Pitney Bowes Alternative???

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

I assume many (some?) of you use a postage meter. I currently pay about $50 per month (just for the meter), which of course does not include the postage.

PB has a new model out that will cost a bit more but does have a built-in scale.

I was just curious...what do some of you do for postage meters? Are there alternative companies I am not aware of?

I don't want to lick envelopes, because George Costanza's fiance died from that.

And if you don't mind...some favorite George Costanza quotes:

"For me to ask a woman out, I've got to get into a mental state like the karate guys before they break the bricks."


"Instead of doing a wash, I just keep buying underwear. My goal is to have over 360 pair. That way I only have to do wash once a year."


"Hey, believe me, baldness will catch on. When the aliens come, who do you think they're gonna relate to? Who do you think's gonna be the first ones getting a tour of the ship?"


"I'm much more comfortable criticizing people behind their backs."


"Yeah, I'm a great quitter. It's one of the few things I do well. I come from a long line of quitters. My father was a quitter, my grandfather was a quitter... I was raised to give up."

 

[arnguy]

A couple of years ago I went with an outfit called Stamps.com. You could print meter-like stamps directly from your computer. They even threw in a scale. My mailings decreased, so I went back to using U.S. Postal stamps. I understand that the USPS now has system whereby you can download postage from your computer. Sorry that my info is not up to date. I am thinking about going back to Stamps.com (if they are still are around).

 

[wilkin]

Yes, Stamps.com is still around. I have used them for several years and love it. I think it gives a more professional look than stamps and I don't have to have all different denominations of stamps on hand. Plus I HATE standing in any kind of line, especially at the Post Office! Word of note: if you go to sign up for them their basic service is something like 20 bucks per month. But, they had (or at least used to have) a limited service, which I still have for 7.99 per month. I am limited to purchasing no more than 25 dollars of postage at a time, which is no problem. If I am sending a standard letter I use a first class stamp. Anything else I use Stamps.com.
-Bill

 

[K-Dub]

I use Stamps.com right now. Easy and convenient and it's $15.99 a month. Probably not the lowest rate but it works for me.

Plus I got a free postal meter as well.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

Thanks.

 

[GreenSky]

If you purchase a Dymo label printer, you can buy postage and print stamps with no fees - monthly or otherwise. Just need to buy the roll of labels. You get a starter set but can get more cheap on Ebay.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

I know labels are cheaper, but I'm used to the "electronic stamp" look.

It might be that PB has some type of agreement with the Postal Service, beacuse I have never seen another meter sold by another company.

 

[arnguy]

Pitney-Bowes and Stamps.com both have to have an authorization from the Postal Service. I am happy to hear that Stamps.com is still around---their service and ease of use was great. I did pay a fee of around $15.00 per month.

BTW there is at least one other postage meter company; however, I don't know the name of the company. I believe it is an Italian company. Occasionally I have seen their meter mark which is somewhat different from that of PB.