A Smart Choice for Peer-to-Peer Sales
USPS Local XChange brings secure, convenient and safe self-service
Local peer-to-peer sales are among the fastest-growing segments of ecommerce, yet the final step can often be surprisingly old-fashioned. More often than not after using an online marketplace, local buyers and sellers still have to arrange a meeting, coordinate schedules and manage the uncertainty, risk and inconvenience that come with meeting a stranger to finalize the transaction.
Those issues can be avoided with a new self-service offering from the U.S. Postal Service called Local XChange. This affordable, modern solution brings safety, security and convenience to that final step in a local online sale by using the nationwide network of USPS Smart Lockers® and the popular USPS Click-N-Ship postage and shipping label creation system.
The Local XChange process is intentionally simple. Once a deal is made, the seller creates a Local XChange label through their free, easy-to-use Click-N-Ship account and, for a nominal fee, deposits their merchandise at one of more than 600 eligible Smart Lockers, located in participating Post Office lobbies. Once this is completed, the buyer is automatically notified and receives a QR code to retrieve their purchase.
Rather than navigating a logistical challenge, both parties can finalize their deal with no parking lot meetup, no schedule juggling and no unnecessary uncertainty.
This is a great self-service opportunity for the peer-to-peer market. Most Smart Lockers have compartments that can accommodate packages as large as 22.5 inches by 19.5 inches by 14.4 inches, roughly the size of carry-on luggage, so sellers can use this secure drop-off system for a wide range of items. The technology that powers Smart Lockers also updates sellers when the buyer picks up their purchase. Sellers also know that if an item is not retrieved within the pickup window, it is automatically returned to them.
Buyers, at the same time, gain peace of mind knowing their purchase is secured inside a Post Office. And many Smart Locker locations offer extended lobby hours, giving buyers unmatched flexibility to pick up their purchase at a time that works for them.
Local XChange is a real game changer that can facilitate the growth of local online sales by eliminating the scheduling conflicts, weather delays and anxiety that can often derail such transactions.
This new Local XChange product is part of the USPS retail modernization strategy. It solves a practical market need in a vibrant and growing business sector by leveraging our existing infrastructure and building on the core strengths of trust, accessibility and universal service that distinguish the Postal Service from our competitors. It focuses on simplicity and convenience for both sellers and buyers and offers visibility to all steps in the transaction process.
This is also a great opportunity for USPS to open a new revenue stream while cementing our commitment to America’s small businesses. And we’re doing it without adding extra workload to postal employees. This is the Postal Service of the future, one that not only serves as a place to send and receive mail but also a dependable, reliable and trusted partner for American commerce.
For more information on how to get started with USPS Local Xchange, visit the program portal at usps.com/smart-lockers/local-xchange.htm.
Robert Dixon, Senior Director, Delivery & Retail Modernization