No more please, I’m trying to quit.
I get too many catalogs in the mail. Don’t need them, don’t read them, don’t look at them. They all go straight into the recycle bin (see photo). Is there a way to fight back against this waste? Since there’s no unsubscribe link for catalogs, I’m trying a different approach toward reducing my recycling footprint a few shoe sizes.
Every few days a catalog lands in my mailbox. Catalogs for clothes, electronics, tools, lamps, wool blankets, home goods, food, books, pet products. Even catalogs about catalogs (just kidding on that category). My online shopping history, income level, and a demographic yoke I can’t shake make me, or at least my address, a catalog magnet.
The irony of printed catalogs is that you can’t use them to buy things. None of the catalogs I get include an order form and a return envelope. Instead, after the catalog has convinced you that you can’t live without (fill in the blank), you are supposed to order from a web site or call Customer Service at 1-800-Buy-Here. Here’s a tip to the catalog companies: You can do that without getting the catalog.
If I got a postcard that said “Company XYZ has some great deals, be sure to check our web site,” instead of a catalog, I would be sure to do that. Honest. Actually, I wouldn’t unless I needed one of their widgets. But that’s OK because I don’t look at the catalog anyway. For extra credit the post card could say how green they are.
To be fair, let’s argue the vendors’ side. The catalogs are advertising, for creating demand. A lot of talent goes into the photography and layout. Sales depend on catalogs no matter how good the web sites are.
To which I say, do what you have to do, just don’t send them to me.
Of course, this is just a blog post. The catalog deluge isn’t going to stop without taking action.
First I checked the web sites of companies that send me catalogs most frequently. None offered a way to unsubscribe from their printed catalog. But they all get email.
Next I composed a short message requesting that I be removed from the catalog mailing list. I included my contact information with it and sent email to Customer Service at each of the companies.
Apparently I’m not the first person to do this. Most of the replies I got were form responses that acknowledged my request but allowed that I might get a few more catalogs before the stop takes place for good. So you can’t quit cold turkey.
It’s a small start for now. I plan to keep adding to the stop list if it works.
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