Businesses are always on the lookout for ways to save money. Using a postage meter is a possible solution. A postage meter is a device that creates and applies physical evidence of postage to mailed items.
It’s a popular option for businesses that want to send a high volume of mail while saving them up to 24% on postage. In this guide, we’ll explain what postage meters are, how they function, and if you should use one for your business.
What Are Postage Meters?
A postage meter is a machine that creates and prints postage on your envelopes, packages, labels, and other mailed material. Next to helping send large volumes of mail, they also can calculate the cost of your postage, saving you money in the process.
But saving you money through your mail isn’t the only thing a postage meter can do. They also save you significant time by eliminating the need for going to the post office.
How Do They Function?
Firstly, the user needs to deposit funds on the machine’s account along with the amount of postage needed for the mailing.
The machine will then print a unique indicia, including relevant information such as postage value and the date. The meter will calculate the postage based on mailing class, destination, and weight. You can then stick the indicia to the mail item before sending it. The machine deducts the cost of posting when the mail is sent. You can add funds to the account through a service provider.
Can I Buy a Postage Meter?
To help prevent postal fraud, UPS prohibits the sale of postage meters. While you won’t be able to buy one for your business, the good news is that you can still rent or lease them from authorized postal meter dealers.
Renting a postal meter usually requires a contract of one or two years while paying a monthly lease fee. Machine lease fees can vary in pricing from anywhere between $20 and $200. There is also a $200 annual license fee, along with consumables such as printer tape, envelopes, and paper, not to mention the postage of the mail itself.
The Best Business and Office Solutions
Office technology and equipment like a postage meter are an important part of the way you run your business. To ensure things go smoothly, you need efficient and high-quality solutions from a reliable team. Golden Gate Offices Solutions specializes in providing equipment to local businesses and organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you need help in selecting, buying, or renting the right equipment, then contact our team so we can help you make the best high-quality, budget-friendly choice.
