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Tips For Reducing the Clutter in your Mailbox |
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Although my job depends on the volume of mail, I have heard enough complaints over the years to add a page here of tips on reducing the clutter in your mailbox. Studies have proven that information overload and paper clutter can add to the stress in a person's life. Too often our mailboxes are cluttered with tons of paper mail that really has no meaning to us. There is also a concern for the safe, secure, and environmentally friendly methods of disposal of this clutter. The following are just a few tips I've compiled to help reduce that clutter and leave room for the important stuff. Some of these tips may save you money and/or save your senders' money in printing and publishing costs...these savings may be passed on to you in lower prices on goods and services you buy. 1. The first culprit of course is unaddressed admail/householders, more commonly known as "flyers". For advertisers, these are a very effective way to reach potential customers. Not all consumers appreciate this type of mail though. A few years ago Canada Post introduced a "consumer choice" option. To suspend delivery of flyers, a customer only has to write a simple letter to the local letter carrier supervisor. This written request must include a date, customer name and address, and a signature. Because advertisers pay to have flyers delivered to each household, Canada Post must have a letter on file for each household which does not want flyers. This option will suspend all flyers except political and Canada Post flyers. Update June 2006: Thanks to new technology and data systems, it is no longer necessary to write a letter to suspend delivery. A simple note on the mailbox "no flyers" is sufficient. The mail carrier will record the information to turn in to the supervisor. 2.The next culprit is addressed admail. Write directly to senders to ask to be removed from their mailing lists, or at least reduce duplicate copies being sent to your address. (Many companies will gladly reduce duplicates-- it saves their printing costs). If you can't seem to find the time to write... jot down pertinent information (addresses, account numbers, etc.) during your morning coffee or evening tea, then carry envelopes, paper, stamps, and pens with you and take advantage of waiting room time or bus rides, etc. To have all Addressed Admail stopped, the customer should write to the following addresses asking them to have their members delete his or her name from their mailing lists. This is the actual link from the Canada Post site. http://www.canadapost.ca/personal/offerings/supplementary_services_pers/can/objectionable-e.asp |
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In Canada: CANADIAN DIRECT MARKETING
ASSOCIATION |
or in the United States: DIRECT MARKETING ASSOCIATION |
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3. Officially cancel any accounts and subscriptions that are no longer of interest or use to you. For important but little used accounts, have senders send statements only periodically, or receive these online. (check out Canada Post's new E-POST). 4. Get government cheques direct deposited-- not only will you save the trip to the bank, but your money is in your account the morning of release...not days later when the actual cheque arrives. This also avoids any type of potential postal delays, or waiting for afternoon delivery. These tips will significantly reduce the clutter in your mailbox and leave room for receiving the stuff most people enjoy getting...like postcards, and letters from Grandma. To ensure that you get these, and to keep your friendly posties coming to your door, get busy writing some personal notes to friends and family so they also have some treasures to store in shoe boxes under the bed. |
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