Buying tips

Deals can be had. While meter rates do tend to be fairly inflexible, you may be able to get deals like free rental months. Sales reps will often throw in six months to one year of free meter rental to close a deal for a costly system.

Use your PC. If your average month is less than $50 but you are looking for a more efficient mailing solution, you may want to check out the USPS's list of PC Postage providers. These companies let you print postage directly from you computer.

Rate insurance makes sense...sometimes. Every time the Postal Service changes postage rates, your scale needs to be updated – usually costing about $75 to $175 a pop. If you want to pay a fixed yearly fee for rate insurance, you can receive free scale updates. Or, get a digital scale – they can automatically update rate information through an Internet connection.

Mail now, pay later. Some manufacturers essentially lend you the money to conduct your mailing. Or you may be able to buy postage upfront from your provider. In some cases, you can even earn "interest" in the form of additional postage if you pre-pay. However, when you refill your account, there may be a charge.

Become “supply savvy.” Not everything needs to be purchased from your vendor. Many consumables, such as mailing tape and sealing liquid, are often cheaper when purchased at independent dealers or office supply stores.

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