So, have you stopped sending photos in your Christmas cards?
Dec 11th 2009, 12:26 am
#16
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
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Re: So, have you stopped sending photos in your Christmas cards?
I've never been asked to fill out a declaration form for a card whatever I put in it.
I think you'll find that there are jobsworths in post offices, and then there are people who actually offer you customer service. The latter is my local. There are many with different stories - ridiculous ones about presenting driver licenses, even when that person doesn't have one because they don't drive.
I think you'll find that there are jobsworths in post offices, and then there are people who actually offer you customer service. The latter is my local. There are many with different stories - ridiculous ones about presenting driver licenses, even when that person doesn't have one because they don't drive.
Dec 11th 2009, 12:47 am
#17
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Location: Perth, WA
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Re: So, have you stopped sending photos in your Christmas cards?
I sent three cards and a parcel this morning. I had to fill out a customs declaration because the parcel is over a certain weight - that was it. My wife on Wednesday put about 20 cards through the post office counter and didn't fill in any forms either.
Dec 11th 2009, 1:33 am
#18
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,668
Re: So, have you stopped sending photos in your Christmas cards?
Dec 11th 2009, 2:34 am
#19
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Location: Westernport Mornington Peninsula
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Re: So, have you stopped sending photos in your Christmas cards?
I did not know and do not want to know Not passing the info on m We have been here over 30 years and never heard of it thank goodness. Sent a lot of photos too at times. Receive them as well and still do.
Not passing the info on m We have been here over 30 years and never heard of it thank goodness. Sent a lot of photos too at times. Receive them as well and still do.
Dec 11th 2009, 9:35 am
#20
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Location: Canada->WA->Melbourne
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Re: So, have you stopped sending photos in your Christmas cards?
So, today's episode...
I went to our local postal outlet. Without the cards.
I told the clerk I was sending 35 "Christmas letters," not cards, thinking she'd give me the $2.10 stamps (I think that's what they were going to charge me last night). Last time I mailed letters to Canada, they were $2.10.
She gives me 35 of the 1.25 ones. I ask her, "Are these fine for letters?"
"Yup."
"Do I need to fill out any customs forms for my letters if there's a photo?"
"Huh? No."
So, Australia Post has some consistency problems (well, I guess unless they consistently make up the rules as they go along). My next question, has anyone ever had Christmas cards returned for insufficient postage?
I went to our local postal outlet. Without the cards.
I told the clerk I was sending 35 "Christmas letters," not cards, thinking she'd give me the $2.10 stamps (I think that's what they were going to charge me last night). Last time I mailed letters to Canada, they were $2.10.
She gives me 35 of the 1.25 ones. I ask her, "Are these fine for letters?"
"Yup."
"Do I need to fill out any customs forms for my letters if there's a photo?"
"Huh? No."
So, Australia Post has some consistency problems (well, I guess unless they consistently make up the rules as they go along). My next question, has anyone ever had Christmas cards returned for insufficient postage?
Dec 11th 2009, 9:57 am
#21
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: So, have you stopped sending photos in your Christmas cards?
Didn't realise until the folks back in the UK all emailed me to ask if I was skint or just tight 
Dec 11th 2009, 9:59 am
#22
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Re: So, have you stopped sending photos in your Christmas cards?
Dec 11th 2009, 11:25 am
#23
Canuck/Aussie
Joined: May 2006
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 4,547
Re: So, have you stopped sending photos in your Christmas cards?
The first year we were here we mailed about 60 cards back to Canada. Each one had a 2 page newsletter folded up inside of it. I just made sure each card was stamped "card only" and didn't have any issues at all.
I don't believe I've ever been asked about pictures. If they ever did now I'd certainly say no!
Last year I was lucky enough to have relatives come out in November so I just sent back all my cards with them and they put Candian stamps on them for me and mailed them. This year we're headed back for Christmas so we'll be doing the same thing.
I don't believe I've ever been asked about pictures. If they ever did now I'd certainly say no!
Last year I was lucky enough to have relatives come out in November so I just sent back all my cards with them and they put Candian stamps on them for me and mailed them. This year we're headed back for Christmas so we'll be doing the same thing.
Dec 11th 2009, 12:35 pm
#24
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Re: So, have you stopped sending photos in your Christmas cards?
Sounds like too much trouble to me!My Mum sometimes sends me cards with photo's in,and she's never filled in any custom forms!Maybe they let her off because she's old!
Talking of mail though,I know this is important for Royal Mail to know but every time I send parcels back to Oz,I have to write on the customs dec what the actual thing is?Shame as it spoils the surprise!Why can't you just write "Gift"because don't all the mail/parcels go through a security scanner thingy?
Talking of mail though,I know this is important for Royal Mail to know but every time I send parcels back to Oz,I have to write on the customs dec what the actual thing is?Shame as it spoils the surprise!Why can't you just write "Gift"because don't all the mail/parcels go through a security scanner thingy?
Dec 11th 2009, 1:17 pm
#25
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,837
Re: So, have you stopped sending photos in your Christmas cards?
I wouldn't tellthem if a card had photos in it, I've doe that in the past, just label them card only and post them. The badge on the card was unlucky, I didn't have any stamps handy and had to go into the post office - hence the realised it wasn't just a card.
To the OP - they definitely have consistency issues, it varies depending on who you talk to, as well as on which Post Office you use.
I'm so glad I've moved house, different Post Office, and its been months since I've had an argument about whether my British Passport is legal!
Dec 11th 2009, 11:31 pm
#26
broken but got a visa! :
Joined: Apr 2006
Location: seaford,adelaide
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Re: So, have you stopped sending photos in your Christmas cards?
Wow, I've sent 30 cards with photos in and some larger ones with calendars - those $2 ones, and not been asked about pics or to fill in forms.
Also posted 5 parcels, with customs dec's on...maybe they felt sorry for me cos it cost over $100 altogether
Also posted 5 parcels, with customs dec's on...maybe they felt sorry for me cos it cost over $100 altogether
Dec 12th 2009, 12:27 am
#27
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Re: So, have you stopped sending photos in your Christmas cards?
The one I like is really helpful and tells you the way round things. She let me off posting 44 christmas cards to the UK, all with letters and photos in by winking and saying 'Just write card only'. 
The others are real jobsworths who would have made me fill in 44 declarations!
Dec 12th 2009, 1:50 am
#28
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Re: So, have you stopped sending photos in your Christmas cards?
Or do you just plan in advance to spend an evening filling out customs forms?
It's our first Christmas living here in Australia. So, I went to Australia Post today with my Christmas cards in hand (yeah, late I know) and was all set to send them off (finally). The clerk asks me, "Do you have any photos in them?"
"Uh yeah, one in each, why?"
Well, it turns out I need to fill out a customs declaration form for every card that contains a photograph. So, she pulls out a stack of green customs forms...
Then I ask about postage. Well, never mind that each one weighs 11g. Because they have a single photo in them, they automatically double in postage.
Since I couldn't see myself standing there filling out 36 customs declarations with my 19 month old along, I took my cards and left. I guess I'll have to come back, pick up the &*%$# forms, grab a glass of wine and spend an evening making customs very happy by filling out the paperwork to attach to my Christmas cards.
I wouldn't bother with some of them (I guess I could rip open the envelopes and yank the photos out) but I also have some elderly relatives who do not have computers or email or internet and aside from snail mail and real photos (or the phone), they'd have no idea how we're doing.
Most days, I like it here. Then sometimes, there's some aspect of living here that's so ridiculous it's beyond comprehension.
It's our first Christmas living here in Australia. So, I went to Australia Post today with my Christmas cards in hand (yeah, late I know) and was all set to send them off (finally). The clerk asks me, "Do you have any photos in them?"
"Uh yeah, one in each, why?"
Well, it turns out I need to fill out a customs declaration form for every card that contains a photograph. So, she pulls out a stack of green customs forms...
Then I ask about postage. Well, never mind that each one weighs 11g. Because they have a single photo in them, they automatically double in postage.
Since I couldn't see myself standing there filling out 36 customs declarations with my 19 month old along, I took my cards and left. I guess I'll have to come back, pick up the &*%$# forms, grab a glass of wine and spend an evening making customs very happy by filling out the paperwork to attach to my Christmas cards.
I wouldn't bother with some of them (I guess I could rip open the envelopes and yank the photos out) but I also have some elderly relatives who do not have computers or email or internet and aside from snail mail and real photos (or the phone), they'd have no idea how we're doing.
Most days, I like it here. Then sometimes, there's some aspect of living here that's so ridiculous it's beyond comprehension.
I have to say, that is one of the few things I can't stand about Australia: all the petty rules & regulations.
Dec 12th 2009, 5:37 am
#29
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Re: So, have you stopped sending photos in your Christmas cards?
When buying my stamps I count them up for overseas and here and then just go and ask for the stamps, overseas is the same price wherever they are going at Christmas.
