My wife and I were wondering how to stop unsolicited advertising material being put into our mailbox. We have a very visible ‘no junk mail’ sticker on the letterbox and every day receive 6+ advertising leaflets. How do we stop the waste?
How do we stop the junk mail?
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I feel your frustration! Most of the businesses that distribute advertising mail are happy to abide by people’s wishes to avoid junk mail. The last thing they want to do with potential customers is rub them up the wrong way. Unfortunately, there are exceptions.
The Distribution Standards Board (DSB) is the self-regulatory arm of the Australian Catalogue Association, which represents about 90 per cent of all unaddressed advertising catalogues. Their Code of Practice requires that ‘no junk mail’ stickers are respected.
People can report irresponsible distribution practices by calling the DSB Consumer Hotline on 1800 676 136. The Board can follow up the complaint with relevant members.
However, a lot of the unwanted junk mail we receive falls into that 10 per cent of materials coming from non-members, who are typically local pizza joints, estate agents and other local businesses. Contact the business directly and politely inform them that your sticker has been ignored. They will follow this up with their distributors accordingly.
For more information visit www.catalogue.asn.au. The DSB offers their own standard No Advertising Material sticker for free if you send a stamped self-addressed envelope to DSB Sticker, PO Box 7735 St Kilda Road Melbourne VIC 8004.
Comments
Estate Agents are the worst. I always wonder why they think the "No Junk Mail" sticker does not apply to them so i asked one of them when i rang up and complained. He spun some crap saying they were giving free valuations and it was part of their service to the local community. Oh Please, lets not pretend its anything else other than a way to drum up business. It makes me mad because I have to waste my time ringing up all the estate agents telling them to stop.
Do a night watch and tell the paper dropper to give you home a miss. politely of course.
After all, these workers are trying to make a $ or two to make ends meet.
i have been revcieving junk mail ( and asking for it to stop) for the last 14 years. I go unheard, lateyl, the last 3 months i didnt get any and i thought i had finally gotten through, but it has started again, unfortunately, they always seem to do it when i am not home. it is getting to the point that i will be committing assault if it continues, it has gone WAY past frustration.and i mean WAY, way way way past that. my belief is, if i dont want it, why waste trees trying to sell me stuff i will never buy.........please help me before i hurt someone.......coz i cant stand it any longer