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Green Dimes: Stop the Junk Mail!

by DR

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I hate junk mail. So does Green Dimes, a paid service ($20) that claims to stop up to 90% of the junk mail for its members. And as an interesting twist, Green Dimes plants 5 trees for each person who signs up for the service. Here's how it works (and a DIY alternative):

Once you sign up and pay the annual $20 fee, Green Dimes takes you off dozens of junk mail lists. It also plants five trees. Then you choose which catalogs you are currently receiving that you no longer want. Green Dimes takes you off each catalog you pick. It also plants one tree for each catalog you choose. If you move, there is a $10 charge to provide the same service for your new address.

So is it worth it? For the convenience, perhaps. If you'd like a DIY alternative, however, check out this article from Smart Money, Stopping Junk Mail Is Easy, and Good for the Environment. I think I'll start with the DIY approach and see how well it works.


{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

David January 31, 2008 at 12:32 pm

DYI works just fine for most people. You can also use catalogchoice.org to get yourself off all those catalog mailing lists, and it’s free. We just started doing it.

No need to pay someone to get off any lists! :-)

Reply

verena January 31, 2008 at 5:42 pm

I have been a very happy customer of GreenDimes for several months now. They have done an excellent job, I barely get any catalogs or other junk now. They have a great website/interface, I am happy to pay them for the good work that they do.

Reply

Margot February 1, 2008 at 3:01 pm

Our service http://www.stopthejunkmail.com has been helping consumers eliminate unwanted junk mail and catalogs since 2001. We can help you stop your catalogs and other types of direct mail such as magazines, book clubs, newspapers, banks, insurance, non-profits, charities, fund raisers, political mail, computer resellers, and many more. Catalog choice only does catalogs. Next time you get your mail count how many items are other types of junk mail. We all have accounts and necessary relationships with other companies and they all send us offers of some kind 2-3 times a month.

Margot

Reply

deepali February 1, 2008 at 5:36 pm

I had a difficult time getting companies to stop sending me crap – most of the time I had to call and actually make the request over the phone, and I don’t have time for that. So I signed up for Greendimes over a year ago, and they fixed the problem. I get almost zero junk mail now. Plus, I think they have an excellent business model, GREAT customer service, and they’re very socially conscious. I definitely recommend them.

Reply

GreenDimes February 5, 2008 at 7:22 pm

GreenDimes here,

We’re $20 the first year, $10 after only if you need it. Thanks for giving us a fair shake and spreading the word about this important issue.

Reply

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