As any business leader knows, business mailing is a lot different than personal mailing. Volumes are higher, so it can be labor-intensive to prepare and send mail without a good system.
You may have heard of office postage meters to replace stamps. Or you could be contemplating ending your current contract with your postage meter lease company to switch back to stamps.
To help you in your research, here are the pros and cons of stamps vs postage meters.
What’s the Difference Between Metered Mail and Stamped Mail?
The main difference between metered mail and stamped mail is that one method involves buying physical stamps to stick to mail, and meters print custom postage directly on the mail based on weight.
Postage meters are ideal for businesses that mail in bulk. They can save businesses a lot of time, since many business postage machines can process 100 or more letters per minute. They also don’t require you to replenish physical stamps by stopping into the post office, or bring mail in to be weighed and stamped accordingly.
Stamps might be right for you if you don’t mail very often, because you would need to make a trip to the post office to purchase stamps and get mail weighed every time.
Do Postage Meters Save Money?
Postage meters for small businesses are a great solution for controlling mailing costs. Precise scales can account for tiny weight increments, ensuring you’re not overpaying for postage.
Stamps are less exact than postage meter machines, making them less cost-effective since you could end up overpaying for postage. If you round incorrectly, on the other hand, you may underpay for postage and have the mail sent back to you to correct it.
In this way, the precision of postage machines mean you won't overpay or underpay for postage, so it'll be easier to manage print costs. To compare postage meters, check out our blog that explores the two best postage meter companies on the market: FP Mailing Solutions vs Pitney Bowes Postage Meters.
Do Postage Meter Stamps Expire?
You may wonder if metered postage stamps and labels expire at any point after printing. Printing labels and stamps will expire the day after they’re printed. This means that labels printed that show a date that is passed or in the future are considered “stale” and invalid.
This shows the importance of mailing items the day they’re metered, so you don’t have to restart the process.
The good news is, if metered mail has the correct postage but the date is stale, you may rerun the mail piece on your meter at no additional cost. However, if you miss the date twice, you’ll have to pay for a new label.
Is Certified Mail Considered Metered Mail?
You may wonder if Certified Mail has anything to do with mail machines for small businesses. Certified Mail is a program through the USPS for time-sensitive or otherwise important documents or items. It adds a level of security and peace of mind through:
- Shipping Insurance
- Proof of mailing and delivery
- Unique tracking numbers for added security
To learn more about Certified Mail and other mailing and shipping programs available to businesses, check out the USPS website.
What Are Some Alternatives for Postage Meters?
If you’re not set to lease a postage meter, you have some alternative options. You can always opt to buy stamps at the post office, which doesn’t require any equipment. However, if you mail in high volumes, or you could print shipping labels on the USPS website through “Click-N-Ship”.
Keep in mind, if you decide to print labels online, you must know the weight of your mail piece, and round up to avoid underpayment or delays. This is the main convenience aspect of postage meters because they take the guesswork and tediousness out of mailing.
How to Prepare for Upcoming IMI Standards
If you currently have a postage meter, it’s important to note that USPS has updated standards that will render outdated IBI machines unusable by the end of 2024. To learn how to prepare, read our blog: New USPS Postage Meter Regulations in 2024: How to Prepare
If your business could use a postal meter machine or mail system upgrade, click the button below to speak to an expert about your options.
