Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 7, 1993 TAG: 9310070058
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Postmaster General Marvin Runyon said the Postal Service will have to become more competitive in its bid to stave off attempts by private companies to get some of its delivery business.
But he said postal officials should play fair.
"I understand that some of us have been conducting letter-writing campaigns, asking our customers to boycott alternative delivery companies and spreading exaggerations and half-truths about safety and security issues, the things they may be delivering and the integrity of their delivery personnel," Runyon wrote.
"These actions are not appropriate," he said in a Sept. 13 memo.
The memo was sent to the Postal Service's sales, processing and distribution managers.
A dispute developed in Roanoke this year between postal officials and Pinpoint Target Marketing - a service delivering magazines, advertising and other items. In August, the company challenged allegations made in a flier by Roanoke Postmaster Billy Martin. Pinpoint is operated by Times-World Corp. of Roanoke, which also publishes the Roanoke Times & World-News.
Pinpoint's lawyer accused Martin of "an unfair method of competition" after his memo said Pinpoint was leaving magazines in front yards, delivering them to wrong addresses and failing to stop delivery while people were on vacation.
Pinpoint threatened legal action to refute Martin's allegations. Martin, who said in August he would have an "appropriate response" to the Pinpoint's concerns, has never formally responded to the complaint.
Martin was out of town Wednesday and could not be reached for comment on Runyon's memo.
Carl Wright, treasurer of Times-World Corp. said legal action seems unlikely in light of the memo. Pinpoint's attorney, Heman Marshall, said he has been instructed to "sit tight."
Wright said preliminary figures show that Martin's allegations had little impact on Pinpoint's delivery business in the two zip-code areas where Martin's flier was circulated.
"We were concerned that the post office would continue making allegations," Wright said. "All we wanted to do is assure that we have a level playing field with the Postal Service in competing for this business."
by CNB