How to Stop Receiving Catalogs You Don’t Want

It seems like everyday there are more and more catalogs cluttering our mailboxes. Every time you buy something you are added to a mailing list to receive the store’s catalog or other special offers. Even if you never buy anything from them, the catalogs keep coming. Imagine how much time, paper and money is wasted to print, send and receive these catalogs - just to have them go straight to the trash (or hopefully the recycle bin). This process is just one more thing you don’t need cluttering up your already hectic life.

The best way to stop receiving catalogs is to remove yourself from the company’s mailing list. Follow these steps to simplify your life by not receiving catalogs you don’t want.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Collect catalogs as you receive them.
   
   You will need information from the mailing labels to make canceling the catalog easier. The information you need from the label is the customer number typically located above your name, and the exact way that they have your name and address.

2. Go to Catalogchoice.org
   
   Catalogchoice.org is a website that list many companies that send catalogs so you can get removed from several mailing lists at once. It is free and easy to sign up. On the site, simply enter your name and address as it appears on the catalog mailing label and then search for the company to get yourself removed.

3. Opt-out from individual companies
   
   Some companies don’t work with catalogchoice.org so you will have to contact them directly. In the catalogs, there is usually a section describing how to opt-out from receiving their catalog. This is usually located in the same section that has ordering information. Call the customer service number or send an e-mail, whichever they provide, give them the information from your mailing label and tell them you no longer wish to receive their catalog.

4. Opt-out online
   
   If there is no opt-out or customer service information given in the catalog itself, you can find that information on the company’s website. Just do a Google search for the company, find the contact information and give them your mailing label information with a request to no longer receive their catalog.

5. Stop them before they come
   
   To get ahead of the game, you can stop companies from sending you their catalog before they even start. When you buy something at the store and they ask for your mailing address, politely decline and say that you don’t wish to receive their catalog. If you order online, look for a section on the order form that allows you to opt-out from receiving any special offers or other mailings from the company. If they don’t have something obvious, immediately call customer service after placing your order. Tell them that you are just confirming your order and that you would like to opt-out of receiving any future mailings.

Resources

• Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life
• SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life: A Four-Step Guide to Getting Unstuck
• The Clutter Diet: The Skinny on Organizing Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life

[sonni57]

on 4/30/2009 Thanks for the good info on getting rid of catalogues you no longer want I'm tired of getting them.