Like the cost of college tuition, postage rates are increasing again. This time, we can look forward to a 10 percent price hike to send nearly all our mail. Before you go to the Post Office to buy stamps to make up the difference in costs, you may want to think about getting a postage meter instead.

Looking for reasons to justify the investment? For one, an in-house mailing system allows you to be flexible about package sizes. Oversized packages can now be sent out the day they have been prepared and not wait until the next trip to the post office. For that matter, you can avoid long lines at the post office to send the mail or buy stamps. Instead, refilling your meter simply requires a phone call. The time online postage refills saves can be worth the cost alone.

You can also better track postage expenses with mailing equipment. Account codes allow you to assign postage expenses to various departments. A postage meter can also help stop the "missing stamp" syndrome that inevitably occurs when first class postage stamps are left around the office.

Finally, postage meters give mail a more professional-looking appearance. If you take special pains to give your business a big-company feel to your clients, a mailing system can help ensure an image that is consistent with your other customer interactions.

Multiple vendors do exist in this tightly regulated market. These manufacturers typically offer their products through a network of dealers. To request a free quote for a postage meter or other mailing equipment, go to http://www.buyerzone.com/savvy/postage.html

Expect to spend a few hundred dollars each year for a mailing system. This is what is typically charged for a low-end system and usually includes a postage meter to postmark your mail, a mailing base to convey your mail through the meter and a scale to weigh your letters and packages. Adding features like an envelope sealer or addressing equipment to make processing your mailing even faster will add significantly to your price tag. Negotiating should be able to yield some savings, though.

Equipment designed for low-volume mailers tends to be highly reliable. Support, as a result, is not as critical a factor to consider when making your final decision. However, if you regularly send bulk mail, these vendors often provide useful seminars where you can learn how to optimize your mailing costs.

As you compare options, keep the future in mind. Unlike the computer industry, each mailing system vendor employs a proprietary design for its equipment. As a result, you are not able to mix and match the different accessories that are available. Evaluate the equipment that you want to get not only now but also in the next year or so to ensure your satisfaction.

Rates will be increasing June 30. While it will be more expensive to send mail, investing in a mailing system can help make your overall mailing costs less expensive.