Businessman opens new postal service in Dandan

 Residents of Dandan and nearby villages will now have convenient access to private mail service with the grand opening of Dandan Postal Services across from Joeten Dandan Building at 10:30am today.

Dandan Postal Services owner Joe Ayuyu said their grand opening comes with a very attractive promotion to encourage customers to rent a mailbox with them. The first 100 customers today will get a chance to rent a mailbox for three months for free.

Ayuyu, who is also the owner and president of McDonald’s Saipan, said today’s event is for the entire family. Refreshments will be served while Hapi D’ Clown entertains the customer’s children to allow their parents to deal with the mailbox rental application.

“We’re very excited that we’re providing a much needed service in the community,” Ayuyu told Saipan Tribune.

Ayuyu disclosed that the building, which used to house a postal service and school, was already abandoned before he bought it about a year ago.

“When I came in, I saw all these mailboxes that were in place and ready for use,” recounted Ayuyu, who was encouraged by Saipan Postmaster Amy Marshall to reopen the private postal service business.

“Amy Marshall mentioned that there’s about 700 people who are in the waiting list for mailboxes at the post office in Chalan Kanoa and they cannot accommodate them now,” said Ayuyu. “Not only is there a demand, the location is also very suitable and convenient because it’s in a residential area. Putting it all together, I think it makes a lot of sense.”

Ayuyu said Dandan Postal Services has 960 mailboxes in small, medium, and large or business sizes that are available for rent and can be paid per month or annually. Two sets of photo IDs and a $5 deposit for the mailbox key are required upon registration.

Dandan Postal Services offers most of the services offered by U.S. Postal Services-stamps, priority and express mails, and extra services that include delivery confirmation, certified mail, return receipt, and signature confirmation.

“We can do basically everything. The only services that are not available at Dandan Postal Services are money order and registered mail,” said Ayuyu.

Although Ayuyu has no previous experience running a postal service business, he said Marshall has been very accommodating and helpful, providing the needed training to their staff.

Dandan Postal Services, which will be manned by staffers Regl Jicko and Kuwery Philip, prides itself in going the extra mile for their customers.

“If they have a package that arrived, we’ll have our friendly staff give them a call so they don’t have to go check their mailbox often. That’s personal service, really,” said Ayuyu.

In fact, Ayuyu said they will assist customers who will rent a mailbox with them in preparing change of address letters to banks, utility agencies, and other service providers.

Ayuyu noted that unlike the U.S. Postal Services which is a government entity, Dandan Postal Services are a private business and “so our cost is a little bit higher.”

Besides being in a suitable location, Dandan Postal Services offers more convenience by having more operation hours to better serve its customers.

Visit Dandan Postal Services at the RJ Plaza Building across from Joeten Dandan for your postal needs. For more information, call 235-7678.