January is only half way over and 22 new catalog titles have activated their secure account. As our team of merchant account managers work away, there is nothing more pleasing to see a new merchant’s name appear on the Cool Catalogs page.
The account set up process is so simple that most merchants step through the set up in minutes. This includes personalizing their mail preference page, defining a set of mail frequency options, uploading links to their electronic catalog and downloading the mail preference requests. Before your morning coffee gets cold, a new merchant can be well on the way to saving money and resources by helping their customers go paperless through Catalog Choice. If you are not already signed up, there is no time like the present. Contact us at Merchantservice@Catalogchoice.org and we will get you started.
We are pleased to have the following companies working with us to honor mail preference requests.
Mason Companies family of catalogs:
The next step is to find a way to measure how “cool” these catalogs really are. Some of them agree to cooperate, then don’t. I first opted out of Rockler Woodworking and Hardware in March of 2008. My request remains “Unconfirmed” and I’ve reported continued receipt for the 5th time today. They remain on your “Cool Catalogs” list, but they do not honor our mail preferences requests. They should be taken off the list.
Likewise. I’m glad to see Hammacher Schlemmer is working with you, and that my request to be removed from their catalog list is shown as confirmed, but I’ll believe it when I finally stop receiving their catalog. I’ve had to send four reminders thus far as new catalogs continue to arrive. It’s a foolish waste on their part, as I drop them immediately and unread into our paper recycling bin.
I echo Jim’s comment — except for Van Bourgondien, which has been a member for quite some time, has confirmed five of my requests to stop getting their catalog, but doesn’t seem to follow up on their confirmations. Not only do their catalogs go unread into my recycling bin, but I remember their name as among the incompetent — if they can’t keep track of these requests, how could I trust them with an order?
Jim: Hammacher is working hard to fulfil your requests; but it will take some time. In your account, you’ll notice that we’ve begun to indicate the date that merchants activate.
Liz: We are working with Van Bourgondien to make sure they are fulfilling your requests.
Introducing new processes into the direct mail system is taking a lot of effort on everyone’s part. Thank you for your patience!
I think CC should start a customer list of supposedly cool catalogues which are not. I just registered my 8th “new” customer number from Cuddledown. All previous one’s are designated “confirmed”. All the merchant does is change the number. And they are by no means the only merchant that is designated as cool that is doing this.
I’m with Nancy. For quite some time I’ve been receiving a flood of catalogues from 5 companies that are supposedly “Cool” but clearly aren’t:
Acorn – 3 infractions since Mar 08
Art.com – 2 infractions since Nov 08
Ballard Designs (this one is the worst violator) – 7 since Mar 08
Body Central – 4 since Mar 08
TravelSmith (a close runner-up to Ballard) – 5 since Aug 09
I’ve been getting the most catalogs from Victoria’s Secret, at least 12 since Mar 08 but probably closer to 20 because I don’t have time to report every single infraction. They’re not on the Cool List so I finally called them a month ago to take me off their mailing list and … they’re still sending me catalogues.
I agree that these companies are engaging in a horrible waste of resources. It’s the Internet Age, baby, and most people read their stuff online now. They don’t read these catalogs any more, they just throw them in the trash. The DMA should be SHOT!!!!
Mary, Nancy and others-
You are right – some of the merchants who have agreed to honor your requests are not walking the walk. We will follow-up with each of the merchants noted above.
Compliance is an area that needs a lot more work. We will be providing more tools for consumers to rate and comment on the merchants. This way you can clearly express your gratitude or frustration directly with the mailer and they can respond directly. We are also trying to give the merchants some new ways to connect with you online, in a paperless way.
This is a long and complicated process to get companies to change their ways. We will not give up! With the continued support of our members, our voice with the merchants and mail industry grows louder and clearer. Thanks for your continued support.
Hi Chuck and Paul. I know, long time no hear from my edge of the soapbox. (Notice, I’m not slamming the DMA folks) You are doing good because I only had Bass Pro, Facets, HaBand mailings and Blair haunt me last month. Consumers: hang in there. CC.org is really doing an excellent job being diplomat between consumers and merchants and times are really stressed. The choice of consumers to buy via catalogs vs the merchants that want to sell goods right now is a real challenge and cc.org is being very responsive to both.
Hi Yvonnne:
Diplomacy is the right word. It is taking time. And while it may not seem like it is working for some, we know it is working for many and getting better for most.