We've been concerned about all the charity mail we've been getting over the years. We knew some organizations must be selling our name and address because we've never donated to them before. We know so many are doing good work and wasting their resources by sending mail that would go straight into the trash or recycling bin.
Our first idea was to write a blanket letter and send it in the prepaid return envelopes that they often include with their requests.
It didn't work. We were still getting countless charity envelopes everyday.
So then I wondered if I could look online and find a way to actually send a message to the organizations directly to take us off their mailing list.
I was surprised that it WORKED! Many of them replied to me right away saying they would take us off their mailing list and thanked us for our past support (if we had) of their organization.
Those that have not responded in May are the charities that Art said he did not reach out to online but had returned their requests by mail.
If we get snail mail requests from them again, I will find their address online and send an email.
And look at our mailbox the other day!
It's been like this for several days now.
I'm relieved. I really hated to see all that postage and paper waste.
Yay! 😀
POSTSCRIPT 1:
Aside from charity, we get tons of brochures from travel companies, some we've never heard of.
We have traveled on Viking and they often send very fancy booklets, brochures, etc. We don't need them so I wrote them too.
And this is the reply I got from them the following day.:
Dear Kay,
Thank you for your recent online inquiry.
We confirm that your request has been received and we have removed you from our marketing communications.
As we pre-print our marketing materials, you may continue to receive additional brochures that were already in route. Please allow up to 6-8 weeks for the cycle to complete.
If we can be of further assistance at this time, please contact our Customer Service Department at (888) 663-8454 to speak to any specialized service agent.
Awesome!
POSTSCRIPT 2:
Ah well... We just got three more charity mail yesterday. I'm sure our name is being sold or something. But I'm not giving up. I can be quite persistent. I'll just keep writing to opt out of unwanted mail. 😏 We can help save our environment one brochure at a time.
POSTSCRIPT 3:
I just got this message from Earth Justice. He wrote a very nice letter.
"Thank you for reaching out and letting us know. It looks like we may have sent you an introductory piece of mail from a list shared with us by another organization, which means you are not on our regular mailing lists. I have added you to our suppression list so that even if another organization shares your information with us again, we will not send mail to you."
I used to give to a few organizations, especially at Christmas, but the requests become too overwhelming, so I gave up completely, except for a few stalwart organizations.
ReplyDeleteWell done! Unsolicited mail is a real irritation.
ReplyDeleteWe limit ourselves to mostly local charities or ones that I can verify online spend the bulk of the donations actually doing charity work versus salary and mailings. As a result, we maybe get five or six of those mailing per YEAR! My mother-in-law on the other hand, isn't so selective and gets several everyday too. I would try your tactic but she loves the mail and reading the pleas for more money.
ReplyDeleteGood job!
ReplyDeleteWe have tried several things - a blanket letter, as you mention, an insert. What has worked several times for me is to return the envelope, unopened, with a message on the envelope saying it is unwanted mail. The charity or whatever has to pay for the return and it prompts them to take you off. But we still get loads of mail from any group to which we have sent money in, say, the last two years. I like your idea of calling and may try with a couple of them. I have two that have switched to email. My delete button gets a workout. But it is their time and that means money unless they have volunteers doing stuff; only the universities seem to still do that. I got a call from my grandkid's university last week; the poor student with my name on her list thought I was a grad. And I had donated specifically to my grandkid's sport's team.
ReplyDeleteIt’s great that you’re taking proactive steps to manage the influx of charity mail you’ve been receiving. It can definitely be overwhelming, especially when you’re not interested in supporting those organizations. Writing a blanket letter is a good idea, but it can be frustrating when it doesn’t lead to the desired outcome.
ReplyDeleteThey do sell our info and I hate throwing so much in the recycling, but I can only donate so much. I like what you're doing; it sounds like quite a bit of effort.
ReplyDeleteI just look at all of that mail as someone's job, and just recycle it.
ReplyDeleteI need to stop these too. How did you find that opt out page?
ReplyDeleteKay of Musings: I go to their website, look for Contact Us and then send them a blanket letter asking them to be put on their Opt Out of Mailing List. I also ask them not to share our address with anybody and to put me on their Suppression List. That was advice given to me by several charity agencies.
DeleteGot it. Now to the task when the next solicitation arrives. Thanks.
DeleteKay of Musings: Several of the charity agencies indicated they were happy to get the request from me. It does save them money and resources too.
DeleteGood to know, thanks!
ReplyDeleteWorth the try.
ReplyDeletethanks for this information. a lot of trees loose their lives to support junk mail and solicitations. good for you, i'm glad it worked!!
ReplyDeleteWe've been through this. You worry if you are going to get emails after this. We were having our names and addresses sold by companies, and would get 3 copies of catalogues. It is frustrating.
ReplyDelete