Which Meter?
The Ultimate Guide To Buying Postage Meters
Why FP?
Plugged into over 230,000 mailrooms worldwide, FP Mailing Solutions is the fastest growing mail machine systems company in the U.S. Real people. – With over 1,100 employees, FP provides all of our customers with a dedicated customer service team located in the U.S. Simple processes. – FP invests in research and development in order to continue to provide our customers with the simplest of solutions. FP is the leader in mailroom technology, being the first postage meter company to introduce a digital and USPS® IMI Compliant meter. Mailing solutions. – With over 90 years of experience, and operations in over 40 countries, it’s easy to see what makes FP Mailing Solutions the industry expert in mailroom solutions and technology.
Introduction to Postage Meters In the U.S. there are only four companies authorized to offer postage meters. Each company offers different products, customer experience, and terms & conditions. It can be confusing. This document will help you identify the best postage meter for your business.
Postage Meter Benefits If you regularly send more than a few envelopes, you can save time and money by automating your postage with a postage meter.
TIME
Faster than hand stamping, a meter automatically calculates rates and prints postage. Many meters can seal your envelopes as well.
MONEY
Get access to postage discounts, and never apply more postage than necessary.
CONVENIENCE
No need to go to the post office to buy stamps. Get Priority Mail and® Certified Mail® in your office.
BRANDING
Put a professional big-business image on your envelopes with the red postage imprint. Add your logo and a special message.
Postage Meter Features Postage meters vary in features and capacity, depending on the manufacturer and model. We’ll cover the following features in more detail:
• Envelope Feeding Type • Moistening & Sealing • Processing Speed & Productivity • Scale • Accounts • Postage Refilling • Ink Yield & Cost • Style & Size • Payment Plans • Costs
Envelope Feeding Type There are three ways to insert (feed) envelopes into the postage meter:
MANUAL
Insert envelope, print, remove envelope by hand. Best for low volume small business.
SEMI-AUTO
Insert envelope by hand, machine grabs and prints one-at-a-time. Best for low-to-medium volume small business.
AUTOMATIC
Load a stack of envelopes in the feeder, machine grabs and prints in batches. Best for medium-to-high volume mailing.
Moistening & Sealing Nobody likes licking envelopes. Wouldn’t you like the machine to seal your envelopes? That makes processing mail faster and more enjoyable. Some postage meters have the ability to moisten and seal envelopes automatically. Some only moisten, leaving you to press and seal the aps manually. The more mail you run, especially if you run large batches, the more useful this feature will be.
Processing Speed & Productivity Postage meter manufactures state processing speed in Letters Per Minute (LPM)or Pieces Per Minute (PPM). Entry-level meters start at about 17 LPM. But there are many other factors that determine how fast you can get the job done—your meter productivity.
Postage Meter Productivity Factors •Ease of use / controls (e.g. touchscreen vs buttons) •Type of envelope feeder (manual, semi, auto) •Weighing options (e.g. differential, dynamic weighing) •Simple/fast mail class selection •Input and output tray capacities •Jam-free operation •Processing speed (LPM)
Scale Scales weigh envelopes and packages, allowing the machine to automatically calculate postage based on mail class, destination and weight. Integrated (built-in) scales range from 2-15 pounds maximum weight. Get a scale that accommodates the weight of the largest package you regularly ship. Differential Weighing Differential Weighing helps you quickly process a stack of varied-weight envelopes. Place the stack on your scale. Each time you move an envelope from the scale to the postage printer, the scale determines the envelope’s weight by calculating the difference after removing the envelope. Only some meters offer Differential Weighing.
Accounts Make your accountant happy! Assign single mail pieces or batches to speciďŹ c accounts. These accounts can be departments, clients, or any other organizational division. Your monthly reports will group postage transactions by account.
Reporting
Although all postage meters can output rudimentary postage transaction reports, you may need more comprehensive reporting to satisfy your accounting folks. If this is important, be sure to ask your sales rep about reports, including optional software that connects to the meter
Postage Refilling Postage meters store postage (a form of U.S. currency) on Postal Security Devices (PSD). Your PSD is an inaccessible box inside your meter. Most meters download postage via the Internet. This is most often a wired LAN cable in your company’s network. Some meters can connect wirelessly via WiFi. Meter vendors offer a variety of ways to replenish your postage account, including check, credit card, ACH, direct debit, and debit on demand.
In the old days, you would take your meter to the post office, pay and load postage, and return to your office. These days, you load postage onto your PSD by connecting your meter to a network and downloading postage electronically from an account set up by your postage meter vendor.
BE AWARE OF: Transaction fees for downloading and/or billing postage.
Late fees for being late in paying off credit accounts that fund postage accounts.
Ink Yield & Cost Before committing to a contract, consider how much ink will cost you over the long term. Ink yields (estimated impressions per cartridge) and cartridge costs vary widely among manufacturers and models
To compare “apples to apples�, go beyond simple cartridge cost and calculate Cost per Impression.
CALCULATE COST PER IMPRESSION
Compare ink cost by calculating Cost Per Impression. Divide cartridge cost by estimated yield. For example: Cartridge cost: $200 Estimated yield: 2,000 impressions Cost Per Impression: $0.10 (200/2,000)
Style & Size Your postage meter will be a prominent permanent resident of your office space. Make sure it fits in with its look and physical dimensions.
COLORS Some postage meters are available in different colors. Most don’t give you a choice. If colors are important to you, don’t forget to ask about options.
Payment Plans Postage meter contracts vary by seller, which may be manufacturer-direct, or through a manufacturer’s reselling dealership. You may ďŹ nd separate arrangements/terms for the Postal Security Device (PSD), postage meter machine, postage, and supplies. Typically, postage meters are rented or leased, not purchased. Terms range from 1-5 years, with longer terms usually resulting in lower payments. Even when monthly rates are quoted, rental or lease payments are usually quarterly. (The PSD unit may only be rented, per USPS regulations.)
Costs Postage meter contracts may commit you to costs and fees beyond just a monthly payment. Standard Contract Costs:
Additional Fees: (to watch out for)
• Postage meter equipment rental
• Postage download fee (reset, teleset)
• Postal Security Device (PSD) rental
• Late payment fees
• Ink cartridges
• Insurance / Protection program
• Service agreement
• Equipment shipping & handling • Annual price increases • Early termination fee • Repair travel fees
BE AWARE OF: Hidden Costs Postage meter company sales reps may downplay or omit costs to convince you to go with their company.
Be vigilant and thorough in evaluating contracts, terms and conditions.
How Does FP Stack Up?
FP Mailing Solutions
Competitors
Customer Service
Chicago, IL USA
USA/Off Shore
Touchscreen
Available-all
Available- select models
Automatic Feeding
Available
Available
Envelope Sealer
Available
Available
Starting scale max.
5 Lbs.
2 Lbs.
Custom Graphics
Available
Available
Postage Download Fee
No
Yes
Postage Billing Fee
No
Sometimes
Overall Cost
$
$$
EFT Postage Fee (ACH)
No
Yes
Thank You! We hope you found this information useful. Postage meters come in a bewildering variety of sizes, speeds, and functions. The postage meter sales rep can help you deďŹ ne your mailing requirements, which will determine what kind of machine and accessories will best match your business. Entering into a postage meter agreement is an important commitment and can be more complicated than you think. Make sure you understand the expected costs & fees and terms & conditions before signing the contract.
Email comments and inquiries to whichmeter@fp-usa.com. WhichMeter? is an oering of FP Mailing Solutions, Addison Illinois, USA.
Disclaimer: This document is provided for general information purposes only. Any action taken based on the information provided is the responsibility of the reader. FP Mailing Solutions assumes no responsibility for any consequences arising from use of the information provided herein.
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Š 2017 FP Mailing Solutions. All Rights Reserved. TM, SM and Ž denote trademarks or registered trademarks of Francotyp-Postalia, Inc. The FP logo and FP Mailing Solutions Product logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Francotyp-Postalia, Inc.