Special offer

Please, no more catalogs!

By
Real Estate Agent with Oregon First

stopPlease, No More Catalogs!

Our mailbox is stuffed each week with unwanted catalogs. My wife occasionally buys something mail-order, but now she sometimes gets 8 different catalogs a week. Around Christmas, that number can swell to 20. I would estimate that recycling these catalogs generates up to 25% of our paper waste each week.  A tremendous waste when multiplied by millions of addresses. I hate waste! There is a new free website that helps cut down on this waste. You can register at www.catalogchoice.org to be removed from mailings of participating companies. The only drawback is that you have to opt out of each individual company, and there are thousands. A better option would be that you have to opt- in to get catalogs, but that will never happen. I'll do my little part to save some tress and add each catalog as we get them. As of 5/23/08, 871,444 persons have opted out of 11,331,765 catalogs.

Spread the word. Every little bit helps!

Wayne B. Pruner is a Realtor® at Oregon First, who works in the Portland and Tigard, Oregon area. He is ready to help you with all your real estate needs. His phone number is 503-891-0795. Here are links to his real estate website and his real estate blog.

 

Posted by

I can save you money on buying, selling, and owning a home in Tigard Oregon.

Tigard real estate agent

Wayne B. Pruner, GRI, Realtor, Principal Real Estate Broker - Oregon First

Mobile phone: 503-891-0795

email: Ā waynepruner@oregonfirst.com

website: Tigard Oregon Homes

Licensed in the State of Oregon

Gena Riede
Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA
Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Wayne, I know how you feel. While I'm busy throwing away all the mail junk, I often think about how much money is wasted on ink, paper and mailing along with the man hours paid...certainly isn't "Green."  And it just keeps coming and coming.

May 25, 2008 07:01 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Wayne,

I found that same website after seeing it advertised on the Today program ... and have since signed on to stop many catalogs from clogging up my mailbox.  Although they were always recycled, they shouldn't have been produced in the first place.  This organization is doing a great job to reduce the waste of our natural resources...thanks for letting others know about it.

May 31, 2008 01:22 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

I love my catalogs.  I can window-shop at my leisure without ever leaving home, and then throw them away. 

Jun 08, 2008 02:35 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Margaret ~ You probably meant  -- then recycle them, right??  :-)

Sorry Wayne, I couldn't help commenting -- you know what ardent recyclers we Oregonians are!!

Jun 09, 2008 05:03 PM
Anonymous
Anonymous

Thanks Maureen. I also hope she recycles.

Jun 09, 2008 05:12 PM
#5
James Wexler
wexzilla.com - Scottsdale, AZ

Wayne

Great piece.  I really enjoy your take on the nuissance of this junk mail.  I have always thought that the participating companies(spammers) have us because opting out of each individual catalog is the only choice we have.  Unfortunately that is impossible. Ill certainly spread the word about the website.

by the way, Do you have an outside blog that I can add to my Blogroll ?

Thanks and look forward to reading your thoughts on the world of real estate.

Jun 10, 2008 06:56 PM
JoEllen Stranger-Thorsen
Eustis, FL
Lake County, FL

What irks me the most about the catalogs is they keep coming long after I ever ordered anything. And then I start getting copies with covers that state this will be the last catalog we send you if you don't place an order. I don't place and order and the catalog keeps coming with the same cover warning me it is the last chance.

At least the church youth group benefits from the recylcing.

Jun 11, 2008 12:47 PM
Wayne B. Pruner
Oregon First - Tigard, OR
Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI

James. Thanks for commenting. I do not have an outside blog. I don't have enough time for this one. I have put all my eggs in the AR basket. I hope I made the right choice.

Jun 11, 2008 03:10 PM
marti garaughty
garaughty.com - Montreal, QC
a highly caffeinated creative type...

 Hi Wayne... aside from the environmantal issues, waste of paper, etc. with catalogs, I prefer to catalog shop online. It's convenient, always up to date and I can find so many more interesting choices. Have a great weekend...

Jun 13, 2008 04:07 PM
Cristal Drake
Prudential California Realty - Fullerton, CA
Realtor - Fullerton Real Estate

Wayne!  You are so right.  Everytime I open my mailbox and an avalanche of mail comes falling out, I think about the same thing.  Why all the catalogues.  Most I have never even ordered from.  It is so frustrating and wasteful.  :o(

Jun 29, 2008 04:05 PM
Mike Klijanowicz
Cummings & Co. Realtors - Perry Hall, MD
Associate Broker @ Cummings & Co. Realtors

Great information and thanks for the tip!  It also gives me another topic for a newsletter to use with my clients (since everyone is ALL about GOING GREEN these days)!

Jul 04, 2008 11:57 AM