Comments on: The call for the Catalog Extreme Makeover http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/ Reduce the number of catalogs you receive in the mail and go paperless. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:24:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Dave Brown http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-555 Dave Brown Sat, 19 Jan 2008 23:20:40 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-555 Actually, Fred... it would be more accurate to say that commercial mail subsidizes private party first class mail. Just consider what it costs to stop by every suburban residence in the USA six times a week. There's no way private mail could do enough volume to make that work for an occasional $0.41. If you mean government/taxpayer subsidy, that stopped a couple of decades ago. Actually, Fred… it would be more accurate to say that commercial mail subsidizes private party first class mail. Just consider what it costs to stop by every suburban residence in the USA six times a week. There’s no way private mail could do enough volume to make that work for an occasional $0.41. If you mean government/taxpayer subsidy, that stopped a couple of decades ago.

]]> By: Fred http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-536 Fred Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:42:23 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-536 A simple solution to reducing catalogs is for the US Postal Service to charge the people who mail catalogs the same as they charge us. Not only do we get the "junk mail" but we are subsidising it! A simple solution to reducing catalogs is for the US Postal Service to charge the people who mail catalogs the same as they charge us. Not only do we get the “junk mail” but we are subsidising it!

]]> By: anonymous http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-535 anonymous Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:47:26 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-535 2.4 tons of catalogs=4800 pounds divide that by 312 (52 weeks/year, 6 days of mail per day=312) that totals: 15.4 pounds of catalogs per day. I just grabbed 10 random catalogs and weighed them. The total weight was under 2.9 pounds. At this rate it means you're getting around 50+ catalogs per day (or some unbelievably heavy ones). Time to buy a new scale... 2.4 tons of catalogs=4800 pounds
divide that by 312 (52 weeks/year, 6 days of mail per day=312) that totals:

15.4 pounds of catalogs per day.

I just grabbed 10 random catalogs and weighed them. The total weight was under 2.9 pounds. At this rate it means you’re getting around 50+ catalogs per day (or some unbelievably heavy ones).

Time to buy a new scale…

]]> By: Carrie http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-534 Carrie Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:03:58 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-534 I second the idea of a "holiday only" and/or "eco-friendly" option of getting half (or, better yet, quarterly) mailings. There are a few catalogs that I don't mind getting, but it is infuriating to get more than one per month and sometimes more than one per week at holiday time. I second the idea of a “holiday only” and/or “eco-friendly” option of getting half (or, better yet, quarterly) mailings. There are a few catalogs that I don’t mind getting, but it is infuriating to get more than one per month and sometimes more than one per week at holiday time.

]]> By: paul@catalogchoice.org http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-531 paul@catalogchoice.org Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:05:22 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-531 Bill - did you really get 2.4 TONS of catalogs in 2007? How many catalogs is that? I don't really understand how an opt-in program would work to stop catalogs; and given our current system (which most users of this site are already "opted in" to); we designed Catalog Choice as a way to get off of catalog mailing lists. We understand that many users wish to receive less catalogs (as opposed to no catalogs), and are keeping this in mind as a feature to develop in the future. Bill - did you really get 2.4 TONS of catalogs in 2007? How many catalogs is that? I don’t really understand how an opt-in program would work to stop catalogs; and given our current system (which most users of this site are already “opted in” to); we designed Catalog Choice as a way to get off of catalog mailing lists.

We understand that many users wish to receive less catalogs (as opposed to no catalogs), and are keeping this in mind as a feature to develop in the future.

]]> By: Lisa Guide http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-521 Lisa Guide Thu, 10 Jan 2008 18:37:07 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-521 Another ecofriendly option for catalog companies - offer a "holiday season only" option. I would welcome recieving one catalog from many of these retailers during the holidays, since that is the only time I look at them anyway! Another ecofriendly option for catalog companies - offer a “holiday season only” option. I would welcome recieving one catalog from many of these retailers during the holidays, since that is the only time I look at them anyway!

]]> By: Dan Rotkopf http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-482 Dan Rotkopf Wed, 02 Jan 2008 04:29:37 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-482 I like Bill's opt-in idea. That would greatly reduce the 19-20 billion catalogs per year figure. Do you know how many mailed catalogs are triggered by a phone or web opt in? I like Bill’s opt-in idea. That would greatly reduce the 19-20 billion catalogs per year figure. Do you know how many mailed catalogs are triggered by a phone or web opt in?

]]> By: Bill Davis http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-476 Bill Davis Sun, 30 Dec 2007 18:16:33 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-476 I'm glad people like Kevin are at least trying to get involved to resolve my overstuffed mailbox (in 2007 alone, I have received approx. 2.4 tons of unwanted catalog-yes, I actually get them weighed!). Rather than an op-out program, how about an opt-in program? a lot of retailers ask for name/address when you make major purchases and they automatically opt you in. You are NOT required to provide any information of that nature to them in order to make purchases. I am using Catalog Choice as the only avenue open to me to resolve the burgeoning catalog distribution problem. I have tried communicating directly with the merchants (and yes, they could care less for the most part), I have done the "Return to Sender" much to the post office's dismay..soooooo, if Catalog Choice works and the merchants won't then that's what I'm using and recommending to my friends. I’m glad people like Kevin are at least trying to get involved to resolve my overstuffed mailbox (in 2007 alone, I have received approx. 2.4 tons of unwanted catalog-yes, I actually get them weighed!). Rather than an op-out program, how about an opt-in program? a lot of retailers ask for name/address when you make major purchases and they automatically opt you in. You are NOT required to provide any information of that nature to them in order to make purchases.

I am using Catalog Choice as the only avenue open to me to resolve the burgeoning catalog distribution problem. I have tried communicating directly with the merchants (and yes, they could care less for the most part), I have done the “Return to Sender” much to the post office’s dismay..soooooo, if Catalog Choice works and the merchants won’t then that’s what I’m using and recommending to my friends.

]]> By: Anne Lindenfeld http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-475 Anne Lindenfeld Sun, 30 Dec 2007 14:46:30 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-475 And get those bloggers involved! I have your click-through button on my blog, and I am sure others would do to same, if they knew about Catalog Choice. If Blogger, Technoratic, Yahoo, etc. put a notice on their front pages for a day, you would certainly get plenty of free advertising. And get those bloggers involved!

I have your click-through button on my blog, and I am sure others would do to same, if they knew about Catalog Choice. If Blogger, Technoratic, Yahoo, etc. put a notice on their front pages for a day, you would certainly get plenty of free advertising.

]]> By: Anne Lindenfeld http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-474 Anne Lindenfeld Sun, 30 Dec 2007 14:44:52 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2007/12/27/the-call-for-the-catalog-extreme-makeover/#comment-474 Get kids involved! You could post a "kids, teachers, schools" area on our site, where kids and teachers could get more information about Catalog Choice and how to get schools involved. How about a catalog challenge? Kids could compete to see which students families could decline the most number of catalogs? Kids could plant the same number of saplings at an area park or blighted area as the number of trees saved by declining those catalogs? Kids, as any parent can tell you, are some of the most vigilant, persistent advocates for the environment. And since many kids faithfully recycle, Catalog Choice would be something they could easily understand and embrace. Get kids involved! You could post a “kids, teachers, schools” area on our site, where kids and teachers could get more information about Catalog Choice and how to get schools involved. How about a catalog challenge? Kids could compete to see which students families could decline the most number of catalogs? Kids could plant the same number of saplings at an area park or blighted area as the number of trees saved by declining those catalogs?

Kids, as any parent can tell you, are some of the most vigilant, persistent advocates for the environment. And since many kids faithfully recycle, Catalog Choice would be something they could easily understand and embrace.

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