After nearly a year and a half, the name change process of Parcel Post Plus, Inc. a Niskayuna-based business, continues. It all started in June of 2007 when Greg Salomon, owner of Parcel Post Plus, Inc. received a letter from a law firm representing the United States Post Office asserting he had to change the name of his business or face litigation, because the phrase is a registered trademark of the United States Post Office.
It’s such an emotional thing, said Salomon. `What if people don’t like the new name? What if people don’t remember it?`
Salomon threw out a lot of potential ideas for names, but can’t seem to decide on one. So he decided to hold a contest for his customers to submit their ideas for the name change. One of his customers was so enthusiastic he even brought a box over for customers to put their suggestions in.
`It’s going to cost money [to change the name] and that’s why I thought having a little contest with his customers on helping him pick a new name might be a good idea, just to get some interest,` said John Lemelin, a Niskayuna resident and customer.
`It’s definitely going to be a distraction; it’s going to be a whole bunch of work that he’s going to have to go out and do, and when he’s out doing that work he’s not going to be in the store helping customers,` said Lemelin of why he wanted to help alleviate some of Salomon’s burden.
The contest will start on Monday, April 20, and run until Wednesday, May 20. The winner will receive an iPod Nano, whether the name is actually chosen or not.
Salomon, who has been in business for nine years and has used the name `Parcel Post Plus, Inc.,` for just as long, said that the letter came as a `huge surprise.` Beside the stress of coming up with a new name for his business, which has been a challenge for him ` he wants something catchy, memorable and accurate in terms of the services his business offers ` the fees associated with the name change are also something what worry him.
`[It costs] $700 in lawyer fees, by the time I change my signs and change the Web site content this is going to be over five grand with no help,` said Salomon.
`For a small business guy ` I’m not Kinko’s, I’m not some big giant 24-hour-a day-operation; I’m just a little guy,` said Salomon.
He said that he has changed the legal name of his business to Copies Etc. Shipping Etc. and has also changed the Web site domain name from www.parcelpostplus.com to www.copiesetc.net. He said that he was forced to turn the original domain name over the United States Postal Service without getting reimbursed for the money he had spent already, or for the money it would cost for a new domain name.
According to Salomon and his attorney, Michelle Wildgrube, the law firm representing the United States Post Office has given Salomon time to make the transition since he’s been so cooperative.
`He was compliant; he definitely got back to them right away, and because he was so proactive they were willing to work with him,` said Wildgrube.
`I think its one of those situations that had he ignored it, litigation would have occurred a lot more quickly,` said Wildgrube.
However, she said that since he was in contact with them and kept them in-the-know about the status of where he was in the name-change process, the firm representing the United States Post Office was willing to work with Soloman and let him take his time.
However, Salomon said, there’s a silver lining to every cloud. When Parcel Post Plus, Inc. started nine years ago, it didn’t offer nearly as many services as it does today, and its name doesn’t truly reflect the business anymore, according to Wildgrube.
The firm representing the United States Post Office was unavailable for comment. An Internet search pulled up businesses across the country with the same name, Parcel Post Plus, Inc. According to Wildgrube, the owners of these businesses have most likely been asked to change the names of their shops, as well.
`They are constantly checking and making sure that people aren’t using their registered trademark, which is kind of an interesting job,` said Wildgrube.
Check www.spotlightnews.com or future editions of The Spotlight for updates on this story.
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