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Officeworks Mailman Parcel Delivery Service - Cheaper than Auspost ($15 for 5kg Parcel)

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Officeworks have a new parcel delivery service. I have done a price comparison vs. Auspost for a few different sized parcels, and Officeworks Mailman has been cheaper.

They have flat rate delivery throughout Australia.
Delivery time is 1-2 business days between most capital cities.
Price includes tracking, and parcels are delivered by Fastway Couriers (therefore they don't deliver to PO boxes).

Price comparison-

10X10X10CM 1kg box OW- $11 AP- $13.95
20x20x20cm 5kg box OW- $15 AP- $18.35
20x15x10cm 10kg box OW- $20 AP- $23.85

For a tube parcel 50cm long x 5cm diameter (max weight 2kg) - OW $12

Parcel protection costs:
$1.50 - $100 coverage
$3.00 - $300 coverage
$5.00 - $500 coverage

Maximum weight is 10kg

Only issue is, you need to drop the parcel off at an Officeworks store.
Parcel labels can be purchased and printed online.

As per the Officeworks website-
Simply weigh and measure your parcel
Six labels to choose from (parcels & tubes)
Buy in-store or online 24/7 using our Mailman Label Selector
Flat rate delivery anywhere in Australia
Mailman is available at all stores
Buy your packaging here or use your own

Here are the FAQs-
http://www.officeworks.com.au/mailman/mailman-help/faqs

Related Stores

Officeworks
Officeworks

closed Comments

  • I was actually looking into this just last week. Didn't think of posting it as a deal, but obviously I was wrong.

    It is certainly cheaper than Auspost in my case which was central coast to perth! Auspost would have wanted 39 vs what officeworks/mailman wanted which was just 15.

    Only thing to remember is that they have maximum package dimensions. I wasn't able to use their service because of a max single side of 50cm.

    • +13

      Sorry to hijack… FASTWAY COURIERS are UNRELIABLE, based on my experience. Check the reviews as well. If you're sending something that is importantly TIME-DEPENDENT, I won't risk it. No point saving a few $ if you miss the date that the item is supposed to come. And we're not talking of one day off, say a week.

      • +9

        Fastway never leave a calling card (if they actually turn up at all), then it takes days for re-delivery. I would never choose to use them after being messed about by them many times.

        • +6

          I can relate to this on multiple occasions… checked the tracking and they marked it as tried at 8.45am I happened to be sitting out front of the office at that time…so didnt even try… supposedly they called him and he came back an hour later… happened again the next time they came back the next day…

          Also had them supposedly deliver three times at my home and not once did I get a card… in the end I complained after the parcel showed as having been delivered on the friday and not received… got a call from some guy on the saturday who dropped it off in his car with the kids in the back (nothing against him earning some extra cash) just the dodgy driver from the friday who delivered and didnt!!!

      • Fastway courier "THROW" your boxes in their depot. FULL STOP.

        If you don't trust me go to their depot in Hill street, Olypic Park, NSW and be amazing of how they consolidate shipment 4-5pm everyday.

        It is a ok and cheap courier if you are running a business and not care once your good is out of your store. But I will never trust them at a personal level.

    • +2

      I agree. I have a drawer full of FASTWAY tickets that I will only use for non urgent parcels. In the past it has taken them 4 days to deliver a parcel when they advertise a same day service. (pick up in the AM and deliver in the PM). The thing that annoyed me the most was when I went online to see the tracking information, it had been manually adjusted to show pickup the day before it was actually picked up.

  • +35

    And unlike Australia Post, your parcel may actually be delivered.

      • +54

        Who calls them that?

        • +4

          montorola does

      • +45

        Said no-one…ever.

      • +2

        Worst Pun ever.. Punfailure?

      • +2

        Australia > Afailure …. eeehhh i dunno
        btw is your profile name a play on motorola aswell ?

      • -1

        Aparcel Lost sounds better.

      • +7

        C'mon guys, it has a nice ring to it haha

        Lol @ all the negs, and yes my name is a play on Motorola

      • -4

        Most unfunniest comment this year. Worst than the worst of Dad jokes.

        • +4

          Least funny*

      • +1

        Aus-failure post I think you meant…..rolls of the tongue better….

    • +27

      You're clearly not experienced in the ways of Fastway…

    • It's Fastway, so I wouldn't count on it…

  • +22

    I just returned 3 t-shirts to QLD via AusPost, it was $14.30 for 800 goddamn grams from Melbourne, or "only" $13.50 for a pre-paid post envelope which they would fit inside.

    We need more alternatives, that price is ridiculous

    • +12

      Who else is going to pay Ahmed's ridiculous $5 million + salary. Not to forget bonuses and incentives are also mandatory.

      • +1
        • +5

          It's a family run "business"

          The founder and director of the museum is former Macquarie Bank executive Moustafa Fahour - Ahmed Fahour’s brother. Moustafa’s wife, Maysaa, is the chair­woman and director.

        • +1

          @nzthunderboy: wow! nice observation.

          Also, as a "charity" (family business), it would also have a tax exempt status. Which means, it is also a deduction on his tax return!

          AKA, How to retain all earnings and not pay tax, courtesy of the taxpayer.

    • +3

      its $1.80 for C5 prepaid domestic envelope, up to 500g (20mm thick). depending on what these tshirts were, you could have posted 3 of them in 3 envelopes etc.

      • Yeah, the C5 Prepaid Envelopes are easily their best value service, you can post games and dvds and other items in them no problems.

      • TECHNICALLY, you're not supposed to use the envelopes for anything other than documents, as specified on the envelopes.

      • Thank you! Wish I knew. Will keep in mind

  • +1

    Which postcode to postcode did you use for your calculation as I know the 10kg example from Perth to east coast CBD is closer to $38 so it is even better for us.

    I tested the service the other day, they were a little unsure in the store as it is a new service.

    • -1

      Hm… Staff uncertainty might turns into lost package… :p

      • +1

        My concern too……but I was pleased to check the tracking a while later and see that it had been collected from the store then later was enroute.

  • +3

    Those rates are only good for cross country deliveries. Normal couriers interstate on the same side of the country are much cheaper and they pick up from your door. Check Temando, e-go etc.

    In other words, shop around there are better courier prices than this

    • +6

      +1 for e-go. Very cheap. Paid less than $20 to send about 30kgs from Vic to SA. AP wanted nearly $90.

      • +1

        E-go is great! Especially for sending computer towers across the country. Even cheaper from depot to depot.

      • +1

        I believe E-go is by far the cheapest for Victorians. Temando is cheapest for New South Welshman. Not sure about the other states, but yeah this Officeworks deal is pretty rubbish especially since 1) you have to drop it off yourself; and 2) Fastway have to be one of the worst courier companies out there.

        But anyone who regularly ships parcels around Australia (like myself) even once per month would have found a cheaper alternative than Auspost years ago. It's nothing new, there are heaps of competitors in this space. I suppose this 'deal' is good for people who previously only ever used AusPost as their parcel delivery provider. So many people are jumping up and down and getting excited about how good this is and thank god AusPost finally has competition… LOL

        • How does an individual send an occasional package with Temando? I'm sure individuals sending packages once in a while are a large part of Auspost's parcel-sending clientele.

          It's nothing new, there are heaps of competitors in this space.

          Are there really heaps of competitors who have the same number of pickup/dropoff points as Australia Post? Not everyone can spend hours waiting at home for a courier to come pick up a parcel. If the recipient won't be around to receive the parcel, they can use a parcel locker or pick it up at the local PO too.

        • @eug: > How does an individual send an occasional package with Temando

          Go to Temando.com.au and click "Send" up the top right corner. Put in the box/parcel dimensions and weight and it provides quotes from many couriers. You choose the courier quote you like and pay for it. It is not limited to businesses, once off parcels are fine. My business (printing) sends a fair number of parcels (or at least what thought was a fair number) so I enquired with Temando about volume discounted rates - I was informed that to access volume discounts you need to be sending at least $250k postage per month. I'm not even close to that number LOL

          Are there really heaps of competitors who have the same number of pickup/dropoff points as Australia Post?

          Yes and no. My comment about competition was more directed to the complete parcel delivery service rather than specifically depot-to-consumer service. And there are a LOT of courier services that pick up from your home. You can leave the parcel out for a courier with authorisation (you don't have to be home if you choose this but of course there is a risk with this), however there are still a fair number of depot-to-consumer courier operations. E-go do this, as do Pack & Send. There are more. Officeworks coming into this space is good for senders because more competition is better, but I just wanted to allude to people that Officeworks is not the first competitor to Auspost. It's just the first that has been put on the front page of OzBargain, and I guess the average OzBargainer wouldn't send many parcels per year to know that there were better competitors already in this space.

          If the recipient won't be around to receive the parcel, they can use a parcel locker or pick it up at the local PO too.

          Some couriers like Fastaway will actually leave your parcel at the local post office/newsagent if you are not home to sign for it. Or you can give authority to leave. Or you can request redelivery at a time that suits you (My customers have had hundreds of redeliveries with the couriers I use through Temando (primarily Couriers Please as I find them the most reliable) and not once have they or I been charged a redelivery fee.

        • @PBG:

          You choose the courier quote you like and pay for it.

          Ahh I see, it's like a staticice for courier services. Their website doesn't make it clear at all.

          I was contemplating using e-go in the past, but judging from the comments on WP, if something does happen to go wrong, it's a big headache to get things sorted out. It's great if there are no problems though. Hmm.

          I was informed that to access volume discounts you need to be sending at least $250k postage per month.

          With that much volume, I would imagine you'd be able to negotiate directly with the courier company!

          I just wanted to allude to people that Officeworks is not the first competitor to Auspost.

          Temando and e-go have been mentioned here before, but I suppose most people here are individuals who only send packages occasionally. I can see how being able to drop off a package somewhere rather than wait for someone to come pick it up would be more convenient for some. Something's gotta pay for those retail locations and staff I guess!

        • +1

          @eug: > Their website doesn't make it clear at all.

          I know - I was confused at first too. The home page comes off as a logistics company rather than 'courier comparison'. I've had a few meetings with Temando management and I understand the major part of their business is now logistics integration (i.e. they have their own systems/software which they come to your workplace and install for you to automate logistics - using their couriers of course). The business was started as a simple 'courier comparison' website (http://courierquotes.com.au/) however the owner then realised there was more money to be made in the systems side of logistics and moved in that direction. Pretty switched on guy actually.

          if something does happen to go wrong, it's a big headache to get things sorted out. It's great if there are no problems though.

          Yep - that's the life of any courier/delivery operation. Not really different to AusPost, although AusPost (based purely on statistics) is more reliable.

          With that much volume, I would imagine you'd be able to negotiate directly with the courier company!

          You'd think so but unfortunately not. I know some printers doing $500k postage per month and they use primarily one courier "to get better rates" and when I showed them the prices on Temando available to the public they were shocked to be paying more! Even for the SAME SERVICE and SAME COURIER!!! They took Temando's prices to their courier rep and couldn't get the rep to drop their prices. So they brought in Temando and now are saving heaps and it is the same courier truck driver picking up their parcels each day. LOL. Plus if you deal directly with the couriers then there are fuel levies, oversize fees, redelivery fees etc. Logistics companies are massive rip-offs if you use them directly.

        • @PBG: temando charges an additional transaction fee.

        • @drb: > temando charges an additional transaction fee.

          What do you mean? I've couriered HUNDREDS of parcels through temando and not once paid an additional fee. Do you mean the 2% credit card surcharge?

        • never heard or noticed temando in sydney.

  • +11

    The 10kg box is smaller than the 5kg box ? 20x15x10cm. How am I supposed to get more cats into a smaller box ? It's hard enough getting them to stay still enough to tape the box up let alone compressing them that much !

    • +13

      Vacuum pack them, silly!

  • +6

    This is amazing I'm glad to see some competition. AusPost think they have total monopoly and prices are absolute rip off… not to mention their service is BAD.
    1. Ordered something from China - had tracking on it. Left Beijing within 2 days… Now been 14 days and parcel has not made it to my door yet.. and I thought that China Post was the culprit!!
    2. Ordered something from Melbourne to Melbourne (30 mins drive away) via eBay with tracking. Tracking said "Information Received" or something.. stayed like that for 7 days until it got delivered to my house… whats the point of tracking.. and 7 DAYS!!
    3. I sent a parcel with tracking, from Melbourne to Melbourne (about 1.5 hrs drive away) - Same as above, tracking said that I dropped of item at Post Office, stayed like that for 5 days!

    This service is absolute rubbish, prices are insane! Ordering something from the UK or US ends up with cheaper postage than ordering it from AU!! How is that even possible? I didn't mention China!! I mentioned UK and US where cost of living isn't that cheap!

    This is a good deal.. a bit better than AusPost.. although still not an excellent price. Also had an issue with Fastway where they lost my parcel once (delayed delivery by 2 days), Maybe I'm just unlucky with postal/courier services!!!… but probably still better than AustPost

    • you must accept that parcels will always go missing… but some couriers are better than others.

      • +8

        and then you can expect us to ask why is that so.

        japanese airport kansai recently held the record of having not lost a single suitcase since opening. one should always seek to improve themselves.

        • yeah but we are not japanese..

          our company is lucky enough that the couriers don't loose any of our orders,but the misplaced a $20,0000 equipment once, and it was missing for 1 week.

          Sure enough, our management decided to use another company's services

        • +3

          @bernsy: without sounding rude, we should seriously take a leaf out of their book. And see why they are so damn efficient at everything they do.

        • @bernsy: True were not Japanese… but maybe.. we can learn from them. It means it is possible to achieve perfection, and with these prices we pay in Australia - I would expect something in return. At least a functional service not a "best effort".. because we don't pay best effort.

        • @Tcm9669: Could their relatively high suicide rate have something to do with the pursuit for perfection?

        • +1

          @eug: Got your point, but I'm talking at a corporate level here. Processes can be put in place to improve efficiency.

        • @eug: if you cannot trust humans, take another leaf from the Japanese and automate. Look at their robot usage in manufacturing

        • @t25: I think it'll be quite a while before robots can deliver packages. :)

        • +1

          @Tcm9669: Kaizen I think is what you are looking for.

        • @eug: whilst that may be true, maybe we could have super automated mega mail processing plants that can sort with very good accuracy.

          take a look at a UPS/DHL/FedEx documentary (remember seeing it on youtube before) on how they make sure things get to their destinations on time.

        • @t25: I would think UPS/DHL/FedEx are able to have such expensive systems because of the much higher fees they charge, and the far greater volumes that they handle.

          As expensive as Australia Post is, FedEx is way more expensive, at least for individual users. I once sent an action camera to the US via FedEx - it cost about $100. It got there REAL quick though.

        • +2

          @eug: maybe I'm a crap businessman, but wouldn't aus post have economies of scale if they pulled their fingers out?

        • +1

          @t25: I'm no business major, but I wouldn't think they'd be able to get anywhere close to UPS/DHL/FedEx economies of scale, simply because those companies are huge established multinationals with the whole world as their customer base. Australia Post is based in a country with high labour costs and is focused on serving Australia's tiny population.

          Of course they could probably do with some tightening up, but those huge DHL-sized processing centres seem a bit far away for a small-population country's postal service.

        • @t25: I am with eug here. UPS and Fedex have the advantage to use ecocomies of scale and population densities which occur in the unites states to keep their profits healthy. Use interparcel or another provider to get shipping labels for UPS/ Fedex. I have recently had a lot of stuff delivered (30 parcels) delivered by DHL and they have been spot on delivering within 2 days from the US at prices I would expect to pay for australia post within the country.

      • +9

        No you shouldn't. A parcel might get delayed or stuck in the system on occasion, but it shouldn't go missing. In part that's what good tracking should do, you should always know where it is.

        Personally I'd like to see all delivery companies, auspost included, on the line for up to $500 of compensation for lost parcels - no extra payment needed. It should be so rare that they could take it out of the CEOs salary.

        Might concentrate minds.

        • It should be so rare that they could take it out of the CEOs salary.

          Like the fire in your belly !

        • It should be so rare that they could take it out of the CEOs salary.

          BAAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAHAHAAHAA!!

          Sorry.. But you honestly think upper management would let that shit fly!? in tears

          Sure, great idea. But you could never dent upper management salary for a shortfall at the bottom rung!

        • I totally agree. I'm sure the CEO will put processes in place to make sure the service is working as it should be. Otherwise no body cares as long as they can go merrily with their salary and lives.

    • Sam happened to me. Ordered something from Chadstone (Melb) on eBay to be sent to Hawthorn (Melb) - 20 mins drive. Sat in the sorting office for 2 days. Took 3 days to be delivered.

      • But did you enjoy Sam?

        What was the delivery time quoted by the service you used?

        • Poor Sam! :(

      • you know it doesnt matter how far away you are from the sending location, the driver will grab it and take it back to a central sorting facility and then it will come to you, most likely in a different driver. It probably enters the same stream as international and interstate parcels at the facility, so it essentially becomes part of the horde of shit and therefore can easily cruise around the sorting facility for several days.

    • Absolutely agree 100% as I know how cheap its in Europe.
      Sending something from Europe to here is half the cost than sending it the other way.

      And considering there are global agreements on cost per kilo it's not justified what Aus post charges us.

    • +3

      DHL: Shenzen, notice of parcel Wednesday 15, parcel arrived and delivered the 17. I could not believe it !

      • DHL are very fast. But they're also pretty expensive if you compare prices from the originating country.

        • I agree. Sometimes it's worth it. For the speed and the guaranteed delivery. Can you imagine how many parcels from China arrive to Australia every day on ChinaPost. And Postage is free, so how much is AusPost getting from it for delivery? I suppose ZERO. Cannot blame them for not stressing with free delivery parcels.

        • @cameldownunder: I swear by DHL. I have had packages delivered from China to Sydney overnight.. Thats under 24hrs!!!

        • @cameldownunder: Correct. The destination country post services bears the delivery costs in that country.

      • I've ordered stuff on tuesday morning via amazon and it has been with my that thursday midday via DHL. Amazing!

    • It may have left Beijing, but has it arrived in Australia yet ? Point taken though

      1. Ordered something from China - had tracking on it. Left Beijing within 2 days… Now been 14 days and parcel has not made it to my door yet.. and I thought that China Post was the culprit!!
      • It doesn't say.. but I know that once item hits Australia, tracking stops (AusPost doesn't care).. so, I can't verify if it arrived to Australia.. but it still been 14 days.. my guess is… AusPost CBF with it.

    • +1
      1. Ordered something from Melbourne to Melbourne (30 mins drive away) via eBay with tracking. Tracking said "Information Received" or something.. stayed like that for 7 days until it got delivered to my house… whats the point of tracking.. and 7 DAYS!!

      Hmm, doesn't "Information Received" simply mean the sender has printed the shipping label/manifest? They could have printed the label on day 1 but only brought the parcel to the post office 4 days later?

      • Well, shouldn't tracking say DROPPED OFF AT OFFICE, or PROCESSING AT XYZ? So… as per that tracking, seller printed the label and then… got delivered to my door 7 days later.. and AuPost didn't touch it? That must be magic.

        • Did the number on the label match the tracking number the seller sent?

          If the seller printed off a label (whose tracking number gets automatically sent to you) but had to correct an error or reprint a new label for whatever reason, maybe you were tracking a parcel that never got sent. Just a guess - the problem could very well be something else.

        • @eug: Yes it was, in fact once I signed for it at the door I got an update that it was delivered about 30 mins later. I also use TracChecker App (so I scan barcode once I receive parcel) and mark it as received.. therefore yes, I was tracking correct number 100%

    • Same thing happened to me… Ordered something from korea with tracking. There were no updates whatsoever of the parcel arriving in aus. Auspost said they had no further scans when I enquired about it's whereabouts….-.-
      The parcel thankfully arrived randomly at my house, but the mailman put the parcel on top of my mailbox near the side walk……..

  • +2

    They can charge this little and still make better profits than Auspost, probably because they don't have 409 managers on over $195,000…

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/185181

    • +3

      Thing is I hear they are using the better of a surplus room in officeworks trucks/cars and a company called Fastway where there isn't room or a regular delivery It is all about efficiency eg item dropped off instore, staff call for courier which could be either a driver for Fastway or their regular delivery truck to take it to OW DC or Fastway DC, item then moves interstate, item goes out with courier for the items people order online for $50 free delivery service or local Fastway contractor depending on loading, however I believe Fastway is doing both services.

      • The deliveries are all processed by Fastway Couriers. Nothing is delivered in Officeworks vans.

  • +2

    at least there is some competition for Auspost, they have been increasing their rates two - three times a year…

  • +1

    What happens when the recipient is not home? Do we get charged for re delivery or do you have to pickup from their depot?

    • +6

      Would be cool if we could pick-up from the local Officeworks

      • +10

        That would be amazing - imagine being able to pick up a parcel on a Sunday! What a world.

        • +2

          I think i read somewhere that some company is already talking with service stations to do something like this which makes perfect sense as they are open 24/7. Also ebay purchases now can be collected at some woollies store. So it seems this is the way businesses are heading. I would envision that not in the distant future there would be uber service for larger parcels.

        • +3

          @love2buy: BP actually tried this years ago (10-12years) when online shoping started becoming more mainstream. Failed miserably, very few retailers wanted to participate and ebay wouldn't deal with them. It was cheaper too as auspost or couriers would drop off multiple parcels in one go in theory, the store i worked at had two parcels in eight months. They wasted millions on it before realising wasn't going to work too many people wanted it delivered to their door

        • +1

          I think you can, Alexandria officeworks has those parcel lockers just outside the entrance.

      • +1

        👆 this

        • 👆that

    • +1

      Not sure if it will always apply but I picked up my parcel from a milk bar in the next suburb when fastway couriers could not deliver to me as I was out.

      • I picked up from a Kiosk, from Toll.

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