Franking Machines

[AC123]

Hi

Looking for some info on franking machines please - I know nothing about them

Run a small business that has been gradually growing, we now send about 200 letters a month out. Looking to do some mail shots that could mean we end up sending thousands a month.

At the moment we just buy second class stamps. Would it be worth getting a franking machine?

I have had a quick look and it seems like you have to hire them?

Any help appreciated.

Cheers

[miniman]

You don’t need a franking marchine, you can buy and print postage via Royal Mail website if you want to avoid the manual effort. Not sure what the discounts are, if any, though.

[anonymous-user]

Don't send me any junk mail.

Anyone that sends it never gets my business.

Whether that's personal or to my company

[Glasgowrob]

looked at this a few months ago

best option we came across was norfolk postage who were fantastically helpful 01493 764431 . ask for Theresa

cost is reaonable the only thing that seemed a bit antiquated to us was having to preload the franking machine with credit but once you get your head round that the savings are pretty reasonable. (we do a fair bit of postage and the wife runs a side business sending out a few dozen small parcels a week)


even without the saving worth it for the branding as it looks much more professional than a squint stamp having your logo on the post

[silobass]

We send out far less than this and it's worth it. The cost isn't that bad and the savings are pretty good. The best thing is not having to queue at the Post Office any more!

[Mr Overheads]

Send me a pm and I'll put you in touch with a couple of suppliers we use.

[shopper150]

Isn’t it cheaper and easier to use PPI vs Franking?

[tescorank]

if your using one of the big players don't buy their cartridges £38 v £5 on ebay and the £5 work better/clearer/longer.

[cheekymeerkat]

You may find hybrid mail companies cheaper, like Docmail.
There is a company out there that has a print driver, you press print from MS Word or whichever, and they print it and send it for pennies!
Personally, I'm too busy to be folding papers and stuffing envelopes when you can pay a company next to nothing and they have machines that do it for you.

[andy43]

Bump! Our owned-outright franking machine isn't working.
As we have been buying ebay/Amazon ink rather than getting shafted to the tune of £70+vat per cartridge by Mailcoms (for their own non-genuine ink!!) it looks like it could cost north of £400 for them to deign to fix it as 'third party ink' means we've breached their maintenance contract terms and conditions.
Any recommendations for sensible rentals of franking machines please or does anybody on here supply them? TIA

[grumbas]

Haven't looked into this for ages, but I thought Royal Mails online business account thing, plus a half decent printer and some labels always worked out cheaper, once you get your head around it?

[Si1295]

Whistl? Either direct or through P2G if you don’t have the volume.

[Mr Overheads]

Only use companies from this list:
https://www.royalmail.com/frankingcompanies

Don't use Quotient though imho.

I can highly recommend Ashcroft and happy to put you in touch with the right person.

[anonymous-user]

cheekymeerkat said:

You may find hybrid mail companies cheaper, like Docmail.
There is a company out there that has a print driver, you press print from MS Word or whichever, and they print it and send it for pennies!
Personally, I'm too busy to be folding papers and stuffing envelopes when you can pay a company next to nothing and they have machines that do it for you.

This.

Most of the businesses and organisations I deal with have now moved to remote document printing/mailing. Much easier.

It's usually cheaper than franking as well because they buy postage in vast quantities.

These remote mailing companies can even stuff leaflets, brochures, or whatever you want in the envelopes along with your letters. They even keep tabs on the stock of leaflets they hold and let you know to re-order and so on.

[andy43]

Thanks all, we'd like to stick with franking if we can as it gives a professional image with a custom franking stamp with company logo etc. Business is a firm of solicitors so there's a range of different sized and weighted letters - with built in scales a franking machine is probably the simplest solution too.

Mr Overheads said:

Only use companies from this list:
https://www.royalmail.com/frankingcompanies

Don't use Quotient though imho.

I can highly recommend Ashcroft and happy to put you in touch with the right person.

YHM

[Flashybike1]

Just adding to this old thread but Selectabase offer Hybrid Mail via print driver. All you do is load your letter in Word as you normally would and print to them.

They only bill you for what you send per month and the cost vs using a franking machine / stamps is much less.

No need to buy envelopes, paper, ink etc anymore....

Give them a call :-)

[andy43]

Reeeewind Selecta (base). We’re with Ashcroft Mailing Solutions now, more than happy but they’re probably not as all our (genuine!) fax consumables are bought on eBay.
I’m interested in the Selectabase thing though - we fax individual banks, other solicitors etc, not 5,000 unsuspecting and annoyed recipients at once - can selectabase do this securely?