Pitney Bowes Announces

Cloud Postage

pbSmartPostage

    Pitney Bowes announced, in the last couple of days of March 2011, a "Cloud" based postage. The user account is on the Internet, not on his/her computer. Postage stamps and shipping labels can be printed from any computer. The PB software is in the "Cloud" as is the user account. See our Gallery for more details. As with earlier types of PC Postage, Internet download parcel shipping labels with postage can be printed on plain paper. Stamps must be printed on special diecut sheets with fluorescent orange tags. Shown below is a test stamp and a test shipping label.

June 5, 2011

Duane Reade Postal Kiosks in New York City

Duane Reade is a drug store chain in New York City that has a history of using kiosks, including a relatively new one at hospitals and clinics that doctors and patents can use to order prescriptions. Four locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn  have recently installed the Pitney Bowes postal kiosks along with a small mailbox and a rack of postal supplies. The kiosk is similar to those discussed in articles on this page below. The locations as of late September 2009 are:

661 8th Ave. Manhattan
325 Columbus Ave. Manhattan
200 Water Street Manhattan
436 86th Street Brooklyn

Photographs of the unit at the 8th Ave. store are shown here. At this time we have not actually seen a scan of the stamp produced by these kiosks but the description is similar to that shown in articles here and in the Meter Stamp Society Bulletin issue 279, Spring 2008. The stamp is printed on a peelable label that has a pink phosphorescent bar to the right. The stamp is printed in black ink rather than the usual red. This stamp is essentially identical to the "1P" Pitney Bowes indicia shown in the Gallery except for the wording "Sold" next to the date indicating that the stamp may be used anytime in the future. The backing paper has the Pitney Bowes logo.

Pitney Bowes Kiosk installed at Duane Reade store at 8th Ave. and 42nd St.

September 2009

Added Note: In January 2010 we learn that some Target stores in Minneapolis, Dallas and Oklahoma City may have the PB kiosk as well. We have not as yet had verification of this by members.

January 2010

Pitney Bowes tested their Kiosk, the same one discussed several notes below this, at six locations around Toronto. The tests ran from September 2008 to January 2009. The kiosks were removed and there is no indication that they will be used anywhere else. This test was first published in the BNAPS, British North America Philatelic Society, journal Topics Vol 66, number 2, April-June 2009. As with the US kiosk, the printed stamp was in black ink on a peelable label that has a pink phosphorescent bar on the right.

Stamp image provided by Topics Article dated April-June 2009.

Essay of Future Stamp provided by PB in 2007.

September 2009

New UK Vending Stamps

Two Wincor-Nixdorf Propostal vending machines went online at the Galleries branch in Bristol UK on 8 October, 2008. The machine can weigh the mail and prepare labels for a variety of mail services. See the MSSQB Vol60/no4(282) for more info.

Two kiosks from the same vendor are also seen in the Faroe Islands. For more info go to  www.stamps.fo and search for "Franking Labels" at that site.

Similar kiosks are scheduled for other European countries in the next months.

A brochure from Wincor-Nixdorf is attached HERE.

http://postagelabelsuk.com

December 2008

IBM "Print on Demand" Kiosk Test

Just one IBM "Print on Demand" kiosk was tested at a US Post Office Innovation Center in Schaumberg, Illinois. See the MSSQB Vol 60/No.3 (281) for more information. The test ended on July 31 2009 with no indications that is would be reinstalled anywhere else. The stamp had been changed to the second image below available in a sheet of 10 or a single.

September 2009

Pitney Bowes/NCR Postal Kiosk

The Kiosks are said to be in 85 locations in the US and an unknown number in other parts of the world.  One unit in Canada, at last call, had been tested internally but had not been placed.  All units are rented to corporations or universities and placed in common areas accessible to the employees or students but not generally to the outside public.  No first day covers were ever prepared and there have been absolutely no reports of mailed covers. PB does provide a brochure.

13 November, 2007

Data-Pac

Data-Pac introduced a redesigned website in October 2007.  It appears that beta trials are complete and some postage meters are in service.  Less than five covers have been reported at this date. No first day covers were ever prepared. Some known imprints are black and some red.

13 November, 2007

Richard Yankloski, CEO of Data-Pac Mailing Systems, Inc., announced that Data-Pac, until now a vendor of computer software and computers to the mail room industry, began Beta trials of a new line of postage meters, America2, at 25 locations involving as many as 60 postage meters.  Items are being seen in the mail.  The first day of use is listed as 11 November, 2006 but it is believed that no special first day covers were prepared.  www.data-pac.com.

2 February, 2007

Pitney Bowes and NCR Introduce Postal Kiosks

Pitney Bowes and NCR announced 10/10/06 that Self Service Postal Kiosks are being placed.  See:

http://www.ncr. com/en/media_ information/ 2006/oct/ pr101006a. htm

Our members have found two:

1. Emory University, Atlanta, GA (see pdf file attached)
https://www. admin.emory. edu/OBM/mail/ pdfs/Kiosk% 20document. pdf
2. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
http://www.virginia .edu/mailservice s/kiosk.html

See News Page Item below about earlier tests at PB locations. Please report any other locations to admin(at)meterstampsociety.com.  Thanks

We have received the photo below from Emory U taken on 1 December 2006 with an "out of order" sign (left). The PB Press department provides a photo of the "new" model (right). PB also states that there are eight of these in the US but was not able to identify the locations for us. Units are in place in Europe, South America, Asia and Canada. 

The Emory unit was restarted in February and a friend obtained the following image for us. Identical in appearance to the trial at Pitney Bowes headquarters.  More information in the MSSB Spring 2007 edition.

However as of late April 2007 a visitor found the University of Virginia unit deactivated.

22 April, 2007

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The Meter Stamp Society has been designated by the IRS as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Donations after 2 August, 2004 of money and material are fully deductible to the fullest extent the law allows. The society relies on these donations to produce a quality Bulletin, further our educational purposes, and promote meter stamp collecting. All donations are welcome. If you donate material, it will be auctioned in order to receive the ultimate benefit to the society and to allow collectors to benefit from owning and studying the material. If you have material to donate, please contact our auction chairman, Joel Hawkins [3102 North 150th Lane Goodyear, AZ 85338, e-mail:  joel5215(at)aol.com]. If you have money to donate, please send your contribution to Secretary-Treasurer Doug Kelsey, [PO Box 16278 Tucson, AZ 85732-6278, e-mail:  douglasK21(at)aol.com]. All donations will be acknowledged in the Bulletin. Additionally, large donations will be provided with the necessary acknowledgment letter and tax forms (if required as determined by value). If you have any questions about making a donation to the MSS, please contact Doug Kelsey.

• Non-Profit tax status is still in the hands of the IRS.
• New editor of the MSSB is needed as Rick Stambaugh plans retirement after 22 years at the helm.
• Plans discussed to assign "columns" to volunteers to take the full writing task off the new editor.
• Discussion of possible plans for the website:
•     Possible distribution of MSSB via the web to save printing and mail costs
•     Possible use of the website to distribute old issues of the MSSB, individually and/or as a  
•          complete CD.
•     Possible set up a "List" to facilitate communication to all members by e-mail
• Request to members to donate Exhibits for downloads from the Gallery (Got one that day!)
• Discuss next meeting date in 2007. Looking at shows in Ohio or Arizona. 

      Please post your comments for this agenda to decrotty(at)yahoo.com

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MSS members have been invited to help build the NPM's new website www.arago.si.edu.  The site was introduced during the Washington 2006 show.  At this writing just a few original postage meters are featured on the site.  In time we hope to help write descriptions for their extensive collection of US postage meters.  Bob Rice has provided the descriptions for these items.

The name Arago was chosen because Mr. Arago was an original supporter of the Smithsonian.  He is said to have promoted the idea that information should be made available using the best possible technology.

Also check out the NPM's main website: www.postalmuseum.si.edu.

Here is the text of a notice to employees for a beta test and an image of the stamp produced.

Date: December 9, 2005

Subject: Postal Kiosk Installation at Your Location

To All WHQ, 35 Waterview and 27 Waterview Employees

Summary

Exciting news! Today, the first live Pitney Bowes Postal Kiosk will be

installed and ready to use outside the 35 Waterview cafeteria.

Recently approved by USPS to move into the Beta phase, the Kiosk

represents a new business opportunity combining our Postal Evidencing and

Secure funds management expertise with self-service kiosk technology. This

is another step forward in our commitment to expand Pitney Bowes' role in

the mailstream.

The kiosk can be used to mail letters and packages, as well as purchase

stamp-like indicia strips using Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and

Discover.

Key Dates

Friday, Dec 9: Kiosk Installation at 35 Waterview - Outside the cafeteria

Friday, Dec 16: Kiosk Installation at World Headquarters - Between the

cafeteria and Company Store

Action Requested

I'd like to encourage everyone to take the opportunity to purchase postage

using the system. The kiosk is meant to make your lives a little easier

during this hectic holiday season. Mail a package to a loved one.

Purchase indicia strips for your holiday cards. Try it out.

Contact

We have a development team who is very interested in getting your feedback

on this new product. Web and e-mail addresses for providing feedback will

be posted at the kiosk.

Thank you,

Old meters are disappearing.  The post offices of the U.S. and Canada will eventually obsolete any postage meter that is not digital, remotely resetable and does not have a digital printer.  The schedule is shown here:

The International Postage Meter Stamp Catalog appears Spring 2005

The International Postage Meter Stamp Catalog

Joel Hawkins, Richard Stambaugh 2005

Availability: www.WorldMeterStamps.com

..

Canadian Meter Catalog appears Spring 2005

Canadian Meter Postage Stamp Catalog 

Ross W. Irwin

Longley Auctions, 2004

Availablity: www.longleyauctions.com/ 

Longley Auctions

PO Box 620

Waterdown, Ontario

Canada L0R 2H0

Review See MSS Quarterly Bulletin - Fall 2005

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