Postage for small businesses / SmartStamp alternative

PoisonIvy

Hi all,

Does anyone know of a postage option suitable for small businesses? I used to use SmartStamp at my old business, but I've recently started up again on my own and they aren't accepting new subscriptions. For all its faults, it was OK when it was working. It's far easier to print off a sheet of stamps than manually feeding labels through a franking machine.

There is Online postage, but it only allows you to print one piece at a time, which is way too time-consuming - I tend to do bulk mailouts of about 80-100 same-sized items in one go, maybe twice a month.

I've looked into franking machines in the past, but the subscription and top-up fees are outrageous, not to mention the ink, labels, etc are very expensive. The ones for small volume don't seem to be all that time-saving, because you still need to feed labels and envelopes through one at a time.

Is there anything out there at all, or am I doomed to queuing for hours at my woefully-understaffed local Post Office?

Thanks.

martindow

You could buy stamps in bulk - here's an example

http://shop.royalmail.com/first+second-class/100-x-1st-class-self-adhesive-stamp-sheet/invt/prod36270029

Could you make up the postage of these items using combinations of stamps?

Savvy_Sue

do they still sell envelopes which have stamps pre-printed on them? Yes they do!

We buy stamps at CostCo, which are a bit cheaper: they only do 1st and 2nd (and maybe not Large 2nd), but it means I'm not queuing at the PO ...

paddyrg

Online postage, I know PDQit do mail merge mailings if you want to try that?

gingerdad

How about Ukmail or TNT fairly sure they will pick up 100 items. We use Ukmail no need to frank just put them in a box and fill in the paperwork

PoisonIvy

Thanks for the responses. I'll look into all of these. It's been a while since I had to research all of this!

Useful info about TNT/UK Mail too - for some reason I thought they'd only do several hundred items but if they'll pick up smaller shipments that could be worth a look.