PELPS5DL SCALE,SHIPPING,DOWNLOAD,5LB

by Pelouze

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B00006IC39
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 6, 2007

Product Description

Popular rates for U.S. Mail can easily be downloaded from the Internet, no need to order and then install replacement rate chips. Auto shut-off when scale is not in use. Uses a 9V battery or AC adapter (both not included). PELPS5DL PEL-PS5DL 077177404245 7717740424

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as useful since post office made size a bigger factor in price, September 2, 2007

By 

Amnia (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: PELPS5DL SCALE,SHIPPING,DOWNLOAD,5LB (Electronics)

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

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The "internet download" part is useless, so consider it a limited but functional stand-alone scale, July 7, 2008

By 

James DeLaHunt "software engineer" (Vancouver, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PELPS5DL SCALE,SHIPPING,DOWNLOAD,5LB (Electronics)

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy this scale--You WILL be DISAPPOINTED, May 8, 2008

By 

C. Coleman "TWEETY" (SAN ANTONIO, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: PELPS5DL SCALE,SHIPPING,DOWNLOAD,5LB (Electronics)

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)