Comments on: Only One Purpose http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/ Reduce the number of catalogs you receive in the mail and go paperless. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:37:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Marilynn http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1500 Marilynn Tue, 11 Mar 2008 05:16:43 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1500 I read through all the comments on this blog and nobody asked Jenny what catalog company she worked for. I'd like to know. Maybe they're on 'my choice' list. I read through all the comments on this blog and nobody asked Jenny what catalog company she worked for. I’d like to know. Maybe they’re on ‘my choice’ list.

]]> By: Violet http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1491 Violet Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:32:33 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1491 I've been using your site since 11/07. Not much improvement. I have repeatedly opted-out on the same catlgs. over & over. I was hoping this would be the answer to unwanted catlgs. But, I don't think it's working. I’ve been using your site since 11/07. Not much improvement. I have repeatedly opted-out on the same catlgs. over & over. I was hoping this would be the answer to unwanted catlgs. But, I don’t think it’s working.

]]> By: Nancy http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1460 Nancy Sun, 09 Mar 2008 01:06:58 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1460 Catalog companies should be MANDATED to give you a way to opt out of their mailing list. A self-addressed, stamped postcard with your customer number should be included in each catalog, allowing you to check a box saying "Opt Out". Websites should be required to have an place to contact the company with a simple form to fill out to decline their mailings. I think this would go a long way toward eliminating unwanted mail and relieving all the frustration out there. If these companies truly cared they would have these options clearly posted. I too have opted out of catalogs here months ago and am still receiving many of them. I shouldn't have to waste my time phoning and emailing companies that invade my mailbox against my wishes. In fact, I have called companies in the past, spoke to the customer service department and asked to be removed from mailing lists only to continue to receive catalogs. Catalog companies should be MANDATED to give you a way to opt out of their mailing list. A self-addressed, stamped postcard with your customer number should be included in each catalog, allowing you to check a box saying “Opt Out”. Websites should be required to have an place to contact the company with a simple form to fill out to decline their mailings. I think this would go a long way toward eliminating unwanted mail and relieving all the frustration out there. If these companies truly cared they would have these options clearly posted. I too have opted out of catalogs here months ago and am still receiving many of them. I shouldn’t have to waste my time phoning and emailing companies that invade my mailbox against my wishes. In fact, I have called companies in the past, spoke to the customer service department and asked to be removed from mailing lists only to continue to receive catalogs.

]]> By: Abby http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1456 Abby Sat, 08 Mar 2008 20:50:28 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1456 I remember reading a blog from some vendor saying that people are declining catalogs that are not in any system, as if Catalog choice participants are merely doing this for the good of their health - randomly declining catalogs that they IMAGINE they receive. Well I contacted one HARTFORD YORK today - not on Catalog Choice's list (yet) - men's hats - remind me of Frank Sinatra. NO interest to me whatsoever. Thought I'd try and stop any more of them coming..... Did I have a customer number? Nope. "Well you're not in our system, so I can't stop something that's not in our system." "You only got a catalog because you bought something from a another catalog and they sold your name." This we know..... "I can put your name into the system and then add don't sell to it." I don't think so..... "Otherwise there's nothing we can do. You may get more catalogs from us..if you buy from other catalogs" I guess it's ALL MY FAULT. I remember reading a blog from some vendor saying that people are declining catalogs that are not in any system, as if Catalog choice participants are merely doing this for the good of their health - randomly declining catalogs that they IMAGINE they receive.

Well I contacted one HARTFORD YORK today - not on Catalog Choice’s list (yet) - men’s hats - remind me of Frank Sinatra. NO interest to me whatsoever. Thought I’d try and stop any more of them coming…..

Did I have a customer number?
Nope.
“Well you’re not in our system, so I can’t stop something that’s not in our system.”

“You only got a catalog because you bought something from a another catalog and they sold your name.”

This we know…..

“I can put your name into the system and then add don’t sell to it.”

I don’t think so…..

“Otherwise there’s nothing we can do. You may get more catalogs from us..if you buy from other catalogs”

I guess it’s ALL MY FAULT.

]]> By: LHS http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1448 LHS Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:37:43 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1448 Sillia, good point about the privacy legislation. The National Do Not Call list has helped the unwanted phone calls TREMENDOUSLY. And you can take action if companies don't honor your request. I suppose something similar can and will be done for catalogs. But I agree that merchants should get on board now. A last comment/question on all the different versions of a name that can appear on a label - if the computer-generated list doesn't match somebody's name in a catalog's database (eg. Doe on W Oak St vs. J. Doe on West Oak Street), then why can't they find it manually? They could find "Doe" on "125 West Oak Street" and cancel all related mailings. I understand this is manual, but wouldn't it take less time than my calling their customer service deptartment and doing it that way? Is the problem that they are receiving too many manual requests at once? Sillia, good point about the privacy legislation. The National Do Not Call list has helped the unwanted phone calls TREMENDOUSLY. And you can take action if companies don’t honor your request. I suppose something similar can and will be done for catalogs. But I agree that merchants should get on board now.

A last comment/question on all the different versions of a name that can appear on a label - if the computer-generated list doesn’t match somebody’s name in a catalog’s database (eg. Doe on W Oak St vs. J. Doe on West Oak Street), then why can’t they find it manually? They could find “Doe” on “125 West Oak Street” and cancel all related mailings. I understand this is manual, but wouldn’t it take less time than my calling their customer service deptartment and doing it that way? Is the problem that they are receiving too many manual requests at once?

]]> By: sillia http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1444 sillia Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:49:21 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1444 I wish companies would do three things: 1.) Make any cust# or id# clear and easy to find, well-labeled. 2.) Have a catalog opt-out checkbox on every web order form and every paper order form. And respect this. 3.) Have a "do not share my name" checkbox on every web order form and every paper order form. (Better yet, make it an opt-in if people wish to receive mailings from related companies.) Some merchants already do this. We should thank them for this responsible approach, and reward them with our business. Those who don't, we should keep telling them we want these options, and we want them respected. The alternative is some kind of privacy legislation...allowing me the right to say where my name goes. I don't think we want that, it would be costly, ugly and messy and would probably impair business. Why don't merchants get on board now and show that they care about our wishes, that will solve the problem for the most part. If they did this Catalog Choice would not even be necessary. I wish companies would do three things:
1.) Make any cust# or id# clear and easy to find, well-labeled.
2.) Have a catalog opt-out checkbox on every web order form and every paper order form. And respect this.
3.) Have a “do not share my name” checkbox on every web order form and every paper order form. (Better yet, make it an opt-in if people wish to receive mailings from related companies.)

Some merchants already do this. We should thank them for this responsible approach, and reward them with our business. Those who don’t, we should keep telling them we want these options, and we want them respected.

The alternative is some kind of privacy legislation…allowing me the right to say where my name goes. I don’t think we want that, it would be costly, ugly and messy and would probably impair business. Why don’t merchants get on board now and show that they care about our wishes, that will solve the problem for the most part. If they did this Catalog Choice would not even be necessary.

]]> By: Laura http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1441 Laura Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:56:23 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1441 Thanks, LHS, for your comments. You've made a really important and valuable point - many of the systems out there are designed to help people to get off of unwanted mailing lists on a voluntary basis. If we all try a little harder, we can succeed and make this work to our mutual benefit - Merchants, Trade Associations, Independent Websites, and Consumers. And the big winner will be the environment. Thanks for your perspective. Thanks, LHS, for your comments. You’ve made a really important and valuable point - many of the systems out there are designed to help people to get off of unwanted mailing lists on a voluntary basis. If we all try a little harder, we can succeed and make this work to our mutual benefit - Merchants, Trade Associations, Independent Websites, and Consumers. And the big winner will be the environment. Thanks for your perspective.

]]> By: LHS http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1438 LHS Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:42:04 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1438 It's helpful to get other perspectives and I appreciate what the DMA folks are saying - up to a point. At my old job, my phone number was very similar to the DMA's and I would get all kinds of wrong numbers - people would yell at me that I was the root of all evil, allowing their names to be given out, etc. I actually found myself defending the DMA and very politely would explain to these people that they (the DMA) can indeed help them get off the lists - and I would give them the correct number to call. However, the bottom line is that the "system" makes it very difficult to opt out and if this website can even help just a bit - then great! And if the DMA and the more resistant catalog companies could help "just a bit too" then what a difference that could make! Just as carrying around disposable bottled water is quite out of style now - so too will be wasting paper and other resources. Good luck to catalogchoice.org. It’s helpful to get other perspectives and I appreciate what the DMA folks are saying - up to a point. At my old job, my phone number was very similar to the DMA’s and I would get all kinds of wrong numbers - people would yell at me that I was the root of all evil, allowing their names to be given out, etc. I actually found myself defending the DMA and very politely would explain to these people that they (the DMA) can indeed help them get off the lists - and I would give them the correct number to call.

However, the bottom line is that the “system” makes it very difficult to opt out and if this website can even help just a bit - then great! And if the DMA and the more resistant catalog companies could help “just a bit too” then what a difference that could make!

Just as carrying around disposable bottled water is quite out of style now - so too will be wasting paper and other resources. Good luck to catalogchoice.org.

]]> By: LMcC http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1437 LMcC Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:05:14 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1437 I, too, have received more catalogs than before from a couple merchants who have refused or not confirmed my request. The new catalogs appear to be from their 'sister' companies. I refuse to give up & I refuse to be discouraged. This is a worthy war, and I consider receiving these additional catalogs a request to engage. Keep at it & don't give up. It will be worth it in the end. Saving our land, air, and water for our children & grandchildren is nothing short of noble. Indeed, how will one feel about oneself when one realizes one didn't fight to save the lives those who come behind us? If that sounds melodramatic, what sort of lives will our children have if they can't breathe clean air, can't enjoy land & all its natural beauty, and have no healthy water to drink, let alone worthy land with which to grow food? These problems plague us now, but we've become accustomed to them. They will worsen if we don't put the brakes on the thoughtless damage we cause, both passively & actively. The catalog industry is well-rooted and seems to require significant effort to understand how we feel about their treatment of us and to act appropriately. That's fine. In the words of Og Mandino, I will persist until I succeed. I, too, have received more catalogs than before from a couple merchants who have refused or not confirmed my request. The new catalogs appear to be from their ’sister’ companies. I refuse to give up & I refuse to be discouraged. This is a worthy war, and I consider receiving these additional catalogs a request to engage. Keep at it & don’t give up. It will be worth it in the end. Saving our land, air, and water for our children & grandchildren is nothing short of noble. Indeed, how will one feel about oneself when one realizes one didn’t fight to save the lives those who come behind us? If that sounds melodramatic, what sort of lives will our children have if they can’t breathe clean air, can’t enjoy land & all its natural beauty, and have no healthy water to drink, let alone worthy land with which to grow food? These problems plague us now, but we’ve become accustomed to them. They will worsen if we don’t put the brakes on the thoughtless damage we cause, both passively & actively. The catalog industry is well-rooted and seems to require significant effort to understand how we feel about their treatment of us and to act appropriately. That’s fine. In the words of Og Mandino, I will persist until I succeed.

]]> By: Ellen http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1433 Ellen Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:35:10 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/02/12/only-one-purpose/#comment-1433 FWIW - I have been writing to companies directly now. Sometimes you have to hunt through the customer service section and write an actual message. Some actually have specific forms to get yourself removed from the mailing list (I hope this is a sign that they are serious about it and will take you off and keep you off! - one of these is Ross Simons - I get tons of catalogs from them and I don't buy jewelry!). But two were catalogs that had confirmed my removal request here on catalogchoice.org. Another was one I had requested both here AND directly and both times they told me I wasn't even on their list and that I must have received a "sample catalog." Garbage. I've been receiving their catalog for years. I told them that the first time they came up with this lame answer. It's becoming sadly apparent to me that it may not be possible to get off these lists, period. This is becoming a frustrating, time-consuming effort and I hope it doesn't turn into a waste of time. Ellen FWIW - I have been writing to companies directly now. Sometimes you have to hunt through the customer service section and write an actual message. Some actually have specific forms to get yourself removed from the mailing list (I hope this is a sign that they are serious about it and will take you off and keep you off! - one of these is Ross Simons - I get tons of catalogs from them and I don’t buy jewelry!). But two were catalogs that had confirmed my removal request here on catalogchoice.org. Another was one I had requested both here AND directly and both times they told me I wasn’t even on their list and that I must have received a “sample catalog.” Garbage. I’ve been receiving their catalog for years. I told them that the first time they came up with this lame answer. It’s becoming sadly apparent to me that it may not be possible to get off these lists, period. This is becoming a frustrating, time-consuming effort and I hope it doesn’t turn into a waste of time.

Ellen

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