Comments on: Precycling - The City of Napa Way http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/ Reduce the number of catalogs you receive in the mail and go paperless. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:00:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Yvonne Camesi http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-8373 Yvonne Camesi Sat, 10 May 2008 19:47:56 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-8373 Wow! I just looked at the numbers of newbies - almost 800,000. Go for the 1 mil and keep going. CC. Kudos to you! I've got to say that this week all I got was a Blair, Montgomery Ward and JC Penney and 10 junk mailings. Bills are not junk and don't count. (I am not running a temperature) Maybe, I'll get my 3 week vacation. Have not had one in almost 5 years. My CC Score: 508 request input since Jan08 81 Confirmed 16 Refused and slowly dropping 248 Unconfirmed 163 MIA - or delivered I call that good. Get the big fellers to step up to the plate and consumers have it made! Maybe we will have a choice. Wow! I just looked at the numbers of newbies - almost 800,000. Go for the 1 mil and keep going. CC. Kudos to you!

I’ve got to say that this week all I got was a Blair, Montgomery Ward and JC Penney and 10 junk mailings. Bills are not junk and don’t count. (I am not running a temperature) Maybe, I’ll get my 3 week vacation. Have not had one in almost 5 years.

My CC Score:

508 request input since Jan08
81 Confirmed
16 Refused and slowly dropping
248 Unconfirmed
163 MIA - or delivered
I call that good. Get the big fellers to step up to the plate and consumers have it made! Maybe we will have a choice.

]]> By: Tracy Glomski http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-1568 Tracy Glomski Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:54:08 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-1568 I wondered about that, and fair enough. Thanks for clarifying, April. My folks live out-of-state. When I visit them at the holidays, I'll see if I can walk them the process through at their own computer. It'd be better that way, anyhow. I've begun to question the efficacy of contacting merchants individually, even though so many have indicated that's what they prefer. Three out of five merchants whom I've contacted simply haven't responded (the latest is excused for the moment, since it’s a holiday weekend). Only two have confirmed my opt-out requests. In one case, I contacted the customer service representative by e-mail—she was polite but nonetheless ignored my request to disclose the source for my name (and even the DMA says I have a right to ask for that). I was able to speak with the other representative on the phone. She did take my name and address, but she declined my customer number when I offered, and she seemed totally disinterested in my reason for opting out (which is unfortunate, because I was attempting to nicely explain that I enjoy the website, and I basically got a quick "thanks, bye"). Being nice is a tactic which hasn't seemed to work. So now I'm downright confrontational. I predict that tactic won't work, either, but at least I've done my darnedest to get my point across, and I can wash my hands as the catalogs continue to arrive. I do still intend to complain to the DMA about any prospecting mailings which haven't stopped by October. I'll be surprised, however, if even that makes a difference, especially for situations where the offending merchants are represented on the DMA board or in the DMA hall of fame. You guys know who you are. I hate to say this, but what will finally make the difference is when the smuggest companies start to go down under the weight of their own inefficiencies, compounded by a recessionary economy and postal rate hikes. That thought brings me no joy, but that's what I foresee. The current structure of the direct marketing industry makes self-regulation difficult, but there's ultimately no escape from the forces of self-correction. Ugh. I hate this. I hate the waste, the environmental destruction (not just the felled trees, but the greenhouse gas emissions, the heavy water usage, the potential toxins in the processing and printing), the imminent loss of jobs, all of it. Catalog Choice is a good concept at its core. It seems like the simple, obvious, better path through this all, but its benefits are currently limited to the merchants who've decided to make it work for them. When I try to tell a company that I don't the catalogs, it's an honest attempt to provide information that helps us both (and to at least a small degree, the world at large). I am grateful for the ones who've heard. I still wish more were listening. I wondered about that, and fair enough. Thanks for clarifying, April. My folks live out-of-state. When I visit them at the holidays, I’ll see if I can walk them the process through at their own computer. It’d be better that way, anyhow.

I’ve begun to question the efficacy of contacting merchants individually, even though so many have indicated that’s what they prefer.

Three out of five merchants whom I’ve contacted simply haven’t responded (the latest is excused for the moment, since it’s a holiday weekend). Only two have confirmed my opt-out requests. In one case, I contacted the customer service representative by e-mail—she was polite but nonetheless ignored my request to disclose the source for my name (and even the DMA says I have a right to ask for that). I was able to speak with the other representative on the phone. She did take my name and address, but she declined my customer number when I offered, and she seemed totally disinterested in my reason for opting out (which is unfortunate, because I was attempting to nicely explain that I enjoy the website, and I basically got a quick “thanks, bye”).

Being nice is a tactic which hasn’t seemed to work. So now I’m downright confrontational. I predict that tactic won’t work, either, but at least I’ve done my darnedest to get my point across, and I can wash my hands as the catalogs continue to arrive. I do still intend to complain to the DMA about any prospecting mailings which haven’t stopped by October. I’ll be surprised, however, if even that makes a difference, especially for situations where the offending merchants are represented on the DMA board or in the DMA hall of fame. You guys know who you are.

I hate to say this, but what will finally make the difference is when the smuggest companies start to go down under the weight of their own inefficiencies, compounded by a recessionary economy and postal rate hikes. That thought brings me no joy, but that’s what I foresee. The current structure of the direct marketing industry makes self-regulation difficult, but there’s ultimately no escape from the forces of self-correction. Ugh. I hate this. I hate the waste, the environmental destruction (not just the felled trees, but the greenhouse gas emissions, the heavy water usage, the potential toxins in the processing and printing), the imminent loss of jobs, all of it. Catalog Choice is a good concept at its core. It seems like the simple, obvious, better path through this all, but its benefits are currently limited to the merchants who’ve decided to make it work for them.

When I try to tell a company that I don’t the catalogs, it’s an honest attempt to provide information that helps us both (and to at least a small degree, the world at large). I am grateful for the ones who’ve heard. I still wish more were listening.

]]> By: April http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-1567 April Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:32:31 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-1567 In response to Lisa's comments about signing up other people on one's account, let me point out that Catalog Choice does not encourage this practice, even with the individual's permission. People should have their own accounts. For those individuals who lack access to a computer, we suggest 1. going to the local library where you can set up an email address and Catalog Choice account and/or 2. calling the catalog mailer directly. I know this is more time consuming, but catalog mailers want to know that the intention of opting out of a catalog is expressed directly by the individual receiving it in the mail. Thanks. In response to Lisa’s comments about signing up other people on one’s account, let me point out that Catalog Choice does not encourage this practice, even with the individual’s permission. People should have their own accounts. For those individuals who lack access to a computer, we suggest 1. going to the local library where you can set up an email address and Catalog Choice account and/or 2. calling the catalog mailer directly. I know this is more time consuming, but catalog mailers want to know that the intention of opting out of a catalog is expressed directly by the individual receiving it in the mail. Thanks.

]]> By: Anna http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-1566 Anna Sat, 22 Mar 2008 07:55:28 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-1566 After I called Title 9 to find them closed, I went to their website. I found that they have an opt in/opt out request on their contact customer section. They give you directions as how to unsubcribe from their catalogues. I will let you know if I receive any more catalogues from them after the necessary time. I did tell them that I have no interest in their products as they do not work for me. After I called Title 9 to find them closed, I went to their website. I found that they have an opt in/opt out request on their contact customer section. They give you directions as how to unsubcribe from their catalogues. I will let you know if I receive any more catalogues from them after the necessary time. I did tell them that I have no interest in their products as they do not work for me.

]]> By: Anna Loewensteiner http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-1565 Anna Loewensteiner Sat, 22 Mar 2008 07:49:13 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-1565 When I called Cabelas to request to be removed from their mailing list, the rep apologized that they refused my request through Catalogue Choice. She removed me promptly and said it would take the normal 10-12 weeks. I felt that she did a good job by being so courteous to me and I thanked her for that. When I called Cabelas to request to be removed from their mailing list, the rep apologized that they refused my request through Catalogue Choice. She removed me promptly and said it would take the normal 10-12 weeks. I felt that she did a good job by being so courteous to me and I thanked her for that.

]]> By: Glenn Furth http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-1564 Glenn Furth Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:26:42 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-1564 In the past half month I have submitted 127 catalogs to be cancelled. At that rate I must receive over 1400 catalogs per year. With web sites available, why would I and the associated companies want to continue to send and receive paper catalogs. In the past half month I have submitted 127 catalogs to be cancelled. At that rate I must receive over 1400 catalogs per year. With web sites available, why would I and the associated companies want to continue to send and receive paper catalogs.

]]> By: Emela http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-1547 Emela Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:44:22 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-1547 Hey everybody...emailing ABACUS one of the top address trading companies is one of the best ways to cut down quickly on catalog removal. Their email address is abacusoptout@epsilon.com Be sure to put every variation of your name and address as it appears on the catalogs and just request to be permanently removed from their database. Just a friendly suggestion! Hey everybody…emailing ABACUS one of the top address trading companies is one of the best ways to cut down quickly on catalog removal. Their email address is abacusoptout@epsilon.com

Be sure to put every variation of your name and address as it appears on the catalogs and just request to be permanently removed from their database. Just a friendly suggestion!

]]> By: tc http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-1546 tc Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:42:30 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-1546 I put a notation about Catalog Choice in the outgoing signature of my personal e-mail account. A few friends have thanked me for the information. It's a great way to let a lot of people know. If everyone using CC does it we could could spread the word pretty fast! I put a notation about Catalog Choice in the outgoing signature of my personal e-mail account. A few friends have thanked me for the information. It’s a great way to let a lot of people know. If everyone using CC does it we could could spread the word pretty fast!

]]> By: Phyllis http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-1544 Phyllis Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:57:47 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-1544 Kudos to the responsible and consciencious merchants who respect their customers' wishes AND the environment! Many people shop online and a printed catalog is redundant, so I don't know why a merchant has issues with NOT printing an unwanted catalog. I've actually started checking for a merchant's name on catalogchoice when making some purchasing decisions. Respect begets respect! Kudos to the responsible and consciencious merchants who respect their customers’ wishes AND the environment! Many people shop online and a printed catalog is redundant, so I don’t know why a merchant has issues with NOT printing an unwanted catalog. I’ve actually started checking for a merchant’s name on catalogchoice when making some purchasing decisions. Respect begets respect!

]]> By: Katia Arquette http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-1543 Katia Arquette Wed, 19 Mar 2008 06:48:59 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2008/03/08/precycling-the-city-of-napa-way/#comment-1543 I've been using Catalog Choice, for a little over a month, after seeing it discussed on TV. Entering daily after the mail arrives, I'm up to 150 catalogs & another 20 that you don't have on your list. I couldn't believe it!! So far only 11 have accepted, 9 denied. I get anywhere from 3-15 catalogs daily. I was on vacation for a month, had the PO hold my mail and they had one of their huge mail tubs overflowing for me. Thanks goodness for your service. Hopefully, in a few more months I'll see a much lighter load in my mailbox. Unfortunately, I don't think all the mailing can ever be stopped. Katia, Spirit Lake, ID I’ve been using Catalog Choice, for a little over a month, after seeing it discussed on TV. Entering daily after the mail arrives, I’m up to 150 catalogs & another 20 that you don’t have on your list. I couldn’t believe it!!

So far only 11 have accepted, 9 denied. I get anywhere from 3-15 catalogs daily. I was on vacation for a month, had the PO hold my mail and they had one of their huge mail tubs overflowing for me.

Thanks goodness for your service. Hopefully, in a few more months I’ll see a much lighter load in my mailbox. Unfortunately, I don’t think all the mailing can ever be stopped.
Katia, Spirit Lake, ID

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