Talk to me about junk mail

[Amys1st]

Junk mail arrives and its junk. Then there are the 4 billion catalogs. If we receive 10 catalogs, one is one I would actually use. So share here the ways to stop this waste of trees and everything else from coming to your home. I have already elimintated credit card solicitations, I am working on catalogs and the other stuff.

[wantingagirl2b#4]

Return to sender will work on most mail.

[Amys1st]

Also, I am getting rid of those flyers, little postcards etc. But I will try the return to sender. I already elimintated the stuff my retirement acct sends out and man a lot of stuff!! But I would rather just get mail and not all the other stuff along with it.

[HelloKitty]

I usually send a note to the company that sent the catalog and nicely tell them I would rather save some trees and not receive theirs catalogs in the mail but a good website for orders is always appreciated. It works well.

[NoraC]

For those of you in Canada, I recently found out about this.

http://www.reddotcampaign.ca/

Since I put the dot in my mailbox, I have only received unaddressed junk mail once! And that may have been because there was already something in the mailbox covering the dot.

[stacim]

I've never used this, but I just read about this site in a magazine today. It's a free service that helps you unsubscribe to catalogs.

[Amys1st]

Originally Posted by stacim

I've never used this, but I just read about this site in a magazine today. It's a free service that helps you unsubscribe to catalogs.

I also just started doing that. So far 5 catalogs and some for several different names too!

[ustasmom]

I call them with the catalog in hand. They usually want the customer number anyway. They will tell you that they print up labels in advance and you may get one or two more. I call again if I get them, just to be sure.

It has gotten rid of the catalogs. It is the "current resident" local junk that I can't get rid of.

[counterGOPI]

: return to sender won't work if it says your name 'or current resident' ive tried

[lightheart]

also limit the places you give your addy to, whether online or in person.

I do the call and ask to be removed from the list thing too. There for a while there was a catalog I really wanted but I was getting 6 copies of it all with different varionations of name and addy! Finally after about a year I'm down to 1.

[woodchick]

Another interesting site for reducing junk mail is Greendimes.com

I haven't used it, but they promise to cut back your junk mail by 90% AND plant 10 trees in your name.

[iamloved22]

I just wanted to chime in and say "excellent thread"! This is definitely something I will be putting some effort into!

[Pariah]

We've removed ourselves from mailing lists, but we still seem to get so much. Our recycling center has bins specifically for junk mail, so anything we keep getting goes there. I'd love to not receive any in the first place, though!

[alysmommy2004]

Originally Posted by woodchick

Another interesting site for reducing junk mail is Greendimes.com

I haven't used it, but they promise to cut back your junk mail by 90% AND plant 10 trees in your name.

I signed up for this months ago and I'm still getting the same amount of junk.

[GirlOutOfNY]

A friend gave us a package of letters to sign and stamped, addressed envelopes to the credit reporting groups and junk mail list companies. You do have to supply your ss# for the credit reporting ones, but it will also drastically reduce your mail. Sadly, I need to hunt it up and do it, she did all the work, typed the letters and stamped the envelopes and presented it to friends as a holiday gift!

[hubris]

Things I have done:

- called my CC companies and asked them NOT to send those monthly checks or any other marketing mailings
- emailed companies that send a catalog and asked them to put me on the DO NOT MAIL list.
- registered with Catalog Choice and I enter any catalog that does come


Still need to do:

- put a liter bottle into the bin below my mailbox so that people don't fill it with local advertising/fliers
- figure out how to get off the mailing lists of local businesses.

[Amys1st]

Originally Posted by GirlOutOfNY

A friend gave us a package of letters to sign and stamped, addressed envelopes to the credit reporting groups and junk mail list companies. You do have to supply your ss# for the credit reporting ones, but it will also drastically reduce your mail. Sadly, I need to hunt it up and do it, she did all the work, typed the letters and stamped the envelopes and presented it to friends as a holiday gift!

I need friends like this!

[snozzberry]

New American Dream has a Do Not Junk page with 3 suggestions:

1. Urge Congress to make it easier to opt out of junk mail (email form on site)
2. Until that happens, cut your junk mail in half with existing tools (forms to generate letters on site; also recommend using 41pounds.org)
3. Encourage businesses to do their part to Green the mail you want to receive (email form on site)

[koru]

Originally Posted by alysmommy2004

I signed up for this months ago and I'm still getting the same amount of junk.

me, too & me, too! you've reminded me to put "call green dimes" on my to-do list!

i've been working on eliminating junk mail for years & it's really a continual process. i just keep calling & asking to be removed as well as trying to remember to let retailers know i want no part in mailing lists. it's tricky because you buy one thing & BAM, they've got ya! LLBean had boys snow boots on super sale & i bought a pair..and now i'm getting their catalog....and now i have to remember to call them.

[jeninejessica]

All of those but the red dot are for US... anyone have Canadian ones that are similiar? DH and I moved into a new home in Sept, and we receive an insane amount of mail for the previous 3 owners (some haven't been there over ten years!), but a lot of it is credit card offers and the like- so not even anything I can forward on!