Public Service Message
Yesterday’s mail included the new Ikea catalog, and started me thinking about the crap that shows up in our mailbox, and how there should be a ‘do not send’ registry for catalogs, like the ‘do not call’ registry for sales calls. Well, there isn’t one registry that you can blithely say, “Please don’t let anyone send any catalogs to me anymore”, and that’s that, but there is a service you can use, Catalog Choice, to opt out one by one. This seemed like a good time to do something like that, rather than waiting until November or December, when it will almost surely be too late, and my mailbox will be stuffed with catalogs that we don’t bother to look at and get thrown straight into recycling.
The plus side to this site is that you can go in and choose which catalogs you would like to stop receiving, while still receiving any that you still want.
The minus is that you have to go in, one by one, and decline by addressee. Meaning, I went in and declined several catalogs using my name, but if there are any that come to Ted, we’re still going to get those. So I’m guessing this will be a process, and as catalogs come, I’ll have to look and see who they’re sent to, and go back to the web site and decline them. That’s OK. I already know we’re going to get a LOT fewer catalogs this holiday season, just by opting out of Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn. They send SO MUCH CRAP. You barely have time to throw one catalog away before you get the next one. Oh, and Williams Sonoma. Too bad Macy’s and Nordstrom don’t participate.
6 Comments
--Deb
I’ve noticed that we’re getting fewer catalogs ANYWAY because mailers are cutting back due to postage and paper costs, which is something. I mean, one catalog a month is really plenty (grin).
Ted
Sorry to say, but I like the IKEA catalog. What I don’t like, however, are the other catalogs you mention, so I’m with you on that! 🙂
Starshine
You’re doing something good for the environment, too!
Liz
Very cool link J! Ben is always complaining about the number of catalogs that we get… This will do the trick nicely I think. Thanks!
Lalunas
I still have to look thru the IKEA catalog. It is kind of fun for me, cause I get all sorts of ideas. I don’t mind stuff like this. If the Catalogs stop coming all I will get is bills. ;0( But it is nice to know you have the option of choosing which catalogs you’d like to receive.
Linda Atkins
I put a fair amount of effort into contacting anyone who sent me mail I didn’t want and asking them to stop (catalog or otherwise). It was kind of a project, but it totally paid off. I get hardly any junk mail.