Action Line: How to opt out of catalogs you don't want
| Friday, Nov 13 2009 11:21 AM
Last Updated Friday, Nov 13 2009 11:23 AM
Editor's note: Action Line is a weekly column from the Better Business Bureau answering consumers' questions and concerns about money and business issues.
Dear Action Line:
Since I was a little girl and waited for the Sears & Roebuck catalog, I have always enjoyed looking through catalogs and gift magazines. They make it easy for me to do my holiday shopping and I have had good luck with my purchases so far. The problem is I am now receiving catalogs from companies I've never heard of or ordered from. Yesterday, I received 11 catalogs in the mail. How do I stop this "flood?"
Dear Reader:
It is now that time of year when the catalog companies begin flooding mailboxes with material to induce us to shop for Christmas.
The Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service lets you opt out of receiving unsolicited commercial mail from many national companies for five years. When you register with this service, your name will be put on a "delete" file and made available to direct-mail marketers. However, your registration will not stop mailings from organizations that do not use the DMA's Mail Preference Service. To register with the service, go to www.dmachoice.org. There is no charge if you sign up online and the deletion process generally takes about three months.
However, this will also remove your name from the catalogs you do want to receive unless you sign up again individually to receive the catalogs you want. You will also continue to receive catalogs if you make a purchase from the company.
Many consumers have found that mail order shopping can be convenient and simple. There are disadvantages, however.
It is considerably more difficult to exchange or return an item that is purchased by mail. You can't actually touch, feel and see the product until you have purchased it. You don't always know the company you are buying from. Many times the same items you find in a catalog can be found locally at a lower price.
You should take certain precautions before placing an order. Carefully read the product's description and do not rely solely on a picture for information. Also be sure you understand the company's refund/return policy, the product's availability and the total cost of the merchandise before placing an order. For example, is shipping extra?
The BBB receives thousands of inquiries and complaints from consumers regarding products they ordered over the telephone or through the mail. To check out an unfamiliar company, you can contact the BBB, or the state or local consumer protection agencies where the company is located. If there is a problem after the order is received, or if the order is never received, it will be easier to resolve with good records. It is wise to keep a record of the name, address and phone number of the company, the date the order was placed, the number of the money order, bank check, or credit card used, and the item number from the catalog.
The FTC publishes a free brochure on Shopping by Phone or Mail. For a list of publications, visit www.ftc.gov; write to Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C., 20580; or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357), TDD (202) 326-2502.
Vickie Sanders is assistant director of business services for the Better Business Bureau serving Central California. Send your consumer concerns, questions and problems to Action Line at the Better Business Bureau, 1601 H St., Suite 101, Bakersfield, CA 93301 or vickie@bbbcencal.org.
