You can do it with Image Ready. Photoshop doesn't seem to let you do it in same way. Create the action, right click on the action and select Batch Options (to select where you want your cropped images saved) then right click again on the action and select Create Droplet (give droplet a filename). Drag your folder of images onto the droplet (an .exe file) and it will open Image Ready (if not already open) and batch process the whole folder.

• Create a new Action
• Select All
• Select - Modify - Contract (enter amount in pixels)
  (I assume by post meant 1/4 inch?)
• Image - Crop
• Stop Recording

It would save a bit of time no doubt.