Helpful Colin

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parcel scales

ABCON® PostShip® Parcel Scales Review

Preface

This post describes: The design, usage and benefits of ABCON® PostShip® parcel scales.

Introduction

I found these ABCON® PostShip® parcel scales in COSTCO, Derby. They seem to be a parcel shipment person’s dream. They’re great for sellers on auction sites.

NOTE: ABCON® and PostShip® are registered trademarks.

parcel scales
ABCON PostShip Parcel Scales

I just found they are the TOP CHOICE in this list of The 10 Best Postal Scales by Comparaboo. — HC, 22nd August 2017

Now they are down to 7th in this list. — HC, 10th June 2019

Until I bought these ABCON® PostShip® parcel scales I had been using my wife’s Salter Electronic (Model No.3007) kitchen scales for weighing packages destined for the mail.

parcel scales
Salter Kitchen Scales Previously Used For Packages/Parcels

They were O.K. from 5g up to 5kg but had these disadvantages:

  1. Large packages covered the scale readout. So I still didn’t know how much they weighed.
  2. By using them I may have introduced dirt into the food preparation area.
  3. Tubes being weighed would roll off the scales if I couldn’t stand them on end.
  4. The weight measurement was lost as soon as the item was removed from the scales. This made it difficult to weigh parcels so large they covered the display.

The ABCON® PostShip® Parcel Scale Models Available

NOTE: ABCON® make five models covering different weight ranges. Mine is in the middle range (highlighted in the table below). The full list of weight ranges covered by these models is also in the table below:

DESCRIPTIONWEIGHT RANGEACCURACY per DIVISION
POSTSHIP® 16KG/35LB0-1kg / 0-2lb2g / 0.1oz
1-16kg / 2-35lb5g / 0.2oz
POSTSHIP® 25KG/55LB0-1kg / 0-2lb2g / 0.1oz
1-25kg / 2-55lb10g / 0.5oz
POSTSHIP® 34KG/75LB0-1kg / 0-2lb5g / 0.2oz
1-34kg / 2-75lb10g / 0.5oz
POSTSHIP® 40KG/88LB0-5kg / 0-11lb5g / 0.2oz
5-40kg / 11-88lb10g / 0.5oz
POSTSHIP® 45KG/99LB0-5kg / 0-11lb5g / 0.2oz
5-45kg / 11-99lb10g / 0.5oz

The ABCON® PostShip® Parcel Scales Specification

The table below shows the specification for my model. I don’t know if other models have different specifications.

PARAMETERVALUE
DescriptionPOSTSHIP® 34KG/75LB
Weight Range0-34kg / 0-75lb
Platform Size22cm (wide) x 18cm (deep)
Net / Gross Weight1260g / 1625g
PackageStandard carton: 33 x 26 x 12.7cm
Operating Temperature0-40°C (32-104°F)
Optimum : 19-30°C (66-86°F)
Power Source6 x AA 1.5V batteries (not included)
AC Adapter 9V / 100mA DC output (optional)

NOTE: These parcel scales change in 5g/0.2oz steps between 0kg and 1kg (0lb and 2lb) and then they change in 10g/0.5oz steps between 1kg and 34kg (2lb and 75lb).

Assembling and Setting up ABCON® PostShip® Parcel Scales

When you remove the ABCON® PostShip® parcel scales from their box and polystyrene protective packaging you have to attach the weighing tray to the metal plate on top of the scales. The picture below shows the weighing tray upside down and the parcel scales without the weighing tray in place:

parcel scales
Weighing Tray
parcel scales
Platter To Which The Weighing Tray Is Attached

The weighing tray has five plastic pegs coming down from underneath it which fit into the five large holes in the supporting metal plate. It also has a hinged section which, when lifted, helps with weighing packages that can roll about, or any package which must be leant against a vertical surface while being weighed. See below:

parcel scales
Weighing Tray With Back Support Raised

Then insert six AA batteries (not included) or connect a mains power supply (included).

The batteries can be inserted underneath by turning the parcel scales upside down. See the picture below with the battery cover removed:

parcel scales
The Battery Compartment

Alternatively the parcel scales can be powered from the mains using this power supply:

parcel scales
The Mains Power Supply

The power supply plugs into the mains and the socket shown below:

parcel scales
The Location of The Power Socket

Operating ABCON® PostShip® Parcel Scales

Putting The Parcel Scales in Place

Place the parcel scales on a firm surface at a convenient height and ensure that the surface they are placed on can take the weight of the items to be weighed. (With this model up to 34kg/75lb.)

Power Up The Parcel Scales

Press the ON/OFF button to turn the parcel scales on and let them warm up for a minute. The scales go through a start-up routine which involves counting down from 99999 to 11111 then – – – – – . Finally they show one of the following zeros depending on the unit set for measuring weight:

  • 0g
  • 0. 0.0lb:oz
  • 0.000kg
  • 0.00lb
  • 0.0oz

Setting The Weight Units

The weight unit is indicated by an arrow head in the display which points to the appropriate unit marked on the plastic cover to the right of the display. It can be changed by continual pressing of the UNIT button either prior to weighing an item or afterwards while the scales are on HOLD. The units change in the following order before returning to the original unit:

  • grams (g)
  • pounds and ounces (lb:oz)
  • kilograms (kg)
  • pounds (lb)
  • ounces (oz)

Setting The Parcel Scales To ZERO

If the figure displayed is not zero and the zero indicator “-0-“ is not visible in the top left of the display then press the ZERO button to force the scales to display zero. When satisfactorily zeroed the zero indicator “-0-“ will be displayed.

Weighing A Parcel

Place the item to be weighed on the weighing tray and watch the number on the display increase. After three seconds have elapsed the scales will make a single bleep sound and HOLD will appear on the screen as well as the stable weight indicator “ʘ” in the bottom left of the display. The display will continue to display the measured weight even when the item is removed from the scales for at least 90 seconds (120 seconds according to the manual). After that time the display returns to zero and the HOLD indicator is cleared. If, before that time has elapsed, the HOLD button is pressed the display will return to zero.

Weighing Additional Parcels

If a second item is to be weighed without taking the first item off the scales then press the ZERO button to set the display to zero. It will also remove the HOLD condition. Then place the second item on the weighing tray too. This can be repeated time and time again, presumably until the maximum weight is reached by all the items on the scale. Why would you do this? I haven’t spoken about it until now but these scales would make excellent kitchen scales where that practice is required when adding to a mixing bowl. However they would suffer from the ingress of foodstuff around the buttons. So if these are used as kitchen scales just put them inside a flexible transparent polyethylene bag.

Examples

Weighing A Box

parcel scales
Example of Weighing A Large Box

Weighing A Tube

parcel scales
Example of Weighing A Tube

Adjusting Some Of The Functions

These functions can be turned ON and OFF to suit the requirements of the user.

Automatic:

  • Shut Off,
  • Backlight,
  • Hold.

Full instructions for doing this are provided in the accompanying manual. Initially all these functions are turned ON.

Calibration

Many scales are calibrated in the factory and cannot be recalibrated later or at least they have to be returned to the manufacturer for that, but that doesn’t apply with these scales. The manual describes how to recalibrate them.

NOTE: I would emphasize that although the manual says these scales can be calibrated using various commodities whose weight is known I wouldn’t advise using say 5kg of potatoes weighed out by the man in the local market since his scales may not be very accurate. When and by whom were they calibrated? Are they just a spring balance? I would more rely on the manufacturer’s calibration for some time and only recalibrate them when I was certain there was a problem. Then I would do my best to get the calibration as accurate as possible by taking advice from the local government department responsible for weights and measures.

NOTE: Another point of concern is – be careful not to destroy the existing calibration by accidentally pressing the wrong buttons, i.e. the ON/OFF button (when switching ON) and UNIT button at the same time. Don’t let the cat do it either.

Typical Error Messages

(See page 8, 13 and 14 of the manual)

Error due to:

  • faulty calibration,
  • damage,
  • overload,
  • being on an unstable surface,
  • Low battery.

These are all discussed in the comprehensive Troubleshooting section of the manual.

Warranty

My ABCON® PostShip® Parcel Scales came with the standard 12 months warranty with the option to obtain a further 4 years warranty by registering the purchase of the scales with ABCON. Registration was an online process.

Storage

In the original box

If not used very often the parcel scales can be stored in their original box but as it stands the polystyrene packing is shaped such that the weighing tray has to be separated from the parcel scales to fit. However with a bit of skill and a suitable small sharp knife the polystyrene packing can be cut so that the parcel scales can be fitted into it with the weighing tray mounted on top.

NOTE: Batteries can leak corrosive chemicals. Don’t forget to remove batteries for long time storage (6 months or more).

On a shelf

The edge of the weighing tray and the overhang of the top cover allow it to sit very nicely in a vertical attitude. This gives it a smaller footprint when standing on a shelf, for example. See below:

parcel scales

Where You Can Buy ABCON® PostShip® Parcel Scales

Here are some places you can buy these parcel scales from.

END OF POST

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Comments

3 responses to “ABCON® PostShip® Parcel Scales Review”

  1. Sue avatar
    Sue

    Hi Colin

    Thank you for your useful info on the Postship Abcon postal scales – i saw some in my local Mailbox shop today – they had the next model up from yours.

    Can you tell me if in practical terms these scales could weigh a full heavy largish suitcase in terms of whether the suitcase would balance alright on the scales without falling over or off the scales and how accurate would the scales be for say 24kg of luggage?

    Many thanks
    Sue

    Reply
    1. Helpful Colin avatar
      Helpful Colin

      Hi Sue,

      First I must apologise for an error in my tables in the article where I referred to the model names incorrectly as POSTSHIP 34KG/75KG instead of POSTSHIP 34KG/75LB for example. (See bold text.)

      Since my scales will weigh up to 34kg and the next model up will weigh 40kg to within 10g I’m sure they will be accurate enough.

      What you may have to do is put a board on the scales first which is long enough and wide enough for your case to balance on. When the board is in place press the ZERO button to remove the weight of the board before you weigh the case. If your baggage is hard you may get away without the board but if it is soft and flops over the Weighing Tray, so that some of its weight is supported by (for example) the surface on which the scales rest, you will definitely need the board to be sure your measurement is accurate.

      I hope this answers your query.

      Regards, HC.

      Reply
      1. sue avatar
        sue

        Many thanks for your suggestion.

        Thank you
        Sue

        Reply

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