{"id":101917,"date":"2020-04-08T14:18:37","date_gmt":"2020-04-08T21:18:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/island\/?page_id=101917"},"modified":"2024-01-30T08:55:12","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T16:55:12","slug":"reducing-junk-mail","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/island\/reducing-junk-mail\/","title":{"rendered":"Reducing Junk Mail"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Whether you call it direct mail, marketing mail, or junk mail, we get plenty of it.  The average person in America receives, according to the USPS, over 40 lbs of direct mail each year.  If your aim is to reduce this volume, you can find many options which will help.  Both free and for a small to moderate charge, the following services will request your removal from a company mailing list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are steps you can take to reduce the amount of unwanted mail you receive:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Catalog Choice: To reduce the number of unsolicited catalogs you receive, visit catalogchoice.org<\/a>.  This is a non-profit organization which, upon request, will send a stop order to any of 10,000 catalogs within their database.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Data and Marketing Association: Most mail (both nonprofit and for profit) marketers belong to the DMA, which is the largest data and marketing association in the United States. In fact, their members account for about 80% of the marketing mail sent in the U.S.  For a minimal fee you can opt out of receiving mail from individual company members or entire categories for 10 years.  Visit DMAchoice<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Opt-out: To stop receiving unsolicited credit card and insurance offers visit Optout.com<\/a>. Operated by the major consumer reporting companies, this free service is effective in reducing this type of unwanted mail.  Although this service does require the entry of personal information such as your social security number, you may find it worthwhile as preprinted credit card and insurance offers can be a source, if uncommon, of identity theft.  This service also offers a toll-free option (1-888-567-8688) and an opt-out of email service eMail Preference Service<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Valpac is one of many smaller marketing mail companies. If you receive unwanted mailings from Valpac, you may unsubscribe from this list at valpak.com<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. The old-fashion route: Sometimes the only way to remove yourself from a list is through the long-standing method of directly contacting the mailer.  This is often the best option with things such as smaller local companies or political mail.  You can usually find contact information somewhere within the piece.  This is also the best route for items such as bills.  Contact customer service and ask for paperless billing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The level of success can vary from service to service but any effort will make a difference.<\/p>\n\n