If you’re wondering how to purchase a postage meter, the answer is that you cannot. This is because postage is a form of currency and is therefore liable to fraud. Since it’s a currency, postage is also subject to regular price changes, and, therefore, must be monitored and adjusted in real-time.

To get a postage meter, you have to lease or rent one. There are a variety of different metering machines for processing different quantities and class types of mail. For those interested in understanding more about advanced mailing solutions and how distribution is modernized, you can read more here.

We suggest you take the time to read the key information, compare products, and consider which model is best for your business’s requirements.

For businesses that send letters and packages in bulk volumes, postage meters can save money, time, and trips to the post office.

USPS has lower charges for metered mail. Compared to retail rates, 3 cents are saved on every letter of USPS First-Class mail you send. If you are sending mail in bulk, these savings add up.

When mail is ‘metered’ it means that a postage stamp has been applied to the letter or a package via a postage meter machine. This saves having to wait in line at the post office to get your mail processed.

Once your mail has been metered, you can request a free mail pickup from USPS. Or drop your mail into a USPS mailbox or package drop box.

A business’s overall mailing costs are deducted from one pre-funded account balance. These charges are tracked, and reports will display which employee user accounts are spending the most on postage.

As postage is a form of currency, its monetary value will fluctuate. The meter will bill you accurately as price changes are calculated in real time.

The postage that is printed is official in appearance. Businesses can stamp their customized logo or brand tagline. Mail that looks professional can help businesses gain industry authority and consumer trust.

The digital payment method reduces the chance of fraudulent charges occurring by removing cash and check payment methods. Postage is securely paid via one pre-funded account balance.

Postage is refillable on demand. Users don’t need to worry about running out of postage during high mailing periods. The system also monitors ink usage and is able to place orders before ink runs out.

First, you should know that leasing a postage meter is a commitment. Monthly rental fees range from $20 to $200. Along with yearly USPS postage fees, there are costs for materials and maintenance.

*For more information on what it costs to rent a postage meter, see Postage Meter Prices 

Not all businesses will benefit from a postage meter lease. To determine if your business would benefit, you should consider how much your business is currently paying for mail and shipping. If your monthly mailing costs exceed $50, you will benefit from renting a postage meter.

*Note: Consider the class of mail that your business sends. If you only send periodicals, then we suggest that you do not rent a postage meter. Periodicals are a class of mail that postage meters do not service.

There are five suppliers in the United States that are authorized to lease postage meters. These are: Quadient (formerly Neopost), Pitney Bowes, FP Mailing Solutions, Hasler Inc., and Data Pack Mailing Systems.

Of the five companies, two of them offer long-term contracts. These two companies are: Quadient (formerly Neopost) and Pitney Bowes. By going long-term, monthly rental fees come at a reduced price. This also leaves a longer period of time before having to confront the lease renewal process.

After you’ve selected the company you wish to lease with, we suggest you get in contact with customer support. The representative will consult with you on your business’s mailing volume and the size of the mail you wish to send. As well as your budget and logo preference (if you have one).

Customer support is closely tied or interchangeable with Technical Support. While speaking with a representative, we suggest that you take the time to ask questions about the features and specifications of your meter.

*Chances are that you’ll need to speak with Customer Support again at some point. For set up, maintenance, and general complications. Your experience with Customer Support should be a key consideration when deciding which company you lease with.

The primary factors to consider when comparing meters are your mailing volume and the size of the mail that you wish to send.

Other important factors to consider are Letters Per Minute (LPM), and the maximum weight that the machine’s weight scale offers.

If your mailing volume is small, we suggest the iX-1 Series Postage Meter 

• The iX-1 postage meter comes with a quick assembly guide and “how-to-use” video tutorials to get you up and running in no time
• Detachable 10 lb. scale for both letters and parcels 
• Best suited for small businesses that handle low volumes of mail.

If you’re a small business that sends medium to high volumes of mail, we suggest the iX-3 Series Postage Meter.

• 45 LPM. 5 lbs weight scale (you can upgrade to an external scale – 10, 30, or 70 lbs – if any of these weight(s) are what you require).
• Equipped with logo printing, low ink alerts via email, and Quadient’s Rate Wizard Tool (ensuring you never overpay on postage).
• iX-3 also features individual user accounts, keeping track of user activity. 50 user accounts are available, with the option of upgrading to 100 or 300.

For medium-sized businesses, we suggest the iX-5 Series Mailing System.

• Two different models: iX-5 HF, and the iX-5 AF (75 LPM)
  • iX-5 HF: letters are fed into a power-assisted hand feed.
  • iX-5 AF: automatic feed, ideal for larger volumes of mail.
• Weight scale: 5 lbs, with a choice of external scale: 10 lbs, 30 lbs, and 70 lbs.
• The iX-5s are the first model to include a color display.
• Both models have access to Commercial Base Pricing.
• Equipped with logo printing, low ink alerts via email, and Quadient’s Rate Wizard Tool (ensuring you never overpay on postage).

For medium-sized businesses that are growing quickly, we suggest the iX-7 Series Mailing System.

• Two different models: iX-7 (140 LPM), and the iX-7 Pro (175 LPM).
• Weight scale optionality from 10 lbs, 30 lbs, and 70 lbs.
• Access to Commercial Base Pricing.
• Equipped with logo printing, low ink alerts via email, Quadient’s Rate Wizard Tool (ensuring you never overpay on postage), and cost control benefits.

For large businesses, we suggest the  iX-9 High Volume Mailing System.

• Among the best postage meters available on the market.
• 300 LPM.
• Meets the latest Intelligent Mail® Indicia (IMI) and Dimensional Weighing (DIM) USPS® requirements
• The machine seals, measures, weighs, meters, and drop your mail into a neat stack - all completed in a matter of minutes.
• The meter comes with a keyboard and 100 user accounts with the option for more.
• Equipped with logo printing, low ink alerts via email, and Quadient’s Rate Wizard Tool (ensuring you never overpay on postage).

Another benefit to leasing a postage meter is that businesses have more flexibility going forward – they may find that their mail and shipping volume requires a different type of postage meter. Once the lease ends, businesses can switch to a more appropriate meter.

With the amount of use that postage meters get, it is not uncommon for maintenance and repair to be required. By leasing with Quadient, you have the help of representatives that have the knowledge and resources businesses need when issues arise.

*For information on pricing, visit: Postage Meter Prices