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'Crazy isn't it?' Australia Post's parcel 'drop' explanation sparks debate

An Australia Post explanation of the somewhat hazardous journey parcels take before they are delivered has taken people by surprise.

A text message purportedly between a woman and Australia Post was shared on Facebook.

The woman complained she didn’t know how her item broke “when it was wrapped so well”.

But what has raised a few eyebrows is Australia Post’s explanation.

A postman from Australia Post makes postal deliveries in Sydney's central business district.
A postie delivers packages around Sydney's CBD. Source: Getty Images (file pic)

“Parcels primarily travel by conveyor belt, and can drop from around waist height,” the response reads.

“We carry parcels as heavy as 23kg, so it’s possible that an item weighing 23kg may drop from the conveyor belt at waist height on to your parcel. Items need to be packaged to withstand that, as it in the normal rigours of transport.”

Australia Post has been contacted by Yahoo News to clarify the policy.

The woman who shared the message added she has never seen this stated on Australia Post’s website.

“Maybe I’ll have to start using steel boxes instead of their Aus Post branded cardboard ones,” she wrote.

Pictured is the parcel sorting automation being installed at the new Brisbane Parcels Facility at Redbank. Source: Australia Post
Parcels travel along conveyor belts like these at the Brisbane Parcels Facility. Source: Australia Post 2019 Annual Report

One woman simply wrote after reading the explanation: “Crazy, isn’t it?”

“Wow, this is amazing incompetence,” one man wrote.

Another woman wrote it shows “zero care”.

However, others weren’t surprised by it.

“Common knowledge I would have thought by anyone sending parcels,” one woman wrote.

“That’s why they tell you to package securely.”

Another man added it’s “standard worldwide industry practise”.

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