Send junk mail back to where they came from

Last year I started my own revenge on companies that were sending me junk mail. Rather than placing all of the useless and wasteful junk mail in the recycling bin I decided to reply to every company that supplied a postage paid return envelope. Instead of filling out their subscription or billing information I simply write “no thanks” and “please take me off of your list”. Then I simply mail back everything including the used envelope and any other paper products that were sent to me. I feel so good after doing this that I actually look forward to getting junk mail now. Unfortunately because I registered my name and address in the “do not mail” registry I don’t receive as much junk mail as I once did. But somehow a few companies slip through and I am so delighted when I see a subscription offer in my mailbox. But this isn’t just a matter of revenge it’s also a way to stimulate the economy.
Imagine if everyone used the postage paid envelopes instead of throwing them away. The companies that use postage paid envelopes are only charged for postage if the envelope is actually used. If you throw away the envelope the company loses nothing other than the cost of the envelope. But if you send it back the company has to pay the postage regardless of what is in the envelope. I’ve actually sent back large brochures and pamphlets along with whatever else came with the return envelope. Imagine how much postage revenue could be generated if everyone sent back their junk mail. The US postal Service would profit from such an increase in mail and operate as they do before Christmas or Tax day (April 16th). Maybe they’d even lower the price of a stamp. OK, that might be stretching it. But this is a way to stimulate the economy without costing the taxpayer a cent. So join me to reduce, reuse, recycle, and return junk mail.

Pass it on and maybe it will catch on.