Multifunctional self-service shipping and mail processing system

A method for finalizing a package of an object prior to tendering the package shipping service, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a package shipping processing system including a kiosk housing, a computer terminal including a display device, an input device, a plurality of insulations wherein said insulations have different densities, and a data processor, and wherein the data processor includes memory which stores a fragility index, and the fragility index includes a listing of a plurality of objects and a listing of the plurality of insulations wherein each of the plurality of objects correspond to one of the insulations, and wherein said data processor is programmed that upon inputting the identification of an object for shipment into the input device, the data processor will select an insulation based on the fragility index and then display an identification of the selected insulation upon the display device, and wherein the data processor is programmed that upon inputting the identification of an object for shipment into the input device, the data processor will select an insulation based on the fragility index and then display the selected insulation upon the display device;
• inputting, into the input device, a designation of the object for shipment which is within the data processor's listing of objects;
• selecting, by the data processor, an insulation based upon the fragility index and the designation of the object for shipment input into the input device;
• and
• packaging the object for shipment within an insulation filled package wherein the insulation was selected in accordance with the selected insulation density.