| HONG KONG. 2018, the new Postage Label Vending Machines |
Over the last decades, Hong Kong Post has installed a large number of vending machines selling 'traditional' stamps with a few preprinted face values (images below) in post offices, transport terminals, public spaces, etc. In addition, in the 1980s and 1990s, several Frama and Nagler machines selling ATMs or variable value stamps were also installed (see article). In 2010 a pilot trial was launched using self-service postal kiosks of the Wincor Nixdorf company (see article, also published in VARIABLE 18).
| At the beginning of 2018 in a new initiative to enhance the postal service to users, Hong Kong Post approached different local and international companies by way of planning for the installation of new vending machines for variable value stamps. |
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After some internal trials, the postal company launched a public pilot trial, in mid-December 2018, in three post offices with a new model of kiosk or vending machine for variable value stamps, called PLVM (Postage Label Vending Machine).
| The first machine was installed on December 17th at the Tsim Sha Tsui post office, one of the most important in Hong Kong, located in a tourist and service area at the southern end of the Kowloon Peninsula. |
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The new PLVM (right) was installed within the refurbished facade of the post office, next to postboxes and a vending machine selling 'traditional' stamps. |
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| The second PLVM was installed the next day, on December 18th, within the facade of the General Post Office, in the central or financial district, north of Hong Kong island. |
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| And the third machine was installed on December 19th outside the very busy Yuen Long post office, located in a residential neighbourhood northwest of The New Territories. |
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After selection of the language (English, Mandarin or Cantonese) via the touch screen, the new stamp vending machine offers the option of calculating and purchasing stamps according to the selected shipment type, or the purchase of stamps with various programmed face values.
With the first option on the main menu, 'Postage Enquiry', the user must select the service, destination, format and weight of shipment (see sequence of screens below) with the system then issuing the variable value stamp with the corresponding face value.
The 'Pre-set Value Postage Labels' option offers the direct purchase of variable value stamps with various basic postal rates.
Payment is only possible with the local Octopus contactless card. The machine prints the corresponding stamp or stamps and receipt, which are then deposited in the lower tray.
The vending machine uses direct thermal printers for printing the stamps and receipts. |
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The new variable value stamps are printed on rolls of thermal self-adhesive labels with the pre-printed name of the country and the eight-digits code of the roll, only. As a security measure, the labels have the Hong Kong Post logo printed under the name of the country only visible under UV light. The size of the label is 54 x 25 mm. and includes an informative note on the back of the silicone paper on the conditions of use and the durability of the thermal printing.
The vending machine prints the face value and a 2D matrix code with all the information about the stamp and its issue on the right-hand side of the label. The stamp includes the post office and machine code, as well as the date of printing, at the bottom.
| PGPO - General Post Office |
PTST - Tsim Sha Tsui P.O. |
PYLG - Yuen Long Post Office |
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During the first few weeks, the machine offered the direct purchase of stamps with nine different basic postage values, starting from $ 2.0, the current local mail rate up to 30g - ($ 2.0, $ 2.6, $ 3.2, $ 3.4, $ 3.7, $ 4.6 , $ 4.8, $ 4.9 & $ 5.0).
At the end of January 2019, the $ 3.0 value, the rate for local letters up to 50g was added.
The new variable value stamp vending machines are very stable and reliable, the payment and printing process is very fast, and they have proved to be highly popular with postal users. So it is probable that Hong Kong Post will be installing many more machines throughout the region at the end of the trial.
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Even though the new variable value stamps are printed with the date Hong Kong Post guidelines allow their use indefinitely, (or as long as the thermal printing remains clear and has not faded), and also in combination with other postage systems for all shipment types. |
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This page was created in March 2019 and last updated:
19.04.19
. English edition last rewritten by J. Gareze (19.04.2019)
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