In March Royal Mail announced a new development in posting tracked packages:
To use the service customers simply need to open the Royal Mail app, select ‘proof of posting’ and the postbox they are at will appear. They then scan their barcoded label, select ‘post now’ and the customers will receive their proof of posting confirmation message.
Thanks to JW of Edinburgh I can now show what seems to be a further development in the process, certainly it's a different type of postbox to the one shown in March.
Far from 'the postbox they are at will appear' (presumably using a GPS locator), this one now requires the packet to be scanned using the scanner on the postbox.
I assume that there are two containers inside the box, which will enable the 'to be postmarked' and labelled mails to be kept separate. (Click on the image to enlarge so that you can read the instructions!)
If anybody has any other developments, including using the boxes with solar panels on, I will be pleased to report on them.
How very interesting - a very different looking postbox to what's ever been on streets in the UK! I wonder if the postbox has to be brand new (one would assume the one pictured bears King Charles's cypher?) as opposed to 'modernising' existing postboxes?
ReplyDeletePostboxes in Scotland bear no cypher, however this is obviously just an add-on to an existing postbox. A google image search reveal identical ones in Herts and Cambs (E II R).
DeleteHi, I've recently noticed that the postbox I shared here does indeed have a solar panel on the top-back. I didn't notice it at the time, I'll try send a picture next week
ReplyDeleteI wonder if these smart postboxes are clever enough to know when they're full to stop a wasted journey.
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly an interesting development but possibly bad news for Post Offices, which are already struggling for various reasons.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll stick with my local PO!
Each one of these that I have seen so far have been the post boxes right outside post offices, interestingly
DeleteYes, that's rubbing their noses in it! Especially if it's a post office that has long hours.
DeleteI am aware of one Post Office where the box outside has been sealed out of use pending this conversion and the postmaster is only accepting stamped mail in the interim if the person buys the stamp from him at the time!
ReplyDeleteIt's a story I've heard before. But supposing you were posting items stamped with letters from a booklet that you had bought earlier? Or that you had bought from this PO ages ago and swapped?
DeleteI don't believe he is entitled to refuse it, but arguing will just antagonise him.