The 100% Federal Government owned Australia Post launched their BIG Savings for business sale on August 8. It runs until August 21. The sale is promoted through a four page colour catalogue.
My newsagency – newsXpress Forest Hill – competes with a government owned Post Office directly opposite our front door. We sell stationery, they do too. We sell greeting cards, they do too. We have Western Union, they have it too. We offer a bill payment service, they do too. We sell phone recharge, they do too.
Their big glossy sale catalogue offers big savings on house brand copy paper for $5.75 (our price is $5.50); HP C8727A black ink cartridge for $29.95 (our price is $28.95); HP C8728A tri colour ink cartridge for $34.95 (our price is $33.95). I could go on but you get my message.
That the government of Australia owns and operates retail businesses in areas well serviced by independent retailers like me and others is appalling. That they leech off the postal service traffic (which must go to their outlets) is an appalling advantage I cannot compete with.
But that they claim big savings in this campaign is a crock. Maybe big savings off their prices but not off prices in my independent newsagency and other newsagencies like mine.
And interesting sideline in the four page catalogue is the amount of house brand product they now sell. Eight items. I wonder if this is done as leverage to get all Post outlets carrying the product as someone cleverly suggested to me. Why our Australia Post is engaging in this is beyond me. They are a postal service, not a retail chain.
But then if you’re building the chain for privatisation then it’s important. Are they privatising? I don’t know. Should they privatise? Yes. BUT: not as a national chain. each government owned Post Office should be sold to an individual or a locally owned independent business.
Having the government compete with independent retailers who were there first is offensive and demonstrates a lack of regard for small business.