POAAL Podcast

We cover some key ways Licensees can maximise their LPO payments, including:

• Mail Service Payment - metro LPOs can be eligible
• Lodgement fee
• Clearing street posting boxes (SPBs)
• Mail Management Fee - keep data current
• Conveyance of mail
• Parcel Collect
• Know your LPO Agreement and the LPO Payment Scheme
• Get it in writing from AP

Check the episode page on the POAAL website for links to the various documents mentioned in this discussion.

Australia Post has launched the new DigiStamp. Louisa Carroll, Category Manager Philatelic & Collectibles at Australia Post, joins us to explain DigiStamps. We cover:

• The elements that make the DigiStamp different from regular postage stamps
• The digital token and blockchain
• How customers can access the digital tokens linked to the DigiStamp
• Is each DigiStamp unique?
• Customers who are interested in DigiStamps
• The Gold DigiStamp

 

Mail2Day offers a way for Licensees to increase income from PO Boxes while adding value to the PO Box service for customers. In this discussion we cover:

• Overview of Mail2Day service
• Promoting and explaining the service to PO Box holders
• Modifying the PO Box record to include Mail2Day
• Printing the QR code 
• Procedure for Mail2Day scanning
• LPO payment for Mail2Day
• Cumulative effect of Mail2Day payments
• Tips for affixing the Mail2Day QR code to the PO Box
• Efficient scanning processes
• Customer satisfaction

 

Australia Post's Head of Retail Operations Support, David Morris, joins us on the POAAL Podcast to discuss:

• The role of Australia Post's Retail Operations Support team
• Customer expectations for scanning
• How correct scanning reduces customer complaints
• Distribution of new PDTs (hand-held scanners) to the LPO network
• The "awaiting collection" scan
• Transfer scans
• Customer notifications
• The Australia Post app
• Storing carded parcels at the LPO
• Preparations for peak season

 

President Trump's changes to de minimis have rocked the postal world. In this episode, we discuss the background to the de minimis changes and what the future holds for international parcels.

• Low value cross-border parcels
• President Trump's interest in cross-border parcels during his first term
• Implications for data collection at the post office counter
• POAAL negotiated extra payment for processing international parcels
• Low Value Parcel Processing Taskforce and Productivity Commission reports
• Proposal for Australia Post to collect customs duties at the post office
• Announcement on de minimis from Biden administration in 2024
• The incredible statistics on de minimis parcels entering the USA
• Global changes to cross-border parcels
• The Trump administration announcements in 2024 on de minimis
• Australia Post implementing solution for parcels to the USA
• EU considering fees for cross-border parcels
• Supporting customers with new international parcel procedures and requirements

 

What stimulates the mail lodgement payment at LPOs? POAAL's Bob Chizzoniti explains the mail lodgement payment and its benefits, covering:

• Payments for mail lodgement
• Parcel barcode scanning
• Kinds of parcels lodged at post offices
• Customers want lodgement scans for proof of lodgement
• Importance of staff training in parcel scanning
• Explanation of mail lodgement payments
• Loading entitlements
• Importance of scanning compliance

 

An in-depth discussion of Mail Management Fee. A must-listen for Licensees in metro, rural and remote areas. We cover:

• Definition of Mail Management Fee
• Current payment for Mail Management Fee
• Mail Management Fee for PO Boxes let
• Checking number of delivery points
• Updating the number of delivery points
• Applying for increase in Mail Management Fee
• Multi-residence buildings or industrial developments
• LPO6 form

 

Ernie Calalesina, Senior Account Manager at GSK Insurance Brokers, discusses insurance for POAAL's Licensee and Contractor members.

• Overview of GSK Insurance Brokers and its experience with delivery owner-drivers
• Insurances for Licensed Post Offices (LPOs), including public liability insurance, business pack insurance, personal accident, and workers' compensation
• Assistance available for insurance queries and claims
• Insurance for Australia Post and Star Track Contractors, including public liability insurance, personal accident and illness, marine cargo (marine transit), and commercial motor insurance
• Payment options, including monthly payments

 

POAAL's Bob Chizzoniti shares some perspectives on inward mail processing, and some other thoughts on how post office operations have been modernised and streamlined over the years.

• Mail counts and the burden on post office owners
• Scheduling the mail count across Australia
• Different strategies to measure mail volumes in post offices
• Sorting and counting the mail before scheduled mail completion time
• Difficulties sorting large letters
• POABR and the old POA unit payment system
• POAAL's payment reform drive
• Daily balancing in the pre-technology era

 

Royal Mail has introduced a new-look street posting box in the UK, featuring solar panels, a parcel lodgement chute, and a barcode scanner.

 

• Royal Mail is trialling a new-look street posting box in five locations
• Linking posting boxes to the post's app
   
• Lodging parcels in street posting boxes with proof of posting
   
• Inbuilt solar powered barcode scanner
   
• Capacity of posting box
   
• Solution for time-poor consumers lodging parcels outside business hours
   
• Could Australia Post link its MyPost app to street posting boxes?
   
• Parcel lockers
   
• Enhancing street posting boxes