any UM mailing: http://auspost.com.au/business/unaddressed-mail-localities-and-postcodes...
The details of the updated UM service and booking proceses are outlined in the new service guide booklet now available:
http://auspost.com.au/media/documents/unaddressed-mail-service-guide-apr...
If you intend to seriously engage the UM service, Australia Post have set up the following online resource which is well worth the time in review: http://auspost.com.au/business/unaddressed-mail.html
Their Open Up To Mail website also offers useful tools for understanding the geo-demographic profile of an area via the 'Postcode Profiling' online tool (http://www.openuptomail.com.au/postcode-profiling) and the 'Postcode Sweep'online tool which enables you to capture all postcodes and delivery points with a visual 360 degree radius with measurements determined in 5km expanses superimposed on google map images.
Service options still consist of 'Regular' (delivery to all delivery points within a target postcode) and 'Select' (delivery to some delivery points while excluding others within your target postcode) but you can now enjoy the option of limiting a campaign by 'delivery rounds' within a postcode, i.e. to the addresses on a specific Auspost delivery person's route. This does not allow you to hone a campaign down to targeting specific streets however.
As with the rates for Presort, Print Post, International and parcel mail, rates for Unaddressed Mail have risen by about 2% with this upgrade. Check out the new rates applicable as or 4th July 2011: http://auspost.com.au/media/documents/unaddressed-mail-prices-4-jul-11.pdf.
Today you will pay 14.1c (Inc. GST) instead of 13.8c for a Regular Small Letter (up to 50g) and 16.2c for a Select instead of 15.8c each. What does this mean in dollar terms? For a Regular mailing of 2,000 small letters the price increase adds an extra $10 to the bottom line.
Late lodgement and booking cancellation policies have been newly introduced along with penalty fees to curb such behaviour. The penalty charge is not fixed. The new Unaddressed Mail service guide reads,
"In the event that late lodgement cannot be avoided additional costs will be incurred and delivery dates will need to be moved".
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Australia Post will determine each penalty fine on a case-by-case basis.
To speak with the Unaddressed Mail team at Australia Post phone 1300 223 571.