The Top 3 Mail Machine Companies

We’re long past the days of licking and sticking stamps to envelopes and packages before taking them to the post office. Modern postage meters let you send mail without even leaving the office.

If all that business mail is getting in the way of more important tasks, using a postage meter will save you time and money. But you can’t just buy one. You need to lease one instead. There are only three companies authorized by Canada Post to rent postage meters. These are: Pitney Bowes, Quadient, and Francotyp Postalia Inc (FP).

Postage meter leases usually represent a substantial financial commitment, which is why many businesses delay signing one. But with prices starting from just $19.95 a month, a great postage meter will save you a whole lot more than you’ll spend. Read on to find out more, or take 30 seconds to request tailored quotes for your business.

Processing your mail doesn’t have to be a chore

Best Postage Meter Companies Roundup

We’ve reviewed the three leading postage meter companies to help you hone in on the best mailing solutions for your needs. Here’s our roundup:

FP Postage Meters

Through an independent dealer network that spans 40 countries, FP connects you with your customers, wherever they are in the world.

FP’s range of postage meters includes:

Low Volume: the PostBase mini (17ppm) and the PostBase econ (20ppm)

Medium Volume: the PostBase semi (45ppm), the PostBase auto (95ppm) and the PostBase integra (110ppm)

High Volume: the PostBase pro (150ppm), the PostBase proDS (110ppm) and the PostBase one (150ppm)

Pitney Bowes Postage Meters

Pitney Bowes postage meters are designed for ease of use. Their automated sorting feature saves you from having to sort and file your mail manually. Affordability is also a major selling point, as the company negotiates great rates on Standard and First Class postage from the USPS.

Pitney Bowes’ range of postage meters includes:

Low Volume: the MailStation 2 (up to 18ppm), the DM100 (up to 30ppm) and the DM200 (up to 40ppm).

Medium Volume: the DM300 (up to 65ppm), the DM400 (up to 120ppm) or the Connect+1000 (up to 180ppm).

High Volume: the Connect+ 3000 (205-310ppm), the DM1100 (295ppm) and the DM Infinity Digital (22,000 items per hour).

Quadient Postage Meters

The company’s support staff are always happy to provide customers with product information and advice on financing options. The National Customer Service Association awarded the Quadient USA support team ‘All Star’ status in 2012 for “maintaining a focused culture of excellence”.

Quadient’s range of postage meters includes:

Low Volume: the IS-280 (up to 18ppm) and the IN-360 (up to 45ppm)

Medium Volume: the IN-600 (up to 75ppm), the IN-610 (up to 110ppm), the IN-700 (up to 140ppm), and the IN-710/760 (140-175 ppm)

High Volume: the IS-5000/6000 (up to 300ppm) and the IJ-15K (up to 250ppm)

Choosing a Postage Meter

Postage meters might all seem alike, but a few key differences distinguish various models from one another. Here are three key considerations to keep in mind when you’re shopping for quotes:

Do I need batch processing?

Batch processing is a feature of medium and high volume postage meters from all three postage meter companies. These meters can print postage even faster than non-batch processing machines. In order to use batch processing, you need to be able to pre-sort your mail into batches by weight and box size.

You need this feature if: You ship lots of uniformly-sized packages to a few specific regions

You don’t need this feature if: You ship a variety of types of mail to customers in several places

Do I need automatic feed features?

Simple postage meters require you to manually feed every piece of mail into the machine. Semi-automatic feeders automate parts of the process – for example, by closing and sealing envelopes or applying labels. Fully-automatic feeders go further, and on a much larger scale.

You need this feature if: You send hundreds of pieces of mail each week

You don’t need this feature if: You only send a few letters a fortnight

Do I need to weigh my mail?

That depends on the type of mail you’re sending. The USPS offers flat rate postage for letters and packages matching specified dimensions. If your mail fits their requirements, they’ll even throw in free packaging for using the service. It’s definitely not a bad deal.

If, on the other hand, your mail exceeds these dimensions, a postage meter with built-in weighing scales is the clear winner. These machines make it easy to calculate accurate postage costs, and your savings will soon stack up.

You need this feature if: You’re happy with USPS-specified mail weights and dimensions

You don’t need this feature if: You want to send irregularly-sized mail and don’t want to waste your time and money buying stamps

Next Steps

If you currently spend more than $50 per month on postage, switching to a postage meter is sure to result in savings. Hopefully, you have a better idea now of which postage meter companies are and aren’t able to take care of your company’s needs.

If your business has a real need for one, a postage meter will pay for itself several times over. That said – and you probably don’t need us to tell you this – price is an important factor to consider in your buying decision.

Pitney Bowes, FP USA, Quadient, Hasler and Data Pac all lease their systems according to your usage needs. The more mail you send, the more you’ll pay each month. Speaking to suppliers on the phone is the best way to get an exact figure. But how do you know what value for money looks like?

Our free quotes service can help you with that part:

1. First, complete the short contact form at the top of this page
2. We’ll run your responses through our database of postage meter companies
3. We’ll put you in touch with the suppliers whose mailing solutions most closely match your needs.