More than 100 billion pieces of junk mail are sent out each year in the US, and you will spend an average of 8 months of your life dealing with it. If companies know this, why do they continue to produce it? Because an 0.25% response rate is considered good. If 2 out of every 1000 recipients bite, the other 998 wasted letters were worth the cost.
Like telemarketing, junk mail is an unwelcome intrusion that wastes our time. Unlike telemarketing, there is no do-not-mail registry for junk mail. And it destroys the environment. The only way to minimise the time we waste handling it is to throw it away unopened.
Even if your conscience feels uneasy about it, what are you to do? The web is flooded with thousands of petitions to stop junk mail. There are products you can buy and online services that promise to stop it for you. But who thinks that petitions work? And who wants to pay $19.95 rather than just toss the mail?
I used to receive preapproved credit cards from the same companies every month. You buy a jacket from REI, and then you get monthly catalogues from LL Bean, Patagonia and Eastern Mountain Sports. Banks, magazines, colleges, department stores and car warranties all knocking on my door, shouting for my attention. But now I'm junk-mail free. I didn't sign a petition, and it didn't cost me anything but a few minutes of my time. You can do it too:
When you get a piece of junk mail, don't throw it away. Open it and look for two pieces of information: a toll free number and a printed code. It might be labelled as a customer code, or some other random number, usually near your name. On glossy product catalogs, both are usually at the back. Don't worry if you can't find the code though.
Dial the number. You will rarely have to wait, because this is a line dedicated for new business. Companies never let new customers wait; only existing ones. The operator may expect you to get straight to business, but here's your magical response:
"Actually I'd like to be put on your do-not-mail list for catalogues/preapproved credit cards/convenience checks/special offers/everything please"
Amazingly, as if trained to anticipate this request, they will know what to do. There is always a do-not-mail list in their computer systems; you just never hear about it. They will ask you for your name and address or just the printed code. A few audible taps at their keyboard and you're all set! It can take several weeks for the mailings to stop, but do this for every piece of unwanted mail you get, and a few months down the road your mail volume will noticeably drop. Who will send out mail to someone who has explicitly told them it's a waste of their money?
All it takes is that small investment in time to pick up the phone. I say investment because you're spending something now so you can get more of it back later. The trees will thank you.