Stop with the Free Address Labels

Posted by
Estela Kennen
Sep 6, 2007

One of the reasons I don’t appreciate the free charity labels is purely pragmatic. As far as I can tell, there are two types of people: those who get 0-1 free address labels per decade and those who seem to average about one a month. I fall firmly in the latter category.

When I move to a new place, I appreciate the first sheet of free address labels I get. Heck, I’m even grateful for the holiday-themed sheet. But after the fourth or fifth set of address labels, I just start throwing them away. With email and automatic bill pay, I send just a few letters each month. In any case, I know that if I should somehow run low, some well-meaning but misguided charity, to which I have no intention of donating money – will send me personalized address labels before long.

Which brings me to the second reason why I disdain charity labels – why do I have to get so many? Why am I constantly solicited by non-profits I have never heard of and have no intention of donating to? (Yes, getting something for nothing from a charity does make me feel guilty… and I don’t appreciate that aspect of it, either.)

Every time I get another unsolicited solicitation, with an unwanted freebie thrown in, I have to wonder whether the organization has nothing better to do with money than buy mailing lists…

To charities that recognized themselves in my words: be more selective in your marketing campaigns, and more creative with your choice of incentives. I assure you, I won’t be the only person thanking you.

Sep 29, 2008 10:40 AM

Guest :

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Oct 25, 2008 9:39 AM

Guest :

Oh my goodness I could not agree more. I have over 20 sheets of address labels just from the past year. The first one I was excited about, but after the 4th I was like Okay this must be some sick joke. I get a bunch of holiday cards as well. Maybe a few would be nice, but I do not need 25 holiday cards to mail that say the name of the charity on the back. Also, I get a bunch of random stickers and notepads. I usually do not donate to these organizations, but one I did donate to, and they just keep sending me more stuff and also saying if you donate now we'll send you this complimentary stuffed animal, sculpture, etc. If i donate money I do not want it to be to pay for my "freebies" I want it to go to the charity. I refuse to keep donating to these places because I know my money will just go to more address labels and gifts for others.

Feb 21, 2009 4:01 AM

Guest :

To guest #3, not always do people sign up for those free address labels. I get free address labels all the time and not once have I signed up for getting these free address labels, they just send them to me but unlike other people, I am cheap and I like getting all of the free address labels because I do not use auto bill pay, I still send in my bill payment and I use those free address labels for that and I also so book swapping and other craft type swaps and I use those free address labels for those as well. Yes there are people out there that do sign up fro the free address labels but like me and so many other people, we just get them in the mail without signing up for them.

Feb 27, 2009 8:20 PM

Guest :

I personally am thrilled to receive the free address labels. And I'm very grateful when I do get some. I use them alot. I don't do my bills over the internet and do them in person. But I do send alot of cards, and still do the personal touch and send birthday cards, get well cards and I'm in charge of my Red Hat Society to send sympathy and thinking of you cards and not to mention all those christmas cards. So I love them all. The people who are receiving them and don't want them anymore can simply email them a letter stating they want off of there mailing list. And there you go. But please don't go talking trash about these companies who all they want is some kind of donation. If you do or you don't donate money they are at least kind enough to send them.