Postage meters?
Posted by MMuter@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 14 comments
Currently a PB client and have been for 11 years. For the third time in 7-8 years, they are making changes to their hardware and software, and they are mandating changes by a certain date.
I am getting tired of this business practice. We send out about 150 envelopers per week. Its a mix of certified, priority, and first class.
Currently end user create a ship request form on SendProEnterprise, which goes down to our "mailroom" to get weighed, scan the form, and put through this gigantic mail machine.
What is every else using? I would love to eliminate as much as possible here.
ProfessorWorried626@reddit
Just get a franking machine.
cbiggers@reddit
The machines have their own level of suck. Whenever they don't work it is always "our firewall".
Arudinne@reddit
That's why ours lives on the guest network.
cbiggers@reddit
Yeah no matter what the problem is, it's always "the firewall".
DaftPump@reddit
Or have them operate off a hotspot if this isn't a thing in the company. Their will, their way. It's not like it would be needed to be hotspotted 40h/week.
Arudinne@reddit
Also an option, but we already had a guest wireless network, so we just added a wired port to it.
derfmcdoogal@reddit
We have a local company pick up. It was $100 per month plus postage vs $50/mo plus our labor, driving, postage if we went with a meter.
Wasn't worth it for 200ish per week.
texags08@reddit
We moved to stamps.com
MMuter@reddit (OP)
What is your volume?
texags08@reddit
A few hundred pieces a week. Just a little bit more labor for receptionist.
CeC-P@reddit
We use Pirate Ship with our own adhesive labels and then just buy forever stamps in bulk for sub-first class.
Kwebster7327@reddit
Years ago, I did some consulting/contracting work for PB interfacing their software with the client's. It was such a sh!t show that I swore I'd never use or recommend their crap again. I used to put dead man's timers in my software just to keep from getting stiffed on payment. Only time I ever let one run out. I just laughed when they threatened me with never getting another project from PB. I ended up getting paid. Really felt bad for the Mom and Pop business they rap!ed with their system.
Fallingdamage@reddit
We used PB for years. They're maddening to deal with and completely anti-customer. Prices are high, ink is incredibly expensive, poorly designed machines and software break all the time, nothing is kept up to date.
I was finally in charge of our renewal and postage services. I was giddy to kick PB to the curb. After some searching and shopping, I actually moved to a local approach.
Instead of dealing with postage and printing, we drop all our outbound mail in a designated bin now. Someone from a local shipping/postage business stops in 3x a week to pickup the bin and give us a fresh one. They weigh the envelopes, apply postage at bulk rates and send us the bill. We dont have to touch anything past closing the envelope anymore.
Price is 40% cheaper than PB.
jimicus@reddit
"Printed mail as a service" is a thing. You upload letters to the provider - they print, envelope and post them. Can work out surprisingly cheap, because they get discounts from the postal system.