what do you do with your USPS junk mail ?
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17797)
United States
August 3, 2008 2:01pm CST
Like everyone, I get it all the time, but first, I look through it for coupons. I get lot of BOGO free coupons for meals this way. But the other stuff, where I just got on some mailing list - what do you do with that? Trash it probably. I used to but although realize that USPS postage is going up for one reason, because many are not using it like they used to with online bill pay, emails instead of snail mail and all, I thought well, if they place the junk mail came from is sending the junk, at least it is giving the mailman a job! But then figured, yeah, but at the same time, they will never close the USPS and since it takes a long time for trees to grow...
So what I Do now, is when I open it, if it has a pre-paid return envelope, which most junk mails do, I will write on the front page of the offer and say "take me off you mailing list, I am not interested " or something to that effect, and mail it back to them. I have been doing this for about 2 months now, and believe it or not, there are a few places that sent to me every month - and I haven't seen those this month (in july) . Guess it is working!
plus, since i have a PO box, this kind of mail fills it up so fast that I have to go stand in line at the window for a LONG time to pick up my mail!
What do you do with all your junk mail?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
3 Aug 08
Well I never thought of that, or if I did, I didn't believe they would stop. I guess I can try it now :) That seems to actually accomplish something.
I have used those pre-paid return envelopes to send them some of my junk mail. Hey they do it to me LOL flyers, sales, everything I would receive on that day that would fit in the envelopes I would stick it inside and send it back - sometimes at least :)
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
3 Aug 08
what you do is kind of where I got the idea. I had heard the others send back their junk mail, I just never started doing it! But when my PO box was always so full of junk with my name on it, to the point I had to go stand in line to pick up the rest of my mail, it occured to me that getting off their mailing list would hopefully stop that. Now I say all this and it is only 1 place - AARP - that stopped sending every month, Gerber Life and GLobal Insurance are the ones that I have done it to twice and this month - - - I'll see if I gott'um!!
.
.
.
.
.
I need a life!
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37353)
• United States
3 Aug 08
That's a great idea. Then they have to pay the return postage. I don't get alot of junk mail. So it's not a great big problem. Also I have heard of this wonderful idea. Instead of recycling the paper....you rip it up....wet it good and put it in a blender....pat it in a cake pan and make your own paper out of it....LOL....I am going to try that one!
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
3 Aug 08
Well it is "pre paid" postage, meaning a bulk mailing, the company pays for the return postage and since it is bulk, they get a lower rate of postage. (I used to see the loan agents do this to solicite loans.) But the place already paid for the postage, so the USPS got their money, no matter what you do with it. Sending it back only hopefully will get them off your back. BUt yeah, make your own paper - I hear that is a common thing in the craft world.
@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
3 Aug 08
I save all the postage paid envelopes from crappy thigs I don't need, and ill them with other junk that I don't need, and send it back to the people from where it came. haha It's fun filling those posage paid envelopes full of crap and snding them back o the companies. I have emassed a rather large collection o those things, and when I need someone to annoy, I stuf an enelope, and send it on it's way.
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
3 Aug 08
Sounds like great therapy!!! But I did forget, as you mentioned.. .I should be sending all the paper work that came with the junk mail and send it back with the "cancel" I write on the addressed form. They might be able to re-use it (yeah, like that is going to happen!) and save money on their end, but at least it fills their trash bag instead of mine making mine last longer!! One can only do so much!
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
20 Jul 09
I thought of that, but if I do them a favour, they might stop sending me junk, and then I won't have anything to stuff my crap into. haha
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
22 Jul 09
But then again.. junk mail keeps the USPS and the carriers busy... hate to se the rates go up and the service go down and if no snail mail.. that is what will happen! They send to us, we send to them...might make for a nice vicious circle all in the name of saving jobs and steering away from unemployment!
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
4 Aug 08
Most of it I just throw away. We are always getting pre approved credit card offers in the mail about 4 of them a day it gets a little old getting them. That is about the only thing I get in the mail anymore though so if I didn't get junk mail my mail man would be less a job.
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
4 Aug 08
I look through for coupons and good stuff as well. The rest of it I just toss away!
@momtrying2makeit (3270)
• United States
2 Aug 09
Same here I guess that is a lot of junk going to the junkyard and we as people could start recycling more often to help the planet. Me I do recycle cans but it seems like that is not worth it like it use to be. I was making like 20 dollars a week recycling cans but now I barely make 5 dollars a month I do not drink a lot of pop anymore so I guess that is a good thing. Take care and happy mylotting to you 
@momtrying2makeit (3270)
• United States
2 Aug 09
I am not sure what to do with it. I have all this mail hanging around in my house that I have no need for 
I guess I need to find a place for all of it. I seem to get stuff everyday that I have no real use for. I do however use coupons if they apply to something that I can use. If I cannot I give the coupons away to people I know can use them or I think can use them. For me share what you have. I thought about selling them on ebay but it seems like a lot of trouble to me. Thanks and happy mylotting friend.
I guess I need to find a place for all of it. I seem to get stuff everyday that I have no real use for. I do however use coupons if they apply to something that I can use. If I cannot I give the coupons away to people I know can use them or I think can use them. For me share what you have. I thought about selling them on ebay but it seems like a lot of trouble to me. Thanks and happy mylotting friend. @coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
3 Aug 09
I use the coupons I need and trash the rest. I don't know anyone else that uses them. I did try to sell coupons on ebay once...had sevearl people save me their newspapers and other coupons... and made huge effort to get "good" ones and certain kinds etc... and nothing ever sold. Well, for me they didn't but I"d notice others selling same kinds and they got bids, so I don't know! I gave up on ebay while back...'
YOu could do a coupon exchange with neighbors... check the library if they have anything like that or the local freebie paper or Craigs list.
