Mailing system pricing

Depending on the functions of your mailing system, you can find yourself paying anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars a year to meter your mail - not including the cost of the postage itself. Postage prices, of course, are set by the USPS, and postage meter manufacturers are prohibited from marking them up, so you do not need to compare postage costs.

You can get started with a very basic meter for around $20 per month. Add on complex feeding and automation systems and the costs can escalate up to $100 - $200 per month.

As mentioned earlier, the meter can only be leased. While you can lease a meter one year at a time, most vendors will encourage you to sign up for a at least a three-year term. But you usually have the flexibility of a shorter term if the thought of being tied into a three-year agreement does not sit well with you.

Some companies base their rates on usage; after the first year, your monthly meter rate is based on your average monthly postage for the previous year. Keep in mind that rates can only go up; if your usage drops, your meter rate for the following year will not necessarily be adjusted accordingly. Other companies simply change their rates from year to year regardless of your usage. When shopping for a system, make sure to get all the relevant details on rental pricing.

There is more flexibility in pricing for bases and scales, which can be either bought outright or leased. Depending on the options, bases range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars while scales range from $40 to hundreds of dollars.