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5 reasons to use a franking machine

It’s a popular misconception that you need to be posting thousands of letters a week to make the most of franking machine. It’s simply not true. In fact, low volume franking machines exist for that reason – to give businesses all the benefits a franking machine even at low volume.

So, whether you send 1,000 letters a year or 500 letters a day, here are five reasons why you should be using a franking machine…

ONE: To save money! Franked mail is always cheaper than standard postage, and with Mailmark franking machines, postage is automatically updated so you know you’ll only ever pay the going rate. What’s more, franking machines print the exact cost of postage so you’ll never overpay simply because your stamps don’t add up to the precise amount.

TWO: To save time! Having a franking machine is like having your own mini post office. You’ll never need to queue for stamps again as you can add postage credit to your franking machine at the touch of a button.

THREE: To keep your mailing list clean, accurate and up to date! It’s easy to set your franking machine to automatically print a return address on all post allowing you to update your address records. Plus, with Mailmark franking machines you can track your post every step of the way, so you’ll know exactly why it didn’t reach its intended recipient.

FOUR: To stay in control! With a franking machine, it’s easy to stay in control of your postage. You can set a PIN so only authorised staff can use the machine, plus you’ll be able to see who posted what and how much it cost – allowing you to charge postage back to the relevant department if necessary.

FIVE: To promote your brand! Not only does franked mail look more professional, but it's easy to set your franking machine to print short promotional messages on your post. Got a new product or latest deal that you want your customers to hear about? What better way to get it out there than to print it on every bit of post that leaves the building!

These are just some of the may reasons to use a franking machine. To find out more, call us today on 01474 815 850 or email [email protected]

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Are you Mailmark ready?

Mail innovation never stops and Mailmark is just the latest in long line of developments to improve the postal service - along with the stamp, the postcode and, of course, the franking machine.

As technology advances, businesses now demand even more from their mail. They want to know where it is at all times - when it leaves for delivery and when it arrives - Mailmark can answer these questions and many more. Mailmark’s online reporting can also help with your marketing - allowing you to call customers as soon as mail arrives and to improve your name and address data.

So, how does it work?

You simply set your Mailmark-ready franking machine to add a barcode to your post automatically. Your mail’s details are then logged, allowing you to keep track of your post on every step of its journey - from your office to your customer’s doorstep. And the best part is, Mailmark always offers the lowest postage prices – and because pricing updates are automatic, you can rest assured that you’ll never overpay.

To find out more about Mailmark, call us today on 01474 815 850 or email [email protected]

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Have you discovered Mailmark franking yet?

The latest Royal Mail franking technology is a cut above traditional franking and affords businesses greater postage discounts and a more efficient postal system.

So, if you’re still using the traditional “crown and die” franking machine system, get with the system and upgrade - and you could be making the most of the following benefits…

    Locked in pricing. Mailmark always offers the lowest postage prices – and because pricing updates are automatic, you can rest assured that you’ll never overpay.

    Efficient franking. Not only can the latest Mailmark franking machines process large volumes of mail both quickly and accurately, but with automatic selection of Royal Mail products and services, your post will reach the mail bag faster than ever before.

   Latest products and services. Mailmark customers get exclusive access to the latest Royal Mail products, services and upgrades – many of which will not be made available to traditional franking customers.

Mailmark is not just for large corporations, businesses of all sizes can benefit - whether you send 100 letters a year or 1,000 letters a day. So, switch to Mailmark franking today and start saving.

To find out more, give us a call on 01474 815 850 or email [email protected]

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5 facts about franking...

If you run a small business or work in a mailroom, the chances are you use a franking machine most days. However, while you may be an expert at operating franking machines, how much do you actually know about them?

Ever wondered who invented the franking machine? What the word franking means? How long we’ve been franking our post? Well, wonder no more! Here are five fascinating facts about franking machines….

ONE: The word “franking” comes from the word “Francus” - meaning free in Latin.

TWO: The first franking machine was designed and built in 1884 as a way to improve the security of mail.

THREE: The franking machine is a Norwegian invention, created by Engle Frankmussler who obtained a patent for a device that would print a stamp on an envelope and record the amount of postage by means of a counting device.

FOUR: The first commercial franking machines were sold in the UK in 1922.

FIVE: Early mechanical franking machines had to be taken to the post office and physically reset by a postal official.

And there you have it - everything you ever wanted to know about franking machines but were too afraid to ask. You’ll never look at your franking machine in the same way!

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Are you preparing your franked mail correctly?

When using a franking machine to send your business mail, it is vital that you prepare your outgoing post correctly. If you don’t, you could end up overpaying for your postage, or causing delays to your outgoing mail.

To make sure you avoid any franking machine mishaps, below is everything you need to know about preparing your post.

1 - The franking mark must be in blue ink. The changeover from red to blue was implemented a few years ago by the Royal Mail but some customers are still printing incorrectly.

2 - The franking mark must be at the top of your item, on the right hand side.

3 - The franking mark must be clear and readable so that the Royal Mail scanners can process the mail correctly.

4 - Your outgoing post must be franked with the correct date. It is possible to pre-date your post but it can only be posted on the date shown.

5 - Make sure you set your franking machine to £0.00 before you start franking. If incorrect postage has been applied it can result in under or overpaying and you may incur an additional fee.

6 - For more efficient postage, add a return address on your envelopes and packages.

And that’s it. Six simple steps to make your franking machine process run smoothly - and ensure your post arrives on time, every time.

[epsltd-blog]

Have you seen the EPS shop?

Did you know EPS now offer an online ordering facility to both new and existing customers? Whatever supplies you need, you’ll find it all in the EPS shop.

Use the search facility to find the model of franking machine you are looking for then simply browse through our range of products, including competitively priced franking machine inks.

As well as franking machine inks, we also have a range of franking machine labels and other stationery and franking machine consumables.

If you still wish to order over the phone, don’t worry, you’ll still find us at the end of the line too!

Check out the EPS Shop today.

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Check out our range of low-volume franking machines...

There is a common misconception among smaller businesses that franking machines are either too expensive or simply not required for businesses of their size. 

In reality, this couldnt be further from the truth. Franking machines make sense for companies of all sizes - both from an efficiency and financial standpoint. And, there are plenty of low-volume franking machines on the market to suit budgets of all sizes too.

In fact, modern mailmark franking machines now offer such great savings in comparison to traditional post that they even make business sense for home offices.

So, don’t think that only large enterprises can take advantage of the time and cost savings of franking machines. Check out our range of low-volume franking machines today. 

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Organising your mailroom...

The mailroom is the hub of many businesses. Ensuring correspondence is dealt with in a timely manner – whether that’s post coming in or going out – is what makes many organisations tick. And delays can be extremely costly. To make sure you stay on top of all things postal, here are three tips to keep your mailroom order.

1/ Set your watch. Unless you have dedicated mailroom staff on hand all day, it can be easy for your internal post distribution to fall down the priority list. Not only is this a pretty ineffective way of working, but it can also cause problems with external communication – staff may contact customers and clients with incorrect information about whether a certain document has been received, for example. That’s why it pays to set a strict time to do your internal mail distribution and collection runs – and make sure you stick to it. That way your staff can always rest assured that if they don’t have mail on their desks by a certain time, then it hasn’t arrived.

2/ Set up workstations. Even some of the most professional organisations on the planet have mailrooms that would send the organised folk among us into a tailspin. The fact is with so much stationery – envelopes, elastic bands, paperclips, pens – in constant use, it’s easy for the place to get a little chaotic. To help avoid this, set up dedicated work stations in your mailroom. One for folding and stuffing, one for sealing, one for banding and so on. This way, you only need to keep certain equipment in certain places and your mailroom stays clean and organised.

3/ Invest in the latest tech. There is plenty of technology that can help you run a tight ship in your mailroom. Along with digital mail systems, folder / inserter machines and barcode scanners, franking machines are perhaps the biggest time – and money! – savers in your mailroom. And the good news when it comes to much of this equipment, particularly franking machines, is that is doesn’t have to cost the earth. You can now lease the most technologically advanced franking machines with minimal upfront costs and low monthly payments. That way you can be sure your franking machine doesn’t slow you down, mischarge you postage or break the bank!

For more information on all things mailroom, visit our website. Or, to discuss franking machine leasing, email [email protected] or call 01474 815850.

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The benefits of leasing...

Traditionally, if you wanted to buy modern equipment, you’d have to be prepared to pay a modern price. For most businesses, however, this just isn’t possible. Fortunately, there is another way to get access to the latest, state-of-the-art franking machines without blowing your budget: leasing.

Leasing offers a host of benefits to companies that want big business franking machines on small business budgets. When leasing a franking machine, there is little upfront cost – sometimes none at all – and low monthly payments won’t break the bank, whatever your budget.

When you lease through EPS, we’ll also make sure you’re covered for servicing and maintenance, to help you avoid any hefty repair bills. 

And that’s not all. As modern franking machines are linked directly to the latest Royal Mail prices you can rest assured that you’ll never over or under pay your postage due to an out of date franking machine.

So, don’t let your old franking machine hold you back! EPS offer leasing packages to suit all budgets – speak to us today on 01474 815 850 or email [email protected]

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Discover Mailmark...

Mailmark has markedly changed the face of franking since its release in 2014, making it more cost effective than ever before – as Mailmark compliant franking machines offer even greater savings on postage than standard Smart franking machines. 

Yet still many businesses continue to use older, non-compliant franking machine models and, in turn, pay more for their postage.

Mailmark is quick and easy to set up and suitable for businesses of all sizes. As well as realising cost savings through cheaper postage, Mailmark also saves businesses time as the new 2D-readable printed barcodes scan faster the old 'crown and die' franked mail.

So what are you waiting for? Take a look at our range of Mailmark compliant franking machines and starting saving time and money on your postage today!

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Discover our leasing options...

Upgrading equipment is one of the first things that gets overlooked when businesses are trying to save money. Why fork out on the latest equipment when the kit you have essentially performs the same task?

This is particularly true when it comes to franking machines. Business owners and mailroom managers are often put off by the prices of the latest franking machine models and decide to stick with what they’ve got.

While this might seem to make sense from a financial standpoint, it’s likely to hold your business back in terms of productivity and cost-efficiency. Not only are the latest franking machines faster and more reliable that their older counterparts but – thanks to our range of leasing options – they also come in at a price to suit any budget.

As well as removing the initial outlay of purchasing the franking machine outright, leasing allows businesses to continually upgrade to the latest equipment at the end of the lease term – meaning your mailroom is never left behind.

Here at European Postal Systems we offer a range of in-house leasing options to suit businesses of all types – even those that have been trading for a relatively short time. We don’t believe that your company size or trading history should stop you from having access to the latest franking machine equipment – that’s why our leasing options open the market up to everybody.

For more information, or to discuss your franking machine leasing options, email [email protected] or give us a call on 01474 815 850.

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Time for an upgrade?

Mailmark franking is the latest Royal Mail franking technology, affording businesses greater postage discounts and a more efficient postal system.

So, if you’re still using the traditional “crown and die” franking machine system, now is the time to upgrade. Mailmark franking brings with it a host of benefits, including…

     Locked in pricing. Mailmark always offers the lowest postage prices – and because pricing updates are automatic, you can rest assured that you’ll never overpay.

     Efficient franking. Not only can the latest Mailmark franking machines process large volumes of mail both quickly and accurately, but with automatic selection of Royal Mail products and services, your post will reach the mail bag faster than ever before.

    Latest products and services. Mailmark customers get exclusive access to the latest Royal Mail products, services and upgrades – many of which will not be made available to traditional franking customers.

And the best thing about the new Mailmark system is that it’s suitable to businesses of all sizes. Whether you send 100 letters a year or 1,000 letters a day, Mailmark franking has the potential to save your business both time and money.

To find out more, speak to our dedicated Mailmark team on 01474 815 850 or visit our online shop: https://www.europeanpostalsystems.co.uk/the-mailroom.html

[epsltd-blog]

Let’s be frank...

There’s no doubt that physical mail volumes are declining, but we are a long way from seeing the back of traditional snail mail. And for as long as the post remains a relevant means of communication, your business needs to ensure that it carries it out in the most professional and cost effective way possible.

That’s where franking machines come in. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be running an industrial mail room for a franking machine to make good business sense. Franking machines can help businesses of all sizes to increase productivity, efficiency and boost the bottom line – here’s how:

Franking machines save you money – Let’s start with the most obvious benefit of installing a franking machine: it’s cheaper. Franked mail costs less to send than stamped mail – just 57p for a first class letter. Even if you only send 100 letters a week this soon adds up to a saving of over £400 throughout the year.

Franking machines save you time – Not only is franking so much quicker than manually applying stamps but as all of your postage is printed in house, you’ll need far fewer trips to the post office. What’s more, franking machines can be topped up 24/7 so you’re never at the mercy of post office opening hours.

Franking machines are more professional – Every customer communication is an advert for your business. Whether you are sending out an invoice, statement, reminder or invitation, the envelope is the first thing your customers will see. Not only does franked mail give off a more professional, business-like image but many franking machines give you the option to print short promotional messages alongside the postage mark.

Franking machines eliminate guess work – As franking machines come equipped with a built-in scale, you can be sure that the postage you pay is exactly what is needed. Gone are the days of sticking on several stamps of varying amounts – which usually add up to more than is required!

Franking machines are more secure – Postage stamps are one of the most commonly stolen office items. Franking machines on the other hand can be equipped with a security PIN – meaning they can only be used by authorised staff members.

These are just a few of the many benefits franking machines can offer your business. To find out more, speak to our team of experts today on 01474 815 850 or email [email protected]

[epsltd-blog]

Looking For A Low Volume Franking Machine ?

Not everyone requires a large automatic franking machine that can do anything and everything possible.  Some customers who still require a franking machine may only be doing a small amount of post, but will still make savings by using a franking machine.  Many customers running a small business working from home are now seeing the benefit of using a Mailmark compliant franking machine.

From 27th March 2017 these savings will change to 55p for a 1st Class Letter and 38p for a Second Class letter if you are using a Mailmark compliant franking machine.  A stamp for the same items would cost you 65p and 56p respectively. 

Our popular low volume franking machine is the Pitney Bowes FM60. This model is Mailmark compliant giving the customer maximum savings.  With the ability to process up to 20 letters per minute, it can cover all worldwide postal services. It comes with an integrated 2.5Kg electronic postal scale as standard thereby eliminating any under or over paying of items. This particular model is small and compact and will not take up too much space in any small office.  Why not enquire today, the Pitney Bowes FM60 might be exactly what you're looking for.

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Royal Mail Confirms 2017 Pricing Structure

The Royal Mail have now confirmed the official prices for the changes taking effect 27th March 2017.  These changes will affect all those using standard Smart franking machines, Mailmark franking machines or if you are a stamp user.

It is the users responsibility to make sure their franking machine has the latest tariff updates.  If you do not do this your outgoing mail may be subject to a surcharge from the Royal Mail if it has been underpaid by the sender.

This is the perfect time to see the savings that can be made when using a Mailmark compliant franking machine.  For instance from 27th March 2017 if you were to put a 1st class stamp on a letter up to 100g it will cost you 65p.  If you were to frank the very same item using a Mailmark compliant franking machine it would cost you 55p, a huge saving of 10p per item.  You can imagine the savings if you are sending out a large quantity of post at this reduced price.

Please also remember the dimensions of your postage items.  The dimension as well as the weight will determine the cost of your item.  This is when under pricing can occur when something is sent under the incorrect category.  You have Letter up to 100g, Large Letter up to 750g, Small Parcel up to 2Kg and Medium Parcel up to 20Kg.

You can view the full pricing structure for 27th March 2017 on the Royal Mail website.  We would advise that you print out the Royal Mail charts and place them in your Postroom where everyone can view them. 

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Our New Online Supplies Shop

We are pleased to be able to offer our existing and new customers the facility of ordering compatible inks for their franking machine via our online shop. This is a new venture for us and hope this widens the market for people wanting to order competitive priced ink for their franking machines.

You can use the "Search" facility to find the model of franking machine you use, as to whether we have a compatible ink available for that particular model.  You will also see that franking labels are available to order also.  Please remember that if you wish to continue using genuine inks direct from the manufacturer there are no changes regarding these and are available to order online too. Please feel free to continue to place orders over the phone should you wish to.

Please note when using compatible inks in your franking machine, as long as they are direct from ourselves and no other third party, it will not void any maintenance agreement that you may hold with us.  If you would like your email address added to our consumable user list for any special offers on ink then please do let us know.

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The Pitney Bowes DM400 Franking Machine

As one of our medium to high entry level franking machines, the Pitney Bowes DM400 franking machine is designed for business's doing a higher volume of post, for processing approximately 500 letter per day, with the capability of franking 95 items per minute if required.

With the added benefit of being Royal Mail "Mailmark" compliant which gives the customer additional postage savings, the machine is also set up to do all other Royal Mail services including Airsure as well as the standard services such as 1st and 2nd Class. The unit comes with a 5Kg scale as standard but this can be upgraded to 35Kg if required for larger packages. This model also has the facility of differential weighing which means that an assortment of mail can be processed together and the machine will calculate the individual cost without you having to. Even though this machine is designed for high volume the actual size is relatively compact, suitable for either small or large areas within the office, without taking up too much space.

The Pitney Bowes DM400 comes with LAN/Wifi or USB connection, the customer being able to choose which system suits them best.  This means that any updates for software or credit can be carried out quickly and at any time of the day or night, without causing any downtime.

Why not use your franking machine to advertise your company ? The DM400 comes with the facility of holding five company logos or return address.  These come as part of our package if ordered via EPS, a free method of advertising using sharp inkjet quality print onto the envelopes.

Should you require further details you can complete our enquiry form on our website regarding this model whereby one of our sales team will contact you immediately to advise.