Comments on: San Francisco Speaks out on Do Not Mail

By: Richard Brownscombe

Richard Brownscombe — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:29:22 +0000

On my computer the bold headline looks like “San Francisco Speaks Out on Do Not Mall” (MALL). That’s taking it too far … “during these economic times”! Just kidding around here, I applaud these efforts to reduce mailed paper. But if you gotta mall … mall. ;-)

By: Andre

Andre — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:53:17 +0000

The direct mail industry obviously has the resources to conduct its own survey on the Do Not Mail question, asking the question any way it wants, to far more people. Until that happens, I think it’s reasonable to rely on the Zogby survey.

By: Hazel

Hazel — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:02:20 +0000

Felicity asked, “Why can’t we all just get along?” The better question, why should it be such a never-ending battle to keep unwanted mail out of our mailboxes.

I have neither the desire nor the obligation to keep direct marketers in business.

By: Yvonne Camesi

Yvonne Camesi — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:38:55 +0000

Chuck: Time for a big hug to CC.org. CC.org is definitely a grade above DMA with what you do. I believe your goal is green as in an Eco way. DMA is $$$ greedy.
I guess you know better to tell me to go ask DMA for anything. I’d rather tell the sender of my junk mailings to cease them myself…or favor the DNM legislation for those issues. Catalogs are almost nil in my household. Yesterday, I upset a door to door solicitor of magazines when I politely explained my journey to go paperless. I was on the computer to my state legislation when she rang.
By the way, I lost your mail address to send a donation.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:45:26 +0000

Felicity: I don’t have the details on the Zogby survey, but it was referenced in the SF Resolution so I figured it was relevant to note here.

In terms of the DMA service, we do our best to “get along” and we refer consumer to them if you want to get off of all prospect mailings. We don’t “compete” with their service. There are many catalog titles in our service that are not DMA members.

In the end, it is all about customer service and we make it very easy for companies to honor requests entered at our site. We do not charge companies for our core service.

By: Felicity Eggleston

Felicity Eggleston — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:30:25 +0000

The poll conducted in 2007 by Zogby International was commissioned by Center for a New American Dream, a pro-Do Not Mail registry organization, and was administered by phone to 1,011 “likely voters” nationwide. I don’t know how statistically valid the poll results are, but if people realized that the basis for the claim that 89% of American support a DNM registry is a telephone survey of just over a thousand people (who were asked, “How likely are you to use a free and quick opt-out resource that would eliminate most of your unsolicited ad mail?” Duh!), it wouldn’t lend much weight to the notion that “the majority” of Americans support the creation of a government-run DNM registry. A little context can go a long way in shining the spotlight on biases of all kinds. And while I applaud Catalog Choice’s service, I wonder how many of the catalogers who CC says are not participating in CC’s service have been long-time participants in DMA’s mail preference service, which is also free. “Why can’t we all just get along?”

By: Yvonne Camesi

Yvonne Camesi — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:03:52 +0000

CC: This looks like your next challenge! DMA said that? They just keep beating to a marketeer drummer and lending a deaf ear to consumers. Your system would be better a better solution than theirs by far.

By: Andrew Ferrell

Andrew Ferrell — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 02:37:45 +0000

The Golden Gate City does lead the way in promoting a better, healthier existence. Although the Deep South isn’t known for it’s progressive spirit, there are some of us here that really appreciate those in San Francisco leading the way.

By: Hazel

Hazel — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:50:40 +0000

GO, San Francisco, GO!