Most could be tidied up with a quick online form, with the requisite four weeks to process; some forced me to resort to phoning a call center wage-slave to have them remove me from their list (after a four week wait…). But one was a persistent as bindweed; the RedPlum flyer. You likely know what I’m talking about—it’s like the advertising section inserted into the Sunday paper, the first thing you pull out and recycle. But this one comes straight to the mailbox of every single address in the country.
This particular one stood out from all the others, because not only did it take up half my mailbox several times a week, no opt-out website or phone number could be found on the flyer itself. Sleuthing online I finally found a website that provided a physical mail address. Maybe most people won’t bother. But I’m not most people: I eradicated bindweed from my raspberry patch, and I send off an opt out notification in a letter in an envelope bearing a stamp. After a few weeks of wait and a note taped inside my mailbox alerting the habit-driven postal carrier that no RedPlum flyers should be delivered, I was able to downsize my recycle bin.
The relative calm has endured, punctuated by the occasional flare-up of a catalog in the wake of an online purchase. These blights are quickly dispatched, chucked into the bin after a quick visit to the website or a expeditious call to the 800 number on the back.
A few merchants have figured out that if I order online I might not want a paper catalog, and they make it possible to opt out at the time of purchase, though the default is still to pop a paper catalog in the shipping box. But there’s a huge difference between a mailing received because of an existing relationship and “Every Door Direct Mail (EEDM)” blanketing entire zip codes. These mass mailings are actively encouraged by the USPS, as they represent a steady revenue stream to the struggling behemoth.
To my great dismay, I opened up my mailbox this Tuesday, and pulled out a RedPlum flyer. I was thinking it must have been an unthinking substitute mail carrier, one who didn’t know my foibles. But no, there in the address field was our address, and the addressee was “Resident.” Sure enough, after five years, RedPlum opts you back in. At least this time, they have an online form for opting out. Though I note it now takes them six weeks to process the request.
I called United Airlines to complain they were sending my 7 year old co-branded offers for credit cards. They told me that I could opt-out, but, sorry, they could not help it, he'd be opted back out in 3 years (!!!). In fact, one year later, he has received ANOTHER credit card sollication. I am going to tell them I am reporting them, because, in fact, it appears this is in violiation of the fair credit act. I may actually sue them in small claims. Like you said, "not most people." GRRRR!
ReplyDeleteAlso, it took the Yellow Pages like 3 years to opt me out and then another 2 years to follow up on my complaint (no joke).
Hello, people - we tell all of our friends how annoying you are, so it does NOT help you to go against our wishes!
Eve,
ReplyDeleteI can so relate to your comments--we ran into this with a 14 year old--apparently that's too old for parents to opt their kids out, but too early for kids to opt out. So we had to put up with them for four years.
If you really a chuckle, check out the Redplum page on Facebook. Not only do they have a huge spelling error in their banner graphic, the whole wall is plastered with people who are having trouble opting out and threatening them with class action lawsuits.
Caitilin