Comments on: We are in the solution column http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2009/02/20/we-are-in-the-solution-column/ Reduce the number of catalogs you receive in the mail and go paperless. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:23:38 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Hazel http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2009/02/20/we-are-in-the-solution-column/comment-page-1/#comment-9998 Hazel Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:32:28 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/?p=648#comment-9998 My significant other and I feel an obligation to preserve and protect the environment, not an obligation to keep direct marketers in business. It's taken quite a while, but we now receive on average about six pieces of direct mail per *month,* and of those six, it's a "bad" month if as many as two are catalogs. In short, it can be done, but it requires dogged persistence. (And did I mention we are our postman's favorite customers?) My significant other and I feel an obligation to preserve and protect the environment, not an obligation to keep direct marketers in business.

It’s taken quite a while, but we now receive on average about six pieces of direct mail per *month,* and of those six, it’s a “bad” month if as many as two are catalogs.

In short, it can be done, but it requires dogged persistence. (And did I mention we are our postman’s favorite customers?)

]]> By: Joan Marie http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2009/02/20/we-are-in-the-solution-column/comment-page-1/#comment-9996 Joan Marie Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:46:30 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/?p=648#comment-9996 I have continually battled with companies to get my name off their lists. I cancel one, but suddenly get three more from places I've never heard of. The amount of catalogs in my mailbox is astounding (even using CC)... and it breaks my heart to walk from the mailbox directly to the recycling bin with a stack of unwanted catalogs. What a huge waste. Yet more often than not, they're from companies I've already told I do not want catalogs from. So I find it really hard to believe Jim Gilbert's comment that DM's do NOT want to waste money on people not interested in their products. I try to be as green as possible. It takes me three weeks to fill my garbage bin, yet my HUGE city recycling bin is filled to the brim every week. Yes, it's being recycled, but why waste the resources in the first place? Having to "opt out" (which I've done repeatedly) unfairly puts the work load on the customer. If I get a catalog I never asked for, from a place I've never heard of, why is it up to ME to waste time by repeatedly contacting the company to get my name off their list? Hardly makes me want to EVER buy anything from them. I agree with Joe McDonald's comment that we should be able to opt IN, instead. Wouldn't that make more sense to DM's? Market to people who actually WANT your products, instead of sending catalogs out in the hope that maybe you'll catch someone's eye? More and more, I order online. But it's very frustrating after telling a company I do not want their paper catalogs, to find that if I order from them online (and checking the "I do not want catalogs" box, which most often is tiny and hard to find), I end up getting not only more paper catalogs in the box with my order, but they start coming in the mail again with startling frequency. So I have to contact them again (and again) to get them to stop. The end result is that I end up shopping LESS with these companies, because of the catalog hassle. They may not get MY money, but they still MAKE money off of my name by selling it on. It's insane. If DM's would actually LISTEN to people who do not want to be on their lists, I'd be much more sympathetic to Jim Gilbert's rant. As it is, I am FOR the post office reducing service to 5 days a week. If it makes the DM business go under, so be it, and good riddance!! Imagine: without the BILLIONS of catalogs the post office has to deal with, perhaps the rest of the mail will finally be able to get through with more speed!! The PO would be able to reduce their workforce, their fleets of trucks and planes, and even all the bad back complaints of the letter carriers. I have continually battled with companies to get my name off their lists. I cancel one, but suddenly get three more from places I’ve never heard of. The amount of catalogs in my mailbox is astounding (even using CC)… and it breaks my heart to walk from the mailbox directly to the recycling bin with a stack of unwanted catalogs. What a huge waste. Yet more often than not, they’re from companies I’ve already told I do not want catalogs from. So I find it really hard to believe Jim Gilbert’s comment that DM’s do NOT want to waste money on people not interested in their products. I try to be as green as possible. It takes me three weeks to fill my garbage bin, yet my HUGE city recycling bin is filled to the brim every week. Yes, it’s being recycled, but why waste the resources in the first place?

Having to “opt out” (which I’ve done repeatedly) unfairly puts the work load on the customer. If I get a catalog I never asked for, from a place I’ve never heard of, why is it up to ME to waste time by repeatedly contacting the company to get my name off their list? Hardly makes me want to EVER buy anything from them. I agree with Joe McDonald’s comment that we should be able to opt IN, instead. Wouldn’t that make more sense to DM’s? Market to people who actually WANT your products, instead of sending catalogs out in the hope that maybe you’ll catch someone’s eye?

More and more, I order online. But it’s very frustrating after telling a company I do not want their paper catalogs, to find that if I order from them online (and checking the “I do not want catalogs” box, which most often is tiny and hard to find), I end up getting not only more paper catalogs in the box with my order, but they start coming in the mail again with startling frequency. So I have to contact them again (and again) to get them to stop. The end result is that I end up shopping LESS with these companies, because of the catalog hassle. They may not get MY money, but they still MAKE money off of my name by selling it on. It’s insane.

If DM’s would actually LISTEN to people who do not want to be on their lists, I’d be much more sympathetic to Jim Gilbert’s rant. As it is, I am FOR the post office reducing service to 5 days a week. If it makes the DM business go under, so be it, and good riddance!! Imagine: without the BILLIONS of catalogs the post office has to deal with, perhaps the rest of the mail will finally be able to get through with more speed!! The PO would be able to reduce their workforce, their fleets of trucks and planes, and even all the bad back complaints of the letter carriers.

]]> By: Yvonne Camesi http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2009/02/20/we-are-in-the-solution-column/comment-page-1/#comment-9986 Yvonne Camesi Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:19:34 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/?p=648#comment-9986 Mr Gilbert: My prior experiences with DMA are not very positive. There are 3 things about them that caused me to lack faith in their marketing of mailing info: 1. The Consumer has to renew their wishes to be suppressed every few years and from prior bloggers here at CC.org, DMA changes their rules without prior notice. 2. I was told by DMA in Washington DC that suppression requests by mail cost a $1 per name variation and address. For me to do this by mail, it would cost me over $40. Basically, my atitude toward DMA wanting to charge any amount to clean up the mess of sharing our mailing info brings to mind- blackmail. 3. Last, DMA is not the only mail lists empires around, i.e. Credit Bureaus, and actual catalogs blatantly continue to sell, share and rent our mailing info - even when you tell them not to. Many catalog companies print their mail preference policies in their catalogs and do not honor it and if they do, they've already spread mail info ten-fold. If you go into CC.org's Mar-Jun 08 blogs, you'll see quite a few of my "soap box" rantings - including USPS. When I retired in Sep07, I mentioned to my USPS person that I was going to get off catalogs - she laughed and said that "It's not going to happen." .....it did and CC.org has come through with honesty and integrity. My kind of people. Best to you! Mr Gilbert: My prior experiences with DMA are not very positive. There are 3 things about them that caused me to lack faith in their marketing of mailing info:
1. The Consumer has to renew their wishes to be suppressed every few years and from prior bloggers here at CC.org, DMA changes their rules without prior notice.
2. I was told by DMA in Washington DC that suppression requests by mail cost a $1 per name variation and address. For me to do this by mail, it would cost me over $40. Basically, my atitude toward DMA wanting to charge any amount to clean up the mess of sharing our mailing info brings to mind- blackmail.
3. Last, DMA is not the only mail lists empires around, i.e. Credit Bureaus, and actual catalogs blatantly continue to sell, share and rent our mailing info – even when you tell them not to. Many catalog companies print their mail preference policies in their catalogs and do not honor it and if they do, they’ve already spread mail info ten-fold.
If you go into CC.org’s Mar-Jun 08 blogs, you’ll see quite a few of my “soap box” rantings – including USPS. When I retired in Sep07, I mentioned to my USPS person that I was going to get off catalogs – she laughed and said that “It’s not going to happen.” …..it did and CC.org has come through with honesty and integrity. My kind of people.
Best to you!

]]> By: Jim Gilbert http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2009/02/20/we-are-in-the-solution-column/comment-page-1/#comment-9985 Jim Gilbert Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:38:58 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/?p=648#comment-9985 It's great to see a discussion of my article going on here. As the author, I appreciate the feedback. Thanks to CC for publishing an excerpt. BTW, I have had many comments, both pro and con about my USPS rant, which are published on my blog. The article and comments can be read here. http://gilbertdirectmarketing.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/to-think-you-rely-on-them-to-deliver-your-mail/ Thanks Jim Gilbert It’s great to see a discussion of my article going on here. As the author, I appreciate the feedback. Thanks to CC for publishing an excerpt.

BTW, I have had many comments, both pro and con about my USPS rant, which are published on my blog. The article and comments can be read here. http://gilbertdirectmarketing.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/to-think-you-rely-on-them-to-deliver-your-mail/

Thanks
Jim Gilbert

]]> By: Yvonne Camesi http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2009/02/20/we-are-in-the-solution-column/comment-page-1/#comment-9981 Yvonne Camesi Thu, 26 Feb 2009 03:07:10 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/?p=648#comment-9981 CC.org: you did not expect me to respond? Oh boy here it is!: #1. Recycling is great, but most of the recycle bins in my vicinity were hauled away. So now, I either wait for our annual "Round Up" or throw away in the trash. #2. Wow, Several of us have been there and back and now we have no tee shirts (we used to have holes in them). See #5. #3. Even though we haven't ordered in years or never ordered some catalogs are starting up again. We know it's hard for those catalogs to see them struggling. See # 5. #4. CC.org has been the ever faithful that really has served the purpose that I truly beleive in going green and living up to their word. #5. Well, DMA created the problem of selling our info, and they lost control and ignored the responsibility of keeping our info from being "sold, shared and rented". I'm still not caring to have any faith in them. DMA has not been held accountable in the carelessness and subsequently consumers are told to contact them??? My #6: A consumer should not have to "renew" every 6-12 months to mailings that they do not wish to receive once they have clearly stated "take me off your mailing list". Additionally, we should not have to be told by catalogs that we will receive the 1-2 catalogs before they cease because they are preprinted in advance. Even when you called and have gotten that response over and over again. The above article is great, only if you invite Alice (in Wonderland) to speak. Hugs to CC.org! CC.org: you did not expect me to respond? Oh boy here it is!:
#1. Recycling is great, but most of the recycle bins in my vicinity were hauled away. So now, I either wait for our annual “Round Up” or throw away in the trash.
#2. Wow, Several of us have been there and back and now we have no tee shirts (we used to have holes in them). See #5.
#3. Even though we haven’t ordered in years or never ordered some catalogs are starting up again. We know it’s hard for those catalogs to see them struggling. See # 5.
#4. CC.org has been the ever faithful that really has served the purpose that I truly beleive in going green and living up to their word.
#5. Well, DMA created the problem of selling our info, and they lost control and ignored the responsibility of keeping our info from being “sold, shared and rented”. I’m still not caring to have any faith in them. DMA has not been held accountable in the carelessness and subsequently consumers are told to contact them???

My #6: A consumer should not have to “renew” every 6-12 months to mailings that they do not wish to receive once they have clearly stated “take me off your mailing list”. Additionally, we should not have to be told by catalogs that we will receive the 1-2 catalogs before they cease because they are preprinted in advance. Even when you called and have gotten that response over and over again.
The above article is great, only if you invite Alice (in Wonderland) to speak.
Hugs to CC.org!

]]> By: Joe McDonald http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2009/02/20/we-are-in-the-solution-column/comment-page-1/#comment-9975 Joe McDonald Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:19:32 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/?p=648#comment-9975 The simplest way for catalog companies to go green is to stop sending catalogs to people who don't explicitly request one. Just because I shop in your store doesn't mean I want a catalog. Why don't stores offer the chance to opt in rather than opt out. As for DMA, maybe they should work on getting people who love catalogs to contact them first and only send them to people who request them. It has taken me a year and finally have seen the pile of wasted print catalogs slow to a trickle. I didn't specifically request them and purchased nothing from any of them. Such a sad way to waste trees. The simplest way for catalog companies to go green is to stop sending catalogs to people who don’t explicitly request one. Just because I shop in your store doesn’t mean I want a catalog. Why don’t stores offer the chance to opt in rather than opt out. As for DMA, maybe they should work on getting people who love catalogs to contact them first and only send them to people who request them. It has taken me a year and finally have seen the pile of wasted print catalogs slow to a trickle. I didn’t specifically request them and purchased nothing from any of them. Such a sad way to waste trees.

]]> By: Hope http://blog.catalogchoice.org/2009/02/20/we-are-in-the-solution-column/comment-page-1/#comment-9970 Hope Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:08:42 +0000 http://blog.catalogchoice.org/?p=648#comment-9970 Hi, I also like to do something for increasing greenry around the place I live at. Being a person who conduct workshop and training sessions on enviornmental issues, I came across your post of 'what we can do to combat climate change' and found it very useful. To support the 'Go Green' movement at my end, I recently brought a electric bike from <a HREF="http://www.rmartinbikes.com/" rel="nofollow"> R Martin Bikes,</a> and love the way it runs. Since my workplace is slightly far from my home I used to travel by a car, but now the enviornmentalist in me takes pride in using a zero pollution vehicle. Nice to see other people sharing views to promote this cause. I'll be back to read more. Till then, HAppy blogging Hi,

I also like to do something for increasing greenry around the place I live at. Being a person who conduct workshop and training sessions on enviornmental issues, I came across your post of ‘what we can do to combat climate change’ and found it very useful.

To support the ‘Go Green’ movement at my end, I recently brought a electric bike from R Martin Bikes, and love the way it runs. Since my workplace is slightly far from my home I used to travel by a car, but now the enviornmentalist in me takes pride in using a zero pollution vehicle.

Nice to see other people sharing views to promote this cause. I’ll be back to read more. Till then,

HAppy blogging

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