Freebies - should we think again maybe?

mrsyorkie

lanyroo wrote:

When the large BT building near me doesn't leave EVERY light on all weekend and every night.

Is that not because people are working there 24/7? I used to work for BT and our place closed at 3am and re-opened at 6am. The time between 3am - 6am was when the cleaners came in, because obviously, you can't have industrial hoovers blasting when you are trying to take calls. And yes, it is amazing the amount of people who want telephone numbers at that time in the morning and I was just as busy working til 3am as i was when i was on my 9-5 shift.

I do agree that companies need to do their bit, but implementing it will be nigh on impossible for some, especially those who work through the night. Obviously, areas of factorys etc need to be well-lit due to health and safety reasons and the suing culture this country now has!

rizla01

The same negative comments can be used with litter bugs, lawbreakers of any ilk, sex offenders Etc.

If it's going to happen anyway then I might as well join in, surely.

There are organisations moving to try to get the message across and has been for many years. Our trees are disappearing far quicker than they are planted but every year we are encouraged to want more and we expect more but the planet is slowly, but surely grinding to a halt.

Don't worry though, we wont notice any shortages.

Diminutive

This whole well I'm not going to do anything if he/she/it/they aren't going to do attitude really bugs me. Why not lead by example and do the right thing. When recycling bags were first introduced to my parent's neighbourhood, at first maybe 3 houses out of 150 houses in their street recycled. It gradually grew and grew, and now everyone does it. If those first few hadn't started, other probably wouldn't have followed. If everyone refuses to do something before everyone else, nothing will get done. Hell, why not even write to places like B&Q and suggest they turn the lights off when not in use or get the local papers involved.

Personally, I can't see how freebies on their own (i.e. not the brochure example) take up more than the manufacturing of the actual freebie, and companies manufacture in large quantities anyway. When it comes to actually posting it out, I don't think the amount of freebies in proportion to the amount of regular mail would actually make a difference. Royal mail vans would still need to transport bills etc, not like they need a separate van for them.

rizla01

Diminutive wrote:

Personally, I can't see how freebies on their own (i.e. not the brochure example) take up more than the manufacturing of the actual freebie, and companies manufacture in large quantities anyway. When it comes to actually posting it out, I don't think the amount of freebies in proportion to the amount of regular mail would actually make a difference. Royal mail vans would still need to transport bills etc, not like they need a separate van for them.

How do you know that they are not using TWO or even THREE vans because of the extra post?

Sophy

I apply for things I want, and will use. I have often bought the product after receiving the freebie, from perfume to hot chocolate. If you feel guilty, lobby for international agreements like Kyoto, or look at it this way - at least you're helping to keep your local post office open - a real priority where I live, and if it goes, I'll be motoring into the nearest large town far more frequently, a carbon problem in itself!

superflygal

I find that by being an MSE, you are generally not wasteful anyway.

I.e, I recycle all packaging received from freebies for Ebay, which saves me a bomb. I also put a note on all listings saying all packaging is recycled to help environment.

Surely its only littering the world if you throw freebies away? I either use them myself or give them away, in either case nothing is wasted.

I would say don't give yourself a hard time, and do what you feel is right.

Superflygal x

Tetsuko

Diminutive wrote:

. Hell, why not even write to places like B&Q and suggest they turn the lights off when not in use or get the local papers involved.

Shops and business like that are exactly that...businesses. The only way they will listen and and turn off is if they are hit in the only place they will listen...they have to be kicked right in the profits.

Putting costs up probably will have minimal effect because they will just pass them on to the consumers. But maybe if consumers take their custom elsewhere and make it known why then maybe just maybe they will listen.

Can't see it happening myself anytime soon though. Consumers are too easily bought.

melancholly

markwi wrote:

if you really want to make a difference trying campaigning to force the usa and australia the worlds biggest polluters,to sign up to the kyoto agreement.

although that's very true, i also think everyone has a personal moral obligation to do what they can themselves. it's one of those things where 10 million people all taking small actions can add up. i don't think the irresponsible actions of the us and australia should mean that everyone else shouldn't bother as a result!

competitionscafe

Most freebies are hardly worth the effort of filling in the form anyway - a tiny sample of some product - whoopee! Always amazes me the stuff people will send off for too, I have enough tat and carp already thanks. And many freebies are just a way for a company to increase their opt ins for an email or postal mailing list. To be honest the only freebies that interest me these days are the free cinema tickets (see a decent film like 'Last King of Scotland' for free before it's on general release.)

vellum

there are many different ways to protect the environment without playing the guilt trip on the end users. people need to be educated, not to make them feel guilty.

sending out samples is a common marketing strategy, if anybody have problem with this, lobbying the companies and ask them to stop. making the end users feel guilty is wrong approach. there is a whole economic cycle involved, jobs are created, products and services are finding their way to market, brands are compared and tested, customer database is formulated. the economic benefit is there, that's why companies continue their promo.

many MSEers are smart enough to apply for free stuffs they need/ want, rather than just 'why not'. and many MSEers are smart on money and cost, anything that is wasteful costs, and that's why we are here to share information on how to cut cost and to allocate our resources more efficiently.

changes take time and a lot of people are doing their bits, maybe not as far and as quick as some individuals wish, but changes have already started and become part of our modern culture/society. we need to have confidence with each other and talk about it, but refrain from using the guilt/ blame card.