Junk Mail

Loadsabob

I don't know whether this is strictly old-style, but as we all rage against consumerism, I guess the related junk mail through our letter boxes is something we'd all like to be rid of.

I just wondered how many of us are returning our junk mail to the senders? I had always recycled mine, and have signed up to the Mailing Preference Service, but that takes time to filter through and in the meantime, American Express and Capital One seem intent on becoming my penpals.

SO, I now take great pleasure in removing and shredding my name and address details, and returning the junk mail to their competitors in the envelopes so kindly paid for by them! I felt a bit bad at first that I wasn't putting the paper in the recycling, but in the long-run, if these companies are spending a fortune on postage only to receive their competitors junk mail, then direct mailing may become a less attractive option to them, saving resources in the long run. We can hope!.

If you like the idea, please suggest that people you know do that same thing. My boyfriend, tired of all the junk pens he receives in these mails, also includes old pens that have run out, that sort of thing. It's small, but it can make you feel a little bit less angry at the junk mail! I know this isn't a new idea, I heard it suggested somewhere...but I like it!

I could of course compost it...but that wouldn't cost them much at ALL!

squeaky

I do the same - inasmuch as I use their pre paid envelopes (so THEY have to pay) but return the some OTHER companie's junk mail in it

With the exception of A4 sheets that aren't printed on the back. Those I save to print recipes on or for test prints or even as scrap paper.

You could shred and compost plain paper (not glossy) if you want to - after all, you don't have to return ALL the paper - just any of their rubbish that you can't put to good use.

derrick

I do similar, except I leave my name and address in, otherwise they will continue to send the junk mail as they will not know who not to send it to, also an impolite note in red telling them that don't want there junk, usually works.

Loadsabob

squeaky wrote:

I do the same - inasmuch as I use their pre paid envelopes (so THEY have to pay) but return the some OTHER companie's junk mail in it

Squeaky - this is what I meant, but you make the point much more succinctly than I do! I was tying myself in knots a bit there!!

Loadsabob

derrick wrote:

I do similar, except I leave my name and address in, otherwise they will continue to send the junk mail as they will not know who not to send it to, also an impolite note in red telling them that don't want there junk, usually works.

I have considered this! I had this horrible thought though that it may have the oposite effect, and I might be bombarded with more junk mail from bored people working in those offices!!!

I have included notes though. I had some junk mail for slimming pills and liposuction, so I wrote a note telling them that I'm absolutely gorgeous and thrilled with my body, but thanks for their concern. Well, who are they to know!!?? Actually, I'd have been mortified to get that if I HAD been unhappy with my body...imagine!

r.mac_2

I love this idea - I am defiantely going to try it tonight - have a table full of junk mail I am desperate to get rid of!

:rotfl:

Rage_in_Eden

how about cutting out the bit which has your name and address on and using it as a return address label? saves those poor little fingers for more useful things - like opening beer!!!

Bogof_Babe

Now if only someone had a solution for all the (trying to think of a polite word for it) rubbish that falls out of every newspaper you pick up - not to mention the dozen leaflets stuffed in with the weekly free rag.

It's such a pathetic waste of everyone's time and effort - including mine in traipsing to the recycling bank with armloads of the stuff every week or so :mad: .

pavlovs_dog

i've noticed a lot of the big newsagents and some supermarkets now provide bins for you to dispose of any unwanted advertising leaflets for your paper before you even leave the shop with it

Prudent

Do check through it first for competitions. Junk mail is often a good source of competitions and you could end up with a nice prize from it.

soba

I'm on the mail preference service (and telephone preference service) so I don't get junk mail for myself any more. Unfortunately I'm getting loads for my neighbour! At some point her name and my address have been mixed up and now I get mail addressed to her, but delivered to my address. The postman is great and tries to filter it out if he has time, but some still gets through.
The thing is that my neighbour is elderly and feels quite threatened by the junk mail - it's mostly from African and Diabetes charities, so I've decided to be neighbourly by not handing over the offending items and putting them straight in the recycling bin.
I rang one of the charities to tell them not to send their junk to my address but of course it didn't make the slightest bit of difference, so I guess I'll have to add her name to my address for MPS purposes.