Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

We are launching a product (Larson`s Heavy Duty Lotions) and we have a 6oz
& 2oz product we will be shipping. We are trying to find a place to purchase
a system similar to what Pitney Bowes offers (scale & postage meter for
5-10lbs). Does anyone know of a product like that where there is no
monthly fee other than your postage costs? One we can actually purchase,
instead of renting? Does the post office offer something like that?

Thanks in Advance
www.LarsonsSkinCare.com

Have you looked up http://stamps.com?

Great service and very easy to use.

check it out.

Robin - I did a little searching on this exact subject a few weeks ago.  What I found was that all such systems require a monthly fee, as you can only use a system that is authorized by the USPS.  Below is the info I came across.  Anyone have experience with any of these systems, or a better solution? 

Tracy

From the USPS website:

Get a Postage Meter through our Authorized Providers:

Postage Meters are only available from authorized providers. Look for your local representative in the Yellow Pages under "Mailing Equipment". See below for a listing of authorized postage meter manufacturers.

Note: Vendors set service or leasing fees.

Francotyp-Postalia Inc.
140 N. Mitchell Court, Suite 200
Addison, IL 60101-5629
800-341-6052
www.fpusa.net


Hasler, Inc.
19 Forest Parkway
Shelton CT 06484-6140
800-243-6275
www.haslerinc.com


Neopost
30955 Huntwood Avenue
Hayward CA 94544-7084
800-624-7892
www.neopostinc.com


Pitney Bowes Inc.
1 Elmcroft Road
Stamford CT 06926-0700
800-322-8000
www.pitneybowes.com

No,

stamps.com is actually a service of USPS and there is no monthly fee.
you just fill you account with a certain amount of postage, from a cc. and you only pay for what you use.

AODESIGNS,
YES! I use stamps.com,

Much easier to use. I love it..

-------------------------

Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

Hey all, I have finally gotten around to looking into stamps.com as an option
and guess what? It says that there is a $15.99 monthly fee for the service!!!!
Am I missing something? Several of you boast how this site is free. Please
help.

I`m so sorry I`m must have been mistaken. I just went back and look at the TOS and your right. I could have sworn it was free, Must have been the Free Trial but i did notice that this 15.99 is and increased rate as our account (when we did use them) was only 4.95 per month, and as we used to ship spend about 1k per month to  ship.  I over looked the  4.95.

Sorry about the misinfo.

I did see there is another service called endicia.com and get an annual subscription, it comes out to $10 a month, which isn`t too bad.
here`s the pricing.
http://www.endicia.com/endicia-usa/Site/pricing.cfm

Google the company and you will find lots of people prefer it as an alt to stamps.com (software has more bells a whistles)

Thanks for the info OADesign. I will check out endicia in the morning. Do
you happen to know if it is Mac compatible? Stamps.com is not at this time.

seems you are in luck.

http://mac.endicia.com/

Good job OA Design! I forgive you for your stamps.com mix up :)