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Pelouze(R) 5 Lb Internet Downloadable Rate Calculating Scale | 
| Brand: Pelouze Scale Company
List Price: $125.00
Buy New: $69.99
You Save: $55.01 (44%)
New (10) Used (1) from $44.95
Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 9253
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 9.7 x 9.6 x 2.3
MPN: PS5DL
Model: PS5DL
UPC: 077177404245
EAN: 0077177404245
ASIN: B00006IC39
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
No need to order and then install replacement rate chips with this digital scale. Easily download new rates from the Internet, including U.S. Mail rates for First Class, Priority, Express and Airmail to Canada and Mexico. Auto shutoff when scale is not in
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| Customer Reviews:
 Not as useful since post office made size a bigger factor in price September 2, 2007
Amnia (USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
1. The unit comes with no rates in it. You must hook it up to your computer using a special cable (hope you have the right port for it) and then sign up at pelouze to get the rate file and the software that loads it into the unit. i had a lot of trouble getting the downloaded file to run - windows felt it was not safe to open (it is a self-extracting zip file and ends with two suffixes, .zip.exe, and windows did not like it). I had to call customer service. Also, the phone number given in the box for customer service is the old customer service number from before pelouze was bought out and it does not work.
2. When the rates change, you will have to pay pelouze for the new rate file, and it is expensive.
3. After you place an item on the scale it gives the weight. You must then press another button to get the cost of postage. If you have 50 things to mail, you get to press this button 50 times. The previous pelouze scale i had (the one that you can set the rates yourself) did not make you press a button each time like this.
4. since the postal rate now also depends both on the size of the item as well as the weight, you still need to keep a paper postal rate chart and a ruler for larger items. since you need these items anyway, and since this scale is so much more expensive than a scale that does not calculate the rate, my advice is just to get a simple scale and use the money you save to buy stamps.
5. if you really must have a scale that calculates the postage, get the pelouze rate-programmable (not internet downloadable) one.Pelouze(R) 2 Lb. Rate-Programmable Electronic Scale
 Don't buy this scale--You WILL be DISAPPOINTED May 8, 2008
C. Coleman (SAN ANTONIO, TX)
I purchased this NEW scale from QUICK SUPPLY after Pelouze quit making the chip for my current scale (which was a great 10 lb scale that included rates for USPS, FEDX & UPS...nothing like this cheesey 5 pounder that only handles USPS rates). When it arrived I tried to hook it up to download the rates and discovered that I could not because the connection was so antiquated none of my 5 computers have a serial connection. This was NOT described under the discription of the item. I went to the AMAZON web site on line and ordered a serial to USB cable from BRILLIANT SUPPLY, INC, received it about 10 days later, tried downloading the rates, and could not do so...tried contacting the BRILLIANT SUPPLY, INC who never returned my emails or calls. I then contacted the Driver company for the Driver that was included in the cable package and was told the driver was not made for that cable. I notified AMAZON and they re-imbursed me, rather quickly, I must say, but it was a small amount of money. I purchased another cable from a local office supply store, which by the way cost me almost $40! QUICK SUPPLY gives you only 14 days for a return, but doesn't tell you that you cannot hook up this item when you receive it without making another purchase, quite a costly one I might add. I finally tried to connect the scale and download rates to discover that I cannot do so because this scale had been sold previously to someone else and already registered with Pelouze back in January and the rate license is expired. I contacted QUICK SUPPLY and was told it was too late to return it even though they sold me a supposedly NEW product that was actually USED. No kidding. Yep, I was set up for scam with these guys from day 1. If AMAZON does not correct this and give me a full refund I will not purchase anything else from their site. I shop often on line, and would never recommend purchasing anything from BRILLIANT STORE, INC. (1st cable supplier) or QUICK SUPPLY (Pelouze Scale supplier)
The "internet download" part is useless, so consider it a limited but functional stand-alone scale July 7, 2008
James DeLaHunt (Vancouver, Canada)
I received the Pelouze PS5DL 5-lb scale as a gift, to use in my home office. Initially, the "internet download" of postage rates looks like a nifty feature. However, it ends up being next to useless. That leaves you with a stand-alone digital scale with some limitations, and for that it's overpriced.
Consider other 5-lb standalone scales like Digital 5 Pound Letter Scale, Postal Scale, Mailroom Scale.(special Design for Letter or Light package.) ($19.99) or USPS PS50 5-Pound Postal Scale ($34.95).
Here's why the internet download feature is next to useless.
First, this product plugs into your computer via a serial RS-232 DB-9 female connector. Most computers these days have no serial port, only USB. So you need to get a USB to Serial Adapter like Dekcell CPA-1027 USB to Serial RS-232 (DB9 Male) Adapter with 6 ft. USB Cable. (Surprisingly these range from $6-$30 -- shop carefully!) I borrowed such an adapter, but without the right driver, the adapter doesn't provide Windows a COM port, and so it doesn't do the job. Pelouze tech support had no workarounds for me.
Second, once you have a working connection, you need pay to download rates. Actually, the first download is free with the scale, but you have register on Pelouze's web site and download three separate items. Future rate downloads cost something (price unknown). Add this on to your operating costs.
Third, the scale's concept of rate scales is limited to the USPS tariffs before the May 2008 changes. The scale doesn't have a way to give you different rates for small vs large envelopes below 3.5 oz. It doesn't have a rate step for the new 3.0-3.5 oz band. For those, you still need a printed rate card. It doesn't handle any rates but USPS (which is a bummer for me, I live in Canada).
So, I've come to the conclusion that this gift is only useful to me as a scale, without any postage calculation possible.
As a scale, it has its strong points. It's a compact, sleek design. It measures up to 5 pounds, with 0.1 oz accuracy. That's plenty for my small office use. It runs off a 9v battery (not included), and shuts off automatically. I just keep it on a shelf, and pull it down when I need it.
It also has weak points. It's a pity they didn't include even a 9v battery, let alone the optional $17 AC adaptor Pelouze ADPT2 AC Adapter for Digital Postal Scales. It's a pity that it can't switch between ounces and grams (I mail both USPS and Canada Post letters, so I really need both). It's a pity I can't load my own rates into it. It's a pity that it doesn't handle UPS, FedEx, or other services.
But mostly, it's a pity that it's a $70 product which does no more than $20 or $30 products. I received it as a gift, so it's worth every penny *I* paid for it. You, however, might want to keep shopping.
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