Franking machines can save high-volume mailrooms a great deal. However, the machines themselves can be costly. If you’re buying new, prices range from £2,600 to £34,000, although you can drop that by 30-70% with a preowned model.
In addition, most franking machines are leased for a monthly rate including supply, maintenance, inspection, and software updates.
Those rates can be more affordable than buying a franking machine outright. In addition, because the market is so competitive, with 29 active suppliers and manufacturers in the UK alone, you’ll be able to negotiate rates lower by comparing quotes.
Getting a quote on your franking machine can help you compare rates, features, and services included so that you get the best deal on your franking machine.
Let’s take a look.
Top Cheapest Franking Machines in the UK
Franking machines are sold based on volume and capacity. The higher the volume of the machine, the more features it will have. Therefore, the cheapest franking machine will always be the smallest with the fewest features.
The cheapest franking machines in every category are listed below:
- Cheapest Low-Volume Franking Machine – Quadient iX-7 Series £1,790
Runner Up: Pitney Bowes (refurbished) DM60 for from £1,355 - Cheapest Mid-Volume Franking Machine – Quadient iX-5 MailMark £6,786
Runner Up: FP PostBase Fusion Auto £11,000 - Cheapest High-Volume Franking Machine – Quadient iX-7 £15,537
Runner Up: Quadient ix-9 £18,000+
Here, Quadient is the UK’s budget franking machine manufacturer. That doesn’t always mean they’ll have the cheapest franking machine – as you can still get refurbished and pre-owned models from other manufacturers for less.
5 Tips For Comparing Franking Machine Quotes
The best way to save on a franking machine is to compare quotes from different suppliers. Here’s what to watch out for when you do:
1. Know Which Features You Need
Franking machines come with a lot of different features. Figure out what you need upfront so you can decide what’s important and what to compare.
- Volume/Capacity – Volume includes printing speed, cartridge size, and time the machine is intended to be in use. Look at your rough monthly volume and divide per day to get an idea of volume needs.
- LPM – Suppliers make a big deal out of this. However, if you’re sending 400 letters per month, it’s not going to make too much difference whether you’re franking 20 or 35 letters per minute. Chances are the changeover times will take more time than that anyway. All Mailmark machines are in roughly the same LPM categories, so you’re not going to make any big wins by paying special attention here.
- Printer Thickness – These are roughly comparable in most models. Low-volume models typically support up to 20mm but are more likely to offer 8-10mm. High volume typically goes up to 40mm. If you need to send large envelopes, pay attention here.
- Scale Capacity – Most Mailmark franking machines include a scale but they range from 2 kg to about 15 kg. Look for a differential scale if you want to automatically frank envelopes based on weight.
- Automation – The bigger your machine, the more automation it’s likely to have. Automatic feeders and envelope sealers can save you hours. So, they’re well worth investing in.
- Digital Screens – Most mid-size and up models have digital screens. However, all models have online dashboards. Both options can be convenient, depending on how you frank your mail. For example, if you want to have selections and customization while franking mail, go for the digital screen. If you want a selection or programmed options like “Press 1 for account accounting mail”, you don’t need the screen.
- Connectivity – Most machines offer connection over LAN. Some also include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The latter two are unnecessary unless you’re installing the machine in a hard-to-reach place.
- Postage Minimums – All Mailmark machines allow you to add postage credit directly from the machine or online interface, paid directly to Royal Mail. Most will do so in multiples of £10 but some will have higher minimums. These are typically determined per manufacturer.
- Extras – You can always get extras like department selections, cost tracking per account (even small machines can offer cost tracking for multiple accounts), etc. Consider what you need and prioritize that. For example, if you’re delivering post from multiple departments, cost-tracking could save you a lot of financial headaches.
Now that you know what you need, let’s take a look at some other considerations when comparing franking machine quotes.
2. Compare Hire and Buy Contracts
Make sure you ask for quotes with hire and buy options. 5-year lease options can be the cheapest way to go.
However, you’ll still want to look at other options. For example, if one supplier is willing to offer you a great deal on an upfront purchase, and another is willing to offer you a great deal on a maintenance and inspection contract, that might be the way to go.
3. Look at what’s included in the contract
Keep in mind that you’ll want to compare the cost of everything you need to frank mail. Normally, these are the following:
- Machine, with an expected lifespan of 5 years
- Labels and ink
- Annual inspection
- Software updates
- Maintenance
- Warranty
- Training
If one of these isn’t listed in your quote and you need it anyway, you’ll have to pay for that as an additional cost.
For example, an ink cartridge for a Quadient high-volume machine will cost £300-£600; for Pitney Bowes you can expect to pay £400+. If that’s included in the contract, that’s an additional cost you don’t have to worry about.
4. Don’t Forget About Preowned Options
Pre-owned franking machines can save you as much as 70% over the cost of buying new. However, actual savings depend on where you buy and the machine capacity.
- Low-volume – average 30% discount over new
- Mid-volume – up to 50% discount over new
- High-volume – 30-70% discount over new
Refurbished models also don’t have to add risk. For example, you can buy a manufacturer refurbished franking machine directly from Pitney Bowes for about a 20% discount over the new price.
5. Look at Supplier Quality and Feedback
Hardware isn’t everything. In fact, if you’re signing a 5-year contract with a supplier, the supplier’s reputation, customer service, and offerings might be more important.
Make sure you talk to the supplier, look at online reviews, and consider user satisfaction as part of choosing a maintenance and inspection contract.
Compare Franking Machine Quotes and Save
Comparing franking machine quotes can save you a great deal on the total cost of your machine. Whether that means helping you get a better model for the price, reducing the total cost of ownership, or ensuring you get the most for your money, comparing your options will get you there.
Use the form below to request a franking machine quote. We’ll reach out to top suppliers and manufacturers that service your area, select the most competitive options, and pass the savings on to you.