I'm sure many of us has seen this block of blue lockers in almost every major malls in Singapore. The blue ones belong to Singpost, and I know other courier companies such as NinjaVan has set up their own colored lockers everywhere they could as well.
These lockers act as an alternative location for your parcels to be delivered to. Whether you are never home to receive the parcels, or you don't want the senders to know where you live; these lockers are your life saviors.
One of the best ideas ever!
I work different shifts throughout the month, and my rest days are unpredictable. So it's very hard for me to be home at exactly the time my parcels will be delivered to me.
If your desired online shop delivers parcel through Singpost, then you will definitely have the option to have your parcel delivered to any one of their POPStations.
Some global online stores such as TaoBao and Zalora can arrange your parcels to be delivered to POPStations as well.
One of the best ideas ever!
I work different shifts throughout the month, and my rest days are unpredictable. So it's very hard for me to be home at exactly the time my parcels will be delivered to me.
If your desired online shop delivers parcel through Singpost, then you will definitely have the option to have your parcel delivered to any one of their POPStations.
Some global online stores such as TaoBao and Zalora can arrange your parcels to be delivered to POPStations as well.
So far I've done my online shopping with 3 different online stores, and I've successfully arranged my parcels to be delivered to the POPStation nearest to my apartment.
It's very easy to make that arrangement. Once you're ready to check out your shopping cart, you'll be able to select one of the POPStations as your delivery address.
It's very easy to make that arrangement. Once you're ready to check out your shopping cart, you'll be able to select one of the POPStations as your delivery address.
Most of the online stores I've went to was very easy to navigate through the POPStation selection process, except for Tao Bao. There's no precise option at their check out page for POPStations, so I'd like to blog on my TaoBao experience in this post.
I navigated my way through TaoBao's check out process with the help of the following website:
I navigated my way through TaoBao's check out process with the help of the following website:
But it was written in 2014, and the layout of TaoBao's website has obviously changed over the years. So here's how it's done in 2017:
1. Check out your shopping cart, and you'll see this page:
1. Check out your shopping cart, and you'll see this page:
2. Concentrate on this section '官方物流' . This section allows you to choose your courier service company.
If you don't understand Mandarin, allow me to explain it to you.
The first option '直送', translates to 'direct delivery'. It means the items will be delivered directly from the supplier -> warehouse -> your address, with no halt in between. The shipping cost will be calculated and paid together with the purchased items upon checking out your shopping cart.
The second option '集运', translates to 'gathered shipment'. It means all your purchased items will be gathered at the warehouse first. You will then have to make a separate payment for the shipping to be carried out by your preferred courier company. This is especially convenient if you've purchased items from different suppliers, and would like to receive all your items at the same time.
So the flow of the second option goes like this:
Items from different suppliers -> warehouse -> stored at the warehouse for a limited period of time while they wait for your shipping payment -> payment received -> your delivery address
In order to choose POPStation as your delivery address, you have to choose the second option '集运', because only '集运' allows you to choose your preferred courier company.
So, select '集运', and then click on the small red link on the right that says '修改服务商', which translates to 'Edit Service Provider'.
The first option '直送', translates to 'direct delivery'. It means the items will be delivered directly from the supplier -> warehouse -> your address, with no halt in between. The shipping cost will be calculated and paid together with the purchased items upon checking out your shopping cart.
The second option '集运', translates to 'gathered shipment'. It means all your purchased items will be gathered at the warehouse first. You will then have to make a separate payment for the shipping to be carried out by your preferred courier company. This is especially convenient if you've purchased items from different suppliers, and would like to receive all your items at the same time.
So the flow of the second option goes like this:
Items from different suppliers -> warehouse -> stored at the warehouse for a limited period of time while they wait for your shipping payment -> payment received -> your delivery address
In order to choose POPStation as your delivery address, you have to choose the second option '集运', because only '集运' allows you to choose your preferred courier company.
So, select '集运', and then click on the small red link on the right that says '修改服务商', which translates to 'Edit Service Provider'.
You will then see a whole list of available service providers/courier companies for you to choose from. Search for '4PX递四方速递' and select that option. You could see the POPStation logo listed under 4PX.
After selecting 4PX, remember to click '确定' to confirm your selection.
After this, continue to make payment for your items. Note that the amount you're paying right now is solely for your products only.
Once you're done with payment, you just have to wait until you receive a message that your items have arrived at the warehouse. I received the messages 2 days after I placed my order.
If you still have not received any messages after a few days, log on to your TaoBao account and check under '我的淘宝' to see if the items has arrived the warehouse or not.
The letters that has green underline '已入库' translates to 'entered warehouse', which means your item has arrived at the warehouse. If all your purchased items from different suppliers has arrived, you can console all the items and ship them out together.
Click on the '待发货' (waiting for shipment) button.
Click on the '待发货' (waiting for shipment) button.
In this page, you can view the details of your purchased items. If you hover on the '查看物流' (check product flow)'s link, you can see the detailed movement of your item.
Next, select the '集运' (gathered shipment) button.
Next, select the '集运' (gathered shipment) button.
You will be directed to the page where you can view and select all your purchased items that has arrived at the warehouse. It will also show you the weight of the items in order to calculate the shipment cost.
Select the items that you want to console for shipment together, and proceed to the next page by clicking '运费结算'.
Select the items that you want to console for shipment together, and proceed to the next page by clicking '运费结算'.
On the next page, you will be able to choose your desired delivery address.
The first option '送货上门' is to deliver to your home address.
The second option '自提点取货' is for self collection.
Select the second option - self collection, and click on the '修改地址' link to select the POPStation location.
The first option '送货上门' is to deliver to your home address.
The second option '自提点取货' is for self collection.
Select the second option - self collection, and click on the '修改地址' link to select the POPStation location.
Once you've selected your desired POPStation, scroll down and make payment.
After this, you just have to wait for SingPost to send you a message for successful delivery. You will receive a message like this:
The message will state the POPStation location, a 4 digit Collection PIN and the Locker Number. You are given 5 days to clear out the locker.
So once you're at the POPStation, go to the screen and follow their simple instruction to open your locker.
So once you're at the POPStation, go to the screen and follow their simple instruction to open your locker.
Ta-dah! There's my parcel! The machine only requires your collection PIN and locker number to release the locker. So if you're unable to collect it by yourself, just give the PIN and locker number to your friend/family to pick it up for you.
And that concludes my TaoBao - POPStation blog post. I hope this helps your first purchase through TaoBao that utilizes the POPStations. I will definitely be buying more stuffs online after realizing how easy it was with the existence of POPStations.
I gotta sleep now.
See you in my next blog post!
xoxo
sylvs
And that concludes my TaoBao - POPStation blog post. I hope this helps your first purchase through TaoBao that utilizes the POPStations. I will definitely be buying more stuffs online after realizing how easy it was with the existence of POPStations.
I gotta sleep now.
See you in my next blog post!
xoxo
sylvs