The USPS has been rolling out self-service kiosks in post offices around the country since 1999, but did you know the kiosks have generated over $5 billion in revenue as customers increasingly use the automated machines for retail transactions?
Many readers likely have their packages picked up by a shipping carrier, but if you find yourself headed to the post office with some packages, you might be interested to learn that kiosks are more than glorified stamp dispensers – and most are available 24 hours a day.
Approximately 2,500 kiosks are available in Post Office lobbies across the nation. The kiosks allow customers to purchase print-on-demand stamps, ship packages, look up ZIP Codes and renew Post Offices boxes.
Specifically, you can:
- Purchase postage for First-Class Mail, Express Mail, Priority Mail, and Parcel Post items.
- Print labels.
- Weigh and determine the rate for envelopes and packages up to 70 pounds.
- Buy sheets of stamps.
- Find a ZIP Code.
- Add insurance and Certified Mail service.
- Renew your Post Office box service.
We came across a guide to the kiosks written by an eBay seller in 2006, it’s worth perusing if you’re a USPS kiosk newbie.
Postal kiosks account for 10 percent of retail revenue and are part of a broader effort to make retail services more accessible. They accept major credit and debit cards and generate a receipt for payment and are capable of conducting business in Spanish.
