Online Postage Tools Can Save You Time
Prepare for the May 11 postage rate increase by taking advantage of USPS web tools.
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009; 12:19 AM
I used to think the post office's biggest, modern innovation was the transition from lickable to sticker stamps. But a host of online shipping tools can save you money and time; you might never have to wait in line at your local branch again. Especially with the upcoming, May 11, 2-cent price hike, consider those online tools to manage your shipping needs.
You'll benefit most in saved time. Instead of visiting a branch, you can order shipping boxes and envelopes at no cost, with no delivery charge. You can also place orders for stamps and other paid necessities to be delivered. And an online postage calculator gives you current rates based on your package destination and weight.
Instead of using stamps, online tools let you buy and print postage for a package. You can easily automate your shipping, especially for repeating destinations. Just weigh your package, pick a rate, and print the label.
Endicia offers similar services as a third-party website. The company sells printers, labels, scales, and services to automate your shipping process. Many products save about three to five percent versus buying directly from the post office. If you ship about 25 or more items daily, you could qualify for additional savings.
However, low-volume shippers will likely pay back the basic savings in printer labels and other consumables. Endicia services can work when printed to just a standard piece of paper or directly on an envelope, but the process is simplest with their custom printers and labels
As part of a current promotion, Endicia is offering new customers a free sheet of its postage paper and 50 cents of shipping credit. It's a light offer, but you could dabble with the service before deciding if it's right for your business.
