Paying for Junk mail

[crokett]

Got a mailer yesterday. I was 'nominated' to join the ultra-exclusive Gardeners of America club for 1.0/mo. For which I get a magazine, 'exclusive offers', gardening tips unlimited access to a FREE website and some other crap. Oh yeah, plus supposedly you get to try free stuff like tools and mowers, etc.

It said somewhere that they have 1/4 million members. So I was thinking at 12 bucks a head you are looking at close to 3mil a year which ain't bad, all paying for junk mail. Not to mention that the membership list is probably sold several times over to other marketers. I am in the wrong business. I think I should start the Woodworkers of America. It will be an ultra-exclusive club. Who wants to be a charter member?

[jziegler]

David,

I've gotten those before, come with a couple free packets of seed (which didn't come up, by the way). Get ready to also get the Handyman Club of America in the next few days. Same type of deal, it comes with a drill gauge and something else.... They say they send out free tools for testing. So, someone already beat you to your idea.

All garbage, from what I can tell....

Jim

[thiggy]

That sounds just like several offers I have received over the last few years to join the Do-It-Yourself Club of America (or some such). Wonderful magazine, free tools to review, etc. I can't imagine anyone turning it down!

[crokett]

David,
So, someone already beat you to your idea.

Jim

Yeah but mine is different. We use a rigorous screening process and only select highly-skilled craftsmen and artistes like yourself. It is by special super-duper top-secret invitation. So secret that you don't know you are a member. Hmm.. there's a new twist. I will buy the mailing list for Gardeners of america and just automatically enroll you....


Besides I guarantee no junk mail except for our weekly flier, mothly magazine, exclusive offers, offers for other related products you might find interesting, contest enrollment forms and anything else I can think of that I can get paid to spam you with. But of course no junk mail.

[WayneJ]

Anybody want a free drill index? I just got a orange envelope, so big it hardly fit in my mail box. It was 10 x 14in with, you guessed it, a drill index. I just counted the ones I have laying around here, 14 in all.I save them for glue spreaders. Oops forgot the one that hangs on my drill press. I also get a choice of two free gifts, wow I get both gifts, how can I refuse? I'm glad they don't have my e-mail addy. These people don't give up. Handyman club of america, go away
Wayne

[just4funsies]

I just got the same package (drill index, all the crap about receiving free tools to review, etc.). I thought that the drill index could be better used to measure the cranial capacity of anyone dumb enough to buy into that scam...

[jziegler]

You know, the first time I got one of the packages, I read it with interest and thought about it a bit. Of course, by that time, the gardener's club package had arrived as well, and I was on to them. But really, my whole thought with what they promise is that it's too good to be true... Free tools? Sounds great. I can even deal with the junk mail, that's what the fireplace, or trash can, or whatever is for. But paying for it and promising more than you really deliver? No thanks....

I've seen something somewhere that the first test tool you get is a dollar store tpe set of precision screwdrivers... Great free tool there....

Jim

[Russianwolf]

Now here's an idea for ya.


Send out an email that says something to the effect of....


"For $1/month, I won't fill your inbox with every stupid piece of junk email I can find."


Wonder how many takers I'd get?

[Stick]

That sounds just like several offers I have received over the last few years to join the Do-It-Yourself Club of America (or some such). Wonderful magazine, free tools to review, etc. I can't imagine anyone turning it down!

Just like the hunting club...........fishing club.............and the list goes on.

[Hellrazor]

If the stuff comes with a postage paid envelope, tear it up, fill the envelope and send it back. They have to pay for it.

[LinuxRandal]

I have friends who send one companies junk mail to anothers. And several of us have used junk mailers addresses for those things that require them, when they don't need them.

If you use the one they sent you, remove your address AND barcode, as it links to your address. (if you don't they know you get it, and some keep sending, and then sell your name more).
I still want to place a trash can on my mailbox, so I have a sign, mail, then one Junkmail.