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Ina Steiner is co-founder and Editor of EcommerceBytes and has been reporting on ecommerce since 1999. She's a widely cited authority on marketplace selling and is author of "Turn eBay Data Into Dollars" (McGraw-Hill 2006). Her blog was featured in the book, "Blogging Heroes" (Wiley 2008). She is a member of the Online News Association (Sep 2005 - present) and Investigative Reporters and Editors (Mar 2006 - present). Follow her on Twitter at @ecommercebytes and send news tips to ina@ecommercebytes.com. See disclosure at EcommerceBytes.com/disclosure/.
I never wait in line. I just walk in and drop them off at the counter. The employees scan them in once they are done helping the customers in the line. It works for both of us.
I will never use their Kiosk system, however, I know this will work for many shops who CAN afford to have lost packages; without insurance. I’m a jeweler. I send packages worth $250-$700. I will always walk up to the counter to add “insurance” while obtaining an official receipt. I’ve heard of too many Etsy sellers complain that packages are not always scanned until delivered, when packages are just dropped off without a “time-stamp” from a postal worker.
Q: I understand a scan at the kiosk is not/may no be “binding” for insurance purposes,
BUT … it DOES show up on the tracking history?? correct?
I had a chat with one of the employees at my local post office just a bit ago…….
I had been under the MISIMPRESSION that if I set boxes on the end of the counter
(without waiting in line for an official “acceptance scan”)
they WOULD still be scanned before leaving the branch post office.
I was told today that is NOT true — boxes that are just dropped off
are NOT not scanned until they hit the first distribution/sorting center.
Well that kinda stinks….
I’m thinking well what if my box ends up on the train tracks like in LA???
I may have rethink my strategy here……………..
Waiting is line is no fun
but … even if the kiosk scan does not help with collecting insurance …
it would still provide buyers with some assurance that the item was in-transit …
So long as the kiosk scan is logged in the tracking history……………
Thanks y’all!