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I got 112 Catalogs In November - what does December have in store?

by Laura Hickey
National Wildlife Federation

Throughout the month of November, I’ve been the lucky (or not-so-lucky) recipient of 112 mail order catalogs. Now, I like getting some catalogs – but 112 in only 26 days? That’s just crazy. I’ve been a professional buyer for almost 30 years now, and I mean in the workplace, not just at home. I like to shop as much as the next person, but I do most of my shopping online, where special sales, clearance pricing, and myriad other deals exist. And, I do like paging through my favorite catalogs. But those “favorites” number about a dozen catalog titles – the rest are just a waste, both in natural resources and the cataloger’s money to send them to me.

In the month of November, I received 33.6 pounds worth of catalogs….

  • 6 kids catalogs (my husband and I don’t have children)
  • 12 food catalogs (I would never buy food from a catalog)
  • 2 computer catalogs (that seems so oxymoronic to me)
  • 42 home furnishing catalogs (with some titles sending 2-3 with different covers)
  • 6 high-end jewelry catalogs (they must mistake me for someone with a lot of disposable income)
  • And a lot of clothing catalogs for men and women (I could live to be 1,000 and never purchase this amount of clothing)catalogs-stacked-up-112-nov-07.JPG

Some come addressed to variations of my name, others in variations of my husband’s name. Several catalogs have come in my mother’s name, and she died over 7 years ago. What’s with that?? Not only does that bring back sad memories, but it also makes me wonder why some of these mailers don’t use better list hygiene services?

What I love about Catalog Choice is that it lets me choose which catalogs I want to get, and which ones I really don’t want to get. If I want to shop at any of the ones that I’ve opted out of, I will – almost any merchant is just a “Google” away. (And buying tip: that’s where the deals are, too!)

So this Christmas, I’m giving myself and the environment a gift – I’m adding a lot of these unwanted and unnecessary catalogs to “My Choices” on Catalog Choice (www.catalogchoice.org). This is one gift that I can count on to “keep on giving”.

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 2nd, 2007 at 2:39 pm and is filed under Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

33 Responses to “I got 112 Catalogs In November - what does December have in store?”

  1. In the first few days I was associated with Catalog Choice, I opted out of 20 plus catalogs. I am so glad I heard of this problem–until now, it seemed that all I did was throw things away. ( I really like to shop, but mostly online.)
    The worst thing about the catalogs is that once they get to me they must be disposed of. The unwanted publication hovers at that point on the very edge of the landfill. Thanks to Catalog Choice, I won’t have to throw it. And fewer catalogs will be tossed in the first place. Much better for the whole environment.
    I’ve told several friends about this site.

    ‘

    Joan Campion on December 3rd, 2007 at 11:35 pm

  2. I read your post, nodding the entire way. Yes, that’s me! So far, I’ve opted out of 69 catalogs. I keep thinking “this must be all of them”, but somehow I doubt it.

    LCK on December 4th, 2007 at 12:41 pm

  3. Thanks so much for your comments -it’s good to know that we’re all in this together, and together we can make a difference through our choices on Catalog Choice. It helps to know that we can stop unwanted mail before it’s processed. For me, that means trees are left in the forest, less energy is used, there’s lower global warming pollution, and less waste going to the landfill. But, for those catalogs I do choose to receive, I make sure that I put them in the recycling bin so that they can be transformed back into another paper product. It’s good to know that you can close that recycling loop, and reduce our impact on natural resources.

    Laura Hickey on December 4th, 2007 at 2:00 pm

  4. This is the MOST fabulous service…better even than the do not call list (I can use caller id to screen calls!). I am up to 102 catalogs. I am trying to get the word out to environmental orgs in my area - asking that they put a “blurb” about catalog choice in their newsletters and/or on their websites. The more the better!

    Sue Roska on December 4th, 2007 at 4:24 pm

  5. Thanks for this service. I just signed up yesterday. I heard about your site on an NPR interview. I’ll be keeping a link to your site close by and as the holiday catalogs roll in, I’ll be adding them to my opt-out list and tossing them into the recycle bin one last time!

    Greg on December 4th, 2007 at 4:46 pm

  6. Thanks, everyone - the more we can get the word out, the better! We appreciate all of your help in spreading the word!

    Laura Hickey on December 4th, 2007 at 4:59 pm

  7. I hope and pray that this catalogchoice.org works. Apparently wherever I made a recent online purchase sold my name because I never had SO MANY catalogs in my life. I got NINE TODAY. I’m scared to death what I’ll have by Christmas!!! No wonder products are so expensive, they spend a fortune on direct mail that many times just goes into the garbage! I’ve decided that I’m never purchasing ANYTHING from a business that sends me an unwanted, unasked for catalog! It’s making me NUTS!!!

    Connie on December 4th, 2007 at 5:51 pm

  8. I used to stack up all my unwanted catalogs and then devote one evening a month to e-mailing or calling each one and asking to be taken off their lists. Catalog Choice makes life easier — THANK YOU for this service.

    Amy on December 5th, 2007 at 8:29 pm

  9. I’m up to 79 catalogs so far. This is a great service. I’m going to send info about this site to my township.

    Donna on December 8th, 2007 at 9:42 am

  10. I’ve hit 96 in only 2 weeks - My partner and I get catalogues in multiple versions of our own names, plus 4 versions of her mother’s name (she’s been dead for 5 years) and several for her father (dead for 11 years). I can’t wait for the catalogues to stop coming (how do you tell when something stops?) I LOOOVE this!!

    barbara levitan on December 8th, 2007 at 2:28 pm

  11. I don’t even count anymore. I sure do hope this Stop the Catalog Flood works — I too have phoned, emailed, and actually written the companies begging them to stop sending their catalogs, but to no avail. I’m going to check back on all my Catalog Choices in two months and see how many I’m still getting. If they’re still coming, is there a Plan B for stopping this flood?

    Martha on December 8th, 2007 at 3:14 pm

  12. Now if we could just get rid of catalogchoices.com!!!!
    Be sure you make a point to mention this site is dot net…….

    Mary on December 8th, 2007 at 5:30 pm

  13. I read about this in the local newspaper. All was well until about 6 months ago when the catalogues started pouring in!! I started calling each and every one asking them to stop. Arthur Beren actually sent me an email stating that I had missed their cut-off date. Are they kidding?? I have been calling them for a year. They received a very HOT email response from me. I hope this plan works. Signed, Very Tired of Catalogues.

    Sylvia on December 9th, 2007 at 12:31 am

  14. Suggestion to Catalog Choice folks - set up an area of this site for people who know (by having used a variant of their name or address) what co. sold their name, to share this info. I for one would never do business with a company that stooped to this.

    Anna Haynes on December 9th, 2007 at 11:42 am

  15. The posting “Engine Yard keeps us running 24 X 7.” Appears to be an advertisement for some business called “Engine Yard.”

    Isn’t that a violation of the intent of his service??????

    James Lucas on December 10th, 2007 at 1:33 pm

  16. What I wish to see is the ability to indicate, not just individual catalogues but, all.

    Another way to say it is I wish to see the ability to select “ALL”, not just individual catalogues.

    James Lucas on December 10th, 2007 at 1:36 pm

  17. James: Thanks for your comments.

    Engine Yard is our partner that makes sure this website runs. It is not an advertisement for them, but rather a recognition of their important role.

    In terms of the select “all” feature, our service is designed to be title-specific and only for catalogs that you receive.

    Chuck on December 10th, 2007 at 3:04 pm

  18. I started declining catalogs on CatalogChoice just after Thanksgiving. It works quicker than expected, maybe because your programming to mesh with catalog mailing address programs. This week we have gotten only the catalogs that we buy from or the ones that are not yet on your list. I am sure we would have gotten dozens this week before CatalogChoice. Thanks!

    Lena McCubbin on December 15th, 2007 at 8:09 am

  19. I have declined nearly 200 catalogs in the last couple of months and now am receiving NONE!!! I am so grateful to you for your service! When I need to order something, I can go to the list of catalogs I deleted and go straight to the website.
    Many Thanks-I’m telling all my friends!

    Leslie S on December 22nd, 2007 at 5:43 am

  20. Let’s remember that all direct mailers, whether senders of catalogs or “junk” mail, rent or exchange mailing lists in addition to mailing their own customers. In order for the opt-out process to work fully, the mailer who rents the list of a catalog you want to keep getting has to “merge and purge” the rented list against their own “do not promote” list to remove your name each and every time they mail. If they take you off their “house” list but don’t take the extra step of purging list rentals you’ll still get stuff you don’t want — even when the mailers comply.
    Paper and postage costs are rising. Many mailers may cut back their mailing volumes in 2008.All mailers want customers to buy more online, but paper catalogs still generate the bulk of their sales. Sites and services like Catalog Choice can only help!

    Adrienne Kinney on December 23rd, 2007 at 12:45 pm

  21. I managed to get my name off on my own but this site will help even further. And to add insult to injury, my younger brother died in June and I had to have his mail forwarded to me so I can take care of his personal affairs. Now he is on mailing lists and he is dead. I now have to deal with removing a dead person who never lived at my home from these lists. I have added his name to my profile and hope that this will help. He seems to get more than I do.

    With the price of postage heading sky high, you would think that companies would reconsider mailing constant catalogs. I am also the same, have no kids, do not buy religious articles, do not buy expensive items unless I can see them first. I am glad this site exists.

    Roseanna on December 24th, 2007 at 8:32 am

  22. I have called each and every one of the 96 catalogue companies that clog up my mailbox. One fellow told me that 1-800-flowers sells everybodys name and address to every catalogue possible. I will never buy flowers from these people again. I ordered flowers, not reams of paper.

    Sylvia Weidenkeller on December 27th, 2007 at 6:53 pm

  23. I am appreciating CatalogueChoice!I previously home schooled my 3 children. As a registered private school in the state of California, I began to receive catalogues for everything from Proms to Playground equipment! I haven’t been able to find these catalogs listed on your site so I “suggested” them. How long does it take for you to add a catalogue that has been “suggested”? Will I receive an email telling me when my suggested catalogues have been added? I will be so glad to decline them as I have 9 other household-type catalogues. I am pleased with your service and have sent out an informative email to friends and family encouraging them to check out your site. I like that you have added the link to the merchants’ websites. I have browsed a bit through the lists of catalogues, visited some of the merchants’ websites and even added a couple to my internet “Favorites” list. I would think that the merchants would be glad of this new addition to your site. I think it’s a win-win for everyone. Keep up the good work!

    Leslie Ryan on December 31st, 2007 at 11:23 pm

  24. Leslie:

    We have had thousands of catalog titles suggested. We are in the process of verifying the merchant contact information for each of the requests before we add them to the site. You will receive an email from us as soon as it is added and it will also be listed on your Welcome page.

    Chuck on January 2nd, 2008 at 1:02 pm

  25. Chuck,
    Thanks for the reply. “Thousands of catalogue titles”? Wow! I guess I live a sheltered life! I had no idea that many existed. Now I am feeling even more appreciative. You are runnin’ a smooooth machine here folks. My clicking finger is itchin’…I got two more catalogues in the mail today that I can’t wait to decline. THANKS!

    Leslie Ryan on January 2nd, 2008 at 7:41 pm

  26. Re: the question who is selling your information. I purchased a product from Dr. Lark, aka Healthy Directions LLC. While I like the Dr. Lark product, now I receive tons of junk mail with the same format as the original ad sent by Dr. Lark. It appears this company sells your information.

    I have also been receiving Boston Proper and Victoria Secret catalogs for about 15 years and I’ve never bought anything from them. I signed up for catalog choice in November. I’m keeping my fingers crossed this service works. I received 100 catalogs in November.

    Vicky on January 3rd, 2008 at 1:10 am

  27. I have current registered 77 catalogs! I knew we got a lot, but I never realized it was that many!!!

    Also, RE: the question of who is selling your information… LINEN SOURCE. Either their policy or someone in their company will not only sell/rent or give away your address information, they will also sell/rent/give away whatever PHONE NUMBER you used to place an order with them… in my case it was my direct line at work and suddenly I was getting all sorts of bizarre Telemarketing calls…surprisingly all are located right around

    Laurie on January 8th, 2008 at 6:33 pm

  28. stop mailing

    Barry Price on January 24th, 2008 at 6:32 am

  29. remove me from ALL catalogs sent!!!!!

    virginia dias on January 24th, 2008 at 9:03 am

  30. stop sending all catalogs

    greg dias on January 24th, 2008 at 9:05 am

  31. I would love to stop getting so many catalogs and save some trees.

    Jacqueline Denise Britt on April 22nd, 2008 at 10:34 pm

  32. Please no more catalogs

    Domestions on May 13th, 2008 at 2:13 pm

  33. Laura, (if you’re still out there) Wow! Just read your “journey” because I am just discovering all the stuff catalogchoice has. From Sep07 on to about Feb08, we were still getting over 100 catalogs per week - some for relatives long passed away that never resided at either address. So far this month, we’ve done the best in years. The picture in the article was only a speck as to what we were receiving. Thanks to the Share/Rent/Sell clause and the “Or Current Resident” catalogs are allowed to get away with.

    Catalogchoice has made a big difference.

    Yvonne Camesi on May 13th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
 

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