off the list

a practical guide to getting off (mailing lists)

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Census Schmensus

March 16th, 2010 · No Comments

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According to Shawn at the 2010 Census Hotline — 866-872-6868 — doing your civic duty will not result in an avalanche of direct mail dooty.

So go ahead:  report you and yours to the government.  What could happen?

→ No CommentsTags: Tips

A Christmas Miracle

December 11th, 2009 · No Comments

Guess what truly terrific present I just received from Taylor Gifts!

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Nope.  Something even better. [Read more →]

→ No CommentsTags: Bad guys · Catalog Overkill · Follow-up · General Frustration · Success Story

Out of Retirement

November 3rd, 2009 · No Comments

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Not for personal glory.  Not for vast riches.  And hopefully, not for long.

But after 6 joyous months of As Seen On TV™ silence, Taylor Gifts once again favored me with 72 full-color pages of worthless crap.

O cruel wind — why does thou blow anew?

[Read more →]

→ No CommentsTags: Bad guys · Catalog Overkill · Follow-up

One L (L Bean) of a problem

October 29th, 2008 · No Comments

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My mother sent us a gift from LL Bean and — you guessed it — her kind gesture put us back on their mailing list.

Thanks, Mom.

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→ No CommentsTags: Bad guys · Catalog Overkill · Emotional Spyware · General Frustration · Tips

Taylor Made for Insanity

October 27th, 2008 · 2 Comments

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To paraphrase Al Pacino in Godfather III:  Just when I thought I was out, Taylor Gifts sends me another @#!% catalog.

[Read more →]

→ 2 CommentsTags: Bad guys · Catalog Overkill · General Frustration · Name Serializer

A Holiday Gift for You

October 22nd, 2008 · 1 Comment

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Do something nice for yourself this year — stop all those stupid holiday catalogs with CatalogChoice.org.

[Read more →]

→ 1 CommentTags: Follow-up · General Frustration · Good guys

One Year Today!

June 6th, 2008 · No Comments

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Loose the trumpets! Sound the confetti! Off The List is 1 year’s old.

How’s it feel?

As empty as my mailbox.

[Read more →]

→ No CommentsTags: Follow-up

Sick Junk Mail

April 29th, 2008 · No Comments

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To long waits and huge expenses, add the insult of junk mail to your list of injuries if you need to visit the Emergency Room.

[Read more →]

→ No CommentsTags: Hostage Marketing

An Offer You Can Refuse (maybe)

April 15th, 2008 · No Comments

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Quick quiz: after the apolcalypse, which creatures will still scurry about the wasteland?

A) Cockroaches; B) Real Estate Agents; C) Mortgage Brokers; D) All of the above

Based on the amount of mailings I’m still receiving — despite the sub-prime mortgage meltdown — I’m betting D.

[Read more →]

→ No CommentsTags: Bad guys · General Frustration

(un)American Express

April 7th, 2008 · No Comments

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After receiving my 4th piece of direct mail from American Express OPEN for Business in 5 days, I have no other choice.

I have declared war on American Express.

[Read more →]

→ No CommentsTags: Follow-up · General Frustration · Hostage Marketing · Name Serializer