Poor customer service and a large carbon footprint

Despite the fact that we are both on our eighth mailing address since this century began, the junk mail still manages to find us. Ed tends to receive credit card offers. Kathy, having registered with OptOutPrescreen.com about two years ago (like the national do not call list, but for credit cards) doesn't get very many credit card offers. On the other hand, she does receive soliciations for chartiable donations and, despite rarely if ever buying from them, catalogs.

Recently, a new opt out website has come online. CatalogChoice.org allows you to register catalogs that you no longer wish to receive. Catalog Choice then contacts the company that sent the catalog and passes along the opt-out request. In the past month, Catalog Choice has added a new feature to their site that permits you to see the status of your request. Thanks to L.L. Bean and Sundance for honoring the request. However shame on Title Nine, Garnet Hill, and The Territory Ahead for refusing.

The average American receives 11 pieces of junk mail per week. This is the equivalent of 41 pounds or 2 trees worth per year per person. In total, catalogs and other forms of bulk add up to a carbon footprint of 92 pounds of carbon dioxide per person and a total of 100 million trees cut each year . When a customer requests that a company lighten the load on the planet and on the customer's life (one consumer study reports that despite throwing away 44% of bulk mail unopened, Americans still spend 8 months per lifetime opening the stuff), the least a company could do is respond affirmatively.

While I have no knowledge of two of the companies (I'd never heard of them until the catalogs arrived) I have to say I am very disappointed with Title Nine. As a company that promotes outdoors activities and healthy living their lack of responsiveness to this issue is, to say the least, disappointing.