How do they make any money?

[tbn.al]

Got a warning on my Pitney Bowles postage machine Wednesday that said, "Urgent! Battery low. Call PB service." So I did and asked the guy how to change the battery. He said, "No problem we'll send you a new one with instructions." When the over night express package came Thursday it was too big for a battery. It was a whole new machine with instructions on how to set it up and transfer the postage. How do they stay in business replacing a $.99 battery with a $300 plus machine. I don't understand. It can't be the rental, it's only $8 a month and it uses standard postage fees. Any ideas?

[Dan Schultz]

I've seen stamps for sale at Sam's for less than I pay for them at the Post Office. I never knew there was a wholesale price for US postage!

[tbn.al]

She is a fine looking woman at 80.

Back to the original topic. Insurance companies are required by law to send all kinds of notices US mail. My postage bill is my next to highest annual expense. The $8 a month is peanuts. I hate doing mail so every second it saves me is precious. I wouldn't want anything that slows down this dreaded task and the USPS site would.

I also found out the answer to my original question. They don't let you replace the battery because of federal regulations regarding tampering with the postage machine. Without special tools and such you can't get into the machine to change the battery. If you tried, the machine would be rendered usless and you would have committed a federal offense. How dumb is that! Leave it to the politicians.