Junk Mail
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Junk Mail
August 2002
I receive almost everyday tons of junk mail from grocery
stores, home improvement stores, drugstores, discount
coupons, etc... and I am very upset about having to go
through it to find mail that matters and to take it straight to
the recycling bin or trash. Is there anyway to stop those big
companies from cluttering my mailbox and life? Not to
mention the waste of paper and human resources.
Thanks.
I've got junk mail and telemarketing down to just a trickle by
doing the following: 1- when I get junk mail, I respond and
request they take me off their list (if there is a postage paid
postcard or a 1-800 number I use that). 2- I *never* give out my
address/phone number to any business without asking if it is
going to be released and/or marking on the form ''CONFIDENTIAL -
DO NOT RELEASE''. 3- Magazine subscriptions are kept to a minimum.
In my experience, magazines are the worst offenders for selling
your data. 4- In the case of catalog companies which I DO
actually do business with, I ask to receive the catalog less
frequently, or to not receive a catalog at all if it is on the
web. I usually have to repeat this request with every order, as
an order adds you back in to their database. This method takes
some work and time, but the results are great!
- junk mail free! (almost)
I got a stamp that says ''REFUSED! No junk mail - save a tree.'' on
it. All you do is completely cover your address on the
envelope/catalogue, stamp the front with the refused stamp and
drop it in a mailbox to be returned to the sender. They will
have to pay a return shipping and will more than likely remove
you from their mailing list. I did this for quite a long time
and managed to get my junkmail down to a pretty bare minimum.
And, then I moved and it kicked right back in. You have to keep
it up in order for it to work. Good luck. Hope this works for
you. (PS If you can't find one of the stamps, you can either
have one made or write ''Refused - remove from mailing list'' on
each item. Remember to completely black out your address or the
mail will just come right back to you!)
Junk Mail Hater
The website www.opt-out.cdt.org has forms you can fill out and
send to bulk junk mail distributers to get your address off
their lists. I believe they also have solutions to spam.
Nicole
The Direct Marketing Association has a
''Telephone
Preference Service'' (see
http://www.the-dma.org/consumers/consumerfaqs.html#few). If you sign up
for
that, they will take your phone number off the marketing lists and you will
be much happier. You will also see a lot less junk mail in your mailbox if
you sign up for their ''Mail Preference Service'' (same website).
bab
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