one with a picture; and required stores to
provide the Postal Service with quarterly
rather than annual lists of boxholders.
The identification piece has gone into
effect, and Mail Boxes Etc. is seeing "a
high level of compliance," though a few
customers have resisted because they
consider it an invasion of privacy, Rogow
said.
Those who have been negotiating with
the Postal Service in Washington, D.C.,
say the service has come up with no
studies to prove that fraud is more
widespread at commercial mailbox outlets
than at post office boxes or private
residences. That makes them think the
rules are an attempt by the Postal Service
to put pressure on its private-sector
competition.
"Maybe I'm skeptical, but I think that's
got to be part of it," said Mary Leon,
lobbyist for the National Federation of
Independent Business. The federation's
smallbusiness members are concerned
about the cost of a change, the burden of
additional regulations, and the perception
that a service they frequently use is being
targeted, she said.
The U.S. Small Business Administration's
Office of Advocacy has also been
involved. It opposes any address
designation, calling it in an Oct. 20 letter
to the Postal Service "an illusory
requirement that ... presents a false
sense of security to USPS, while making
it more difficult for legitimate businesses
to continue to operate in a dignified and
cost-efficient manner."
The industry, for its part, says it is trying
to work more closely with the Postal
Service on issues such as fraud, privacy
and forwarding of mail.
Jane Larson can be reached at (602) 444-
8280 or jane.larson@pni.com.
