electronic postage - Buyers Guide

Home Office Computing, Feb, 2001 by Kathy Yakal

PROmail costs $50 for the starter kit (including hardware), and $14.95 a month thereafter for unlimited postage. And don't forget--you have to buy postage rolls regularly. PROmail isn't for everyone, particularly the busy home-based worker who needs to automate mass mailings and other bulk correspondence.

(A) Easy to use; comes with all the hardware you need

(B) Forget addresses, PROmail prints only stamps

PROmail Rating: 6

Stamps.com 2.2

HOC RATING

1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8

Stamps.com was our overall favorite, both for ease of setup and accessibility of software.

Stamps.com is a software and Internet service; after downloading the software, you connect to the Internet whenever you need to use the application's postal services. Stamps.com defaults to its own address book, though you can import .CSV address files from Microsoft and Lotus office applications.

The main software screen is neatly arranged and clearly labeled. When we wanted to mail a package or letter, we typed the return and recipient addresses in boxes at the top of the screen. We then clicked on a drop-down menu to pick the mail piece type--letter, large envelope, postcard, package, and pre-addressed envelope.

You can also select the type of media you want to use (for example, envelopes and shipping labels), then enter weight, mail class, and Special Services. For the latter, Stamps.com presents an explanation of services such as certified mail and insurance, tells you what form you need to fill out (your starter kit contains some), and calculates and prints the correct postage.

Special circumstances are displayed in a dialog box. You can postdate mailing pieces and add extra postage, as well as drop in a graphic and change the address font to any font on your system. Word and Outlook are supported.

Two service plans are available: The Simple Plan charges you a fee of 10 percent of postage printed, with a $4.49 minimum and 29-day free trial; the Power Plan is $15.99 a month for unlimited postage. New customers also get $20 worth of free postage and a free digital scale. The pricing plans are complicated, but the service is exceptional.

(A) Well-designed software; solid value and service

(B) Pricing plans dizzying; you need to be on the Net

Stamps.com 2.2 Rating: 8

RATINGS

HOME OFFICE COMPUTING rates products on a scale of 1 to 10--with few 9% or 10's--based on value, performance, innovation [medals go to rare standouts in these areas], ease of use, and suitability for home offices. The (A) and (B) symbols indicate pros and cons.

PRODUCT              PRICE                   VENDOR

CLICKSTAMP ONLINE    Free download;          Pitney Bowes
                      $1.49 per month        800-390-0297
                                             www.pitneybowes.com

PROMAIL              $50 for starter kit;    Simply Postage
                     $15  per month          877-397-8267
                     unlimited  postage      www.simplypostage.com

STAMPS.COM 2.2       $16 per month for       Stamps.com
                     unlimited postage or    888-434-0055
                     10  percent of          www.stamps.com
                     postage with $4.49
                     minimum

PRODUCT              HARDWARE/SOFTWARE REQUIRED

CLICKSTAMP ONLINE    Software download; Internet connection

PROMAIL              Starter kit; software CD; postage meter and
                     stamp printer; Internet connection

STAMPS.COM 2.2       Software download; Internet connection