SURPRISE, concern, resignation and indifference combine as Border residents react to next week’s 40 per cent rise in the cost of posting mail.
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From Monday, a regular letter will need a $1 stamp, up from 70 cents, while a quicker delivery requires a stamp plus a priority label costing 50 cents.
According to Australia Post, priority mail will be delivered in one to four business days, depending on destination, with regular letters to take up to two days longer.
Concession stamps costing 60 cents will be available for federal government concession card holders and the price of sending a Christmas or seasonal greeting card will remain at 65 cents.
Australia Post said the changes came in response to the shift to digital communications, with fewer letters now being sent.
“It's about making sure we have a sustainable post office network and letters service,” its website said.
Some people mailing letters or checking their post office boxes in Wodonga and Albury on Thursday were surprised by the size of the imminent price hike.
Wodonga’s Lynne Fielder said she did not write many letters herself, but others could find the rise a problem.
“I know a lot of people use the email system and that sort of thing, but the elderly like to write letters and it's a big cost for someone on limited income,” she said.
Debbie Vonthien, of Albury, did not usually need to buy stamps and sent emails and texts in preference to writing letters.
“My philosophy is if you've got to pay it, you've got to pay it,” she said.
“I mean, it's expensive, but that's the way it is, what can you do about it?”
Wodonga’s Garry Rodham was not worried by the new costs, although he called them “pretty steep, but oh well”.
Judy Hartwig, also of Wodonga, said they would not affect her because she did not use many stamps.
“Look, it's like everything, going up,” she said.
Reverend Peter McKeague, of North Albury, said he posted only a couple of letters a week on average.
“So (the impact) shouldn't be bad, but I just thought it's quite a jump,” he said.
One Albury man could not remember the last time he sent a letter.
“It's easier just to, not even email, to pick up the phone,” he said.
“It's cheap enough and you get the personal contact.”
