One of the excuses Australia Post has used in the past for extending the reach of products sold in its network of 800+ government owned post offices is that mail does not pay. The German postal service experienced the same challenge yet solved it in a more logical way. German post offices sell products which are allied to postal services like mobile phone connections. You won’t find books, greeting cards, business stationery, picnic sets, sewing magazines, cameras or ink and toner in German post offices.
Australian Politicians when challenged by small business on competition from Australia Post re-spin the Australia Post line. Successive governments for the last fifteen years have ignored small business and sided with their own protected corporation.
The German postal worker I spoke with a couple of days ago laughed at the range of products sold in Australia. He also wondered how the government could do this to business. Indeed.
Nice to see Aust. Post’s End of Fin. Yr. catalog – 20% off all ink and pens, and 4GB USBs for $8. They operate exactly like any other big business – trying to screw small businesses. Disgraceful stuff.