What exactly is Franking?
A franking or machine (or postage meter) as it is otherwise known, is a device used to apply physical evidence of postage to letters of various different shapes and sizes. The machine works by imprinting a postage amount on the parcel or letter, which then acts as a postage stamp and a dated postmark. The meter stamp acts in the same way as a normal postage stamp and eliminates the need to purchase normal stamps. The franking machine itself usually consists of a keyboard for entering the postage amount and a stamping mechanism. It will also have an integrated weighing scales which automatically weighs and calculates the postage of the particular item being franked. On most machines, it is possible to disconnect the scales, in which case the item has to be weighed separately and the postage entered manually. Franking machines are used extensively in offices and businesses around the UK as they are seen as an effective way of reducing postage costs.
Royal Mail Franking Costs
Convenience is one of the main reasons why people see franking as the best of way of paying for the postage and delivery of their items. Franking can be used for a wide range of services including; First and Second class mail, Special delivery, International and Domestic signed for mail and recorded delivery. Franking can give your mail a more professional look. A company name and logo can be printed, along with the postage, on every piece of mail your business sends. This can do wonders for improving a company's image. Over time a company can reduce its postage costs using franking - no more problems associated with running out of stamps and having to make emergency trips to the post office. You can save 5p on every item of first class mail sent and 7p for second class items sent using franking and even more when using other more specialised services. Over the course of a year for companies that send large amounts of mail, these savings can be considerable. Your machine can be re-credited over the phone or online and Royal Mail offer further discounts depending on the amount of credit purchased. Find out how much Franking Machines Cost
How does Franking Save Money?
As mentioned earlier franking is a cost effective way of sending mail for businesses or large organisations that routinely send large amounts of mail. Discounts are available for each individual item sent by franking regardless of the amount being sent, which means that smaller to medium sized organisations can also benefit from the discounts that franking provide. The range of franking machines available range from low-volume machines to larger, more-automated machines capable of dealing with large quantities of mail. The type of machine you require will depend on the size and type of organisation in question. There are costs associated with setting up a franking machine, like renting or buying the machine itself and also maintenance costs, like replacing ink and labels. But these costs are greatly offset by the long-term savings that can be made from sending franked mail. Not only can savings be made on first and second class mail, but even greater savings can be achieved on more specialised services like special delivery and international mail.
Other Benefits of Franking
As mentioned earlier, franking can help your business or organisation by giving it a more professional-looking image. You can customize your franking mark that goes on every item of mail you send by adding your company's logo and return address, thereby giving it more publicity. You can extend this to include any offers or promotions that your company may be offering, and thereby positively increase your company's profile and popularity. Franked mail is also much easier for Royal Mail to process, which obviously decreases any potential delays in delivery. Lastly, franked mail gives the recipient the assurance that what they are receiving is from a trusted and reliable source, and is a great way of building good customer relations.
