Source: OT-Team(G),上观新闻
According to a report from Shanghai Observer on November 18, a foreigner recently reached out to Shanghai's 12345 Citizen Hotline to report difficulties using luggage lockers in public spaces on October 14. The foreigner stated that at 4:25 PM on the day of the incident, he attempted to use luggage lockers named "XiaoIron" and "HIVE BOX" multiple times. However, after scanning the QR codes, he was unable to connect to the network or verify their Alipay or WeChat accounts. During the verification process, the system required facial recognition, but it failed at the second step, mistakenly detecting an obstruction on his face and blocking authentication. The foreigner expressed hope that the locker operators would address these issues promptly. In response, relevant authorities stated that they would improve the system by adding operation tips in the form of stickers and expanding the regional coverage for SMS verification codes. On November 18, HIVE BOX responded to the complaint, stating that they had assigned a technician to investigate the network issues. What is the experience of foreigners using these luggage lockers? And what improvements are needed? The reporter visited several locations to explore this further.1. SMS Verification Proves More Convenient than Alipay or WeChat for Foreigners During the reporter's field visit, some public spaces had already posted user guides on the luggage lockers in English to assist foreign visitors.
To test the system, the reporter used an overseas phone number to try out the "XiaoIron" locker. The process, after scanning the WeChat or Alipay QR codes, was similar: it led to an English-language storage page where the visitor was asked to provide a phone number. After entering their overseas number, they were prompted to complete a real-name authentication process, including filling out their name, ID type, and ID number. The system then proceeded to facial recognition, and once successfully recognized, the visitor could continue with payment.
