Getting started

Our easy-to-follow steps will help you get started with metering.

Step 1: Before choosing your postage meter you may want to think about your current mailing requirements and available budget. Consider:

• Printing speed - how much mail are you currently processing? How often do you mail out? Identifying these patterns will help determine which printing speed you'll need.
• Operating costs - basic model meters are available for lease from around $20-$40 per week. The price depends on the machine's printing speed and extra features such as weighing scales or an envelope feeding device.
• Additional metering costs - these may include consumables such as ink and adhesive labels, resetting fees if applicable, and service or maintenance charges. You need to weigh up the cost of these consumables and the benefit being derived.
• Lease or buy? - consider the benefits of leasing or renting a meter. This gives you scope to upgrade your meter if you need to, giving you the freedom to take advantage of new technology as it becomes available.
• Staff training - training may be required for some meters - ask your supplier.
• Large volume mailers - if your business sends large volumes of mail, you may also like to consider add-ons such as whether or not you require a machine that can weigh articles or has more advanced reporting.

Step 2: Contact an approved postage meter supplier to discuss your requirements.

Step 3: Your approved postage meter supplier will provide you with a postage meter licence application form. Once you have filled out this form your supplier will forward it to us for processing and we'll advise you of your application outcome by mail within 2 working days.

If you are buying your postage meter privately (through a private seller, for example), you will have to have your machine inspected by a postage meter supplier. The postage meter supplier will supply you with an application form. When submitting this form you will need to attach written proof of the inspection.

Australia Post does not accept any responsibility for customers who purchase a meter off eBay or similar, only to establish that the meter is not authorised by us. We recommend that you buy a postage meter from a reputable postage meter supplier.