Digital stamps

A method for using a digital stamp, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a computerized user interface device communicatively connected a delivery service computing system, a request from a user to deliver an item to a destination using a digital stamp, wherein the item includes destination information, and the item lacks any physical indicator that a delivery fee for the item has been paid or will be paid;
• receiving, by the computerized user interface device, a destination address from the user;
• presenting to the user, by the computerized user interface device, a delivery fee for delivering the item, wherein the delivery fee is based on the destination address;
• generating, by the delivery service computing system, a record for the digital stamp using the destination address received from the user, the delivery fee, and user account information, wherein the record correlates the digital stamp with the item;
• collecting the item, wherein the item lacks any physical indicator that the delivery fee for the item has been paid or will be paid;
• obtaining, using a camera operably connected to the delivery service computing system, an image of the item including the destination information;
• determining, based on the image, that the item lacks any physical indicator that a delivery fee for the item has been paid or will be paid;
• in response to determining that the item lacks any physical indicator that a delivery fee for the item has been paid or will be paid, determining, based on the destination information from the image, whether there is a digital stamp correlating to the item;
• and
• in response to determining that the digital stamp correlates to the item, directing the item for delivery according to the destination information.

A computer-readable data storage device including instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, perform operations comprising:

• receiving a request from a user to deliver an item to a destination using a digital stamp, wherein the item includes destination information, and the item lacks any physical indicator that a delivery fee for the item has been paid or will be paid;
• receiving a destination address from the user;
• calculating a delivery fee for delivering the item, wherein the delivery fee is based on the destination address;
• generating a record for the digital stamp using the destination address received from the user, the delivery fee, and user account information, wherein the record correlates the digital stamp with the item;
• obtaining, using a camera operably connected to the one or more processors, an image of the item including the destination information;
• determining, based on the image, that the item lacks any physical indicator that a delivery fee for the item has been paid or will be paid;
• in response to determining that the item lacks any physical indicator that a delivery fee for the item has been paid or will be paid, determining, based on the destination information from the image, whether there is a digital stamp correlating to the item;
• and
• in response to determining that the digital stamp correlates to the item, directing the item for delivery according to the destination information.