Opting Out

Color photograph by Dougan Gary

So far over the last few weeks, I've opted out of 23 catalogs through catalogchoice.com. None of the 23 catalogs I have requested to stop sending me a catalog has confirmed they will do so, and one catalog Title Nine (1-800-342-4448) refused my request. Call them today and ask them why. Don't think I will ever order anything from them again. Remember the good 'ole days when you might get a catalog or two around the holidays, and you were glad to receive a few gift ideas that weren't available in your locale?

I've already written about how many trees you will save by opting out of some of these mass mailings. I am still going to allow a few choice catalogs reach my doorstep, but my quest is to save as many trees as I can in this time consuming process.

The main reason we receive so many catalogs from stores we have never bought (nor ever will) things from is because many retailers sell your information to marketing companies who sell your personal information to a wide variety of marketing entities.

At buyoutsidethebox.com, we want you to know our loyalty to you as our customer extends far beyond this common courtesy. We will never sell, trade or give out your personal information. Your credit card info is safe with us as well. We are a secure site.

Easter is early this year, March 23. Celebrate with art!--RuthMitchell

Say No to Catalogs

My sister called me recently and said, "can't we do something about these catalogs?"

"What do you mean Elly?" I asked her.

"Well, I have this personality quirk, where I think I need to look at all of them before I throw them away, and they are stacked up everywhere." I could just picture her sitting amonst stacks of catalogs. The average person wastes about 70 hours a year dealing with junk mail.

"Actually I wrote about that very topic not too long ago," I said. There wasn't much comfort in knowing my sister was one of the few that feels compelled to open and read all their junk mail. The average adult in this country receives 41 pounds of junk mail each year (about 560 pieces), and 44% goes to the landfill unopened.

So, here's an idea. Practice Creative Consumerism™ at its best. Shop online, especially here. Not only do we have art and fine handmade things for sale, there are a number of select links and advertisers featured on our blog. Then take a few minutes to visit Catalog Choice (we use this one) or http://www.41pounds.org/, and say no to the destruction of 100 million trees which are destroyed each year to make junk mail. For further reading click here.

White, Pink & Yellow Tulips - Diana Bradley