In my previous post (See More E-bills, Please) I discussed some reasons to think about converting more of the paper statements we receive by (snail) mail to an e-bill format, and what utilities can do to increase their e-bill adoption rates. Here, we’ll take it a step further and address some of the other unwanted mail delivered to our homes.
When was the last time you let your fingers do the walking?
If you enjoy thumbing through the Yellow Pages and you’re aware that 99% of this information is available online, then carry on. However, if you’re like me and haven’t touched a phone book in ten years, then take a few minutes to opt-out of the annual delivery of your yellow pages. A two minute phone call to the appropriate Yellow Page distributor was all it took for me to opt-out of the distribution list. You can visit www.yellowpagesoptout.com to identify your local distributor(s) by zip code. Hat tip to Pablo Paster for providing some substance on the impact of unwanted phone books.
Got credit?
If you’re looking to cap the number of credit cards in your wallet, you might consider visiting OptOutPrescreen.com. They provide a couple different options for opting out of credit card offers. Incidentally, the average consumer is holding 5.4 credit cards in their wallet. You can find some more interesting facts at creditcards.com.
41 pounds…
According to 41pounds.org the average adult receives 41 pounds of junk mail each year. Forty-four percent (44%) of this goes to the landfill unopened. For $41.00, 41pounds.org will do the heavy lifting of contacting 20 to 30 direct mail companies on your behalf to mostly eliminate all of your junk mail for five years. They’ll even send you some pre-addressed postcards for you to send to the companies that require a signature from you. They also claim to donate more than 1/3 of their fee to community and environmental organizations.
Divide and conquer…
If you think you might like to shed something less than all 41 pounds of junk mail every year, then your best bet is to start sorting your mail. Make a few bins such as ‘junk mail’, ‘electronically preferred’, and ‘paper approved’. Then contact each institution about your preferences. Unwanted catalogs are particularly easy to cut out. Retailers that distribute catalogs often provide opt-out preference functionality on their websites. You can also cut out your mailing label (include any customer numbers printed on the label along with your address), and send it back to the company with the words, “Please remove from mailing list.”
Zumbox
When it comes to paperless mail, Zumbox is positioned as the killer app. The folks at Zumbox have completed the colossal task of creating a secure digital mailbox for every street address across the nation. Whether you know it or not, you have a Zumbox too!
Here’s how it works:
With the exception of hand-written letters and cards, most all mail starts as a digital file. This file is then printed, processed (folded, put into envelopes, addressed, stamped), and finally delivered to your home. With Zumbox, that same file can be sent to your street address. The difference however is that it’s sent online without paper or scanning to your secure mailbox at Zumbox.com.
How is Zumbox different from email?
Mail that’s delivered to your Zumbox is based on a physical street address. It’s also 100% secure. From a business perspective, these are significant distinctions from traditional email. Most businesses lack valid email addresses that correspond with all their street address listings. This is just one of the reasons it’s so challenging for businesses to go paperless. Beyond that, there are also the typical issues with tracking email deliveries. With Zumbox, businesses are assured that their mail is delivered, and that even sensitive information can be securely sent and received.
Changing 300 years of postal tradition isn’t fast or easy.
I claimed my Zumbox about a year ago, but haven’t received much mail since then. I had the chance to speak with Zumbox VP of Marketing, Rob Reed, to understand where Zumbox was headed. This is what I learned.
Rather than rolling out a nationwide campaign targeted at consumers, Zumbox intends to target neighborhoods and cities in a coordinated effort with businesses that are currently using the regular postal service to distribute their mail. In this way, consumers in the target area would receive a series of paper mail notifications from various companies such as their utility and phone company alerting them to the paperless transition, and prompting them to claim their Zumbox to retrieve further mailings. From this point forward, a regular and growing stream of mail would be sent to their Zumbox. This process would continue with the next neighborhood and city.
Changing 300 years of postal tradition will not happen anytime soon, but 2010 is sure to be a breakout year for this Paperless Postal Service. If you’d like to stay ahead of the game, you can claim your Zumbox at www.zumbox.com.
Skip the receipt, not the donut.
For those of you that would rather be entertained than educated, here’s a tip from the late Mitch Hedberg that should satisfy your sweet tooth and the environment. (Flash plugin required for viewing)
When was the last time you let your fingers do the walking?
If you enjoy thumbing through the Yellow Pages and you’re aware that 99% of this information is available online, then carry on. However, if you’re like me and haven’t touched a phone book in ten years, then take a few minutes to opt-out of the annual delivery of your yellow pages. A two minute phone call to the appropriate Yellow Page distributor was all it took for me to opt-out of the distribution list. You can visit www.yellowpagesoptout.com to identify your local distributor(s) by zip code. Hat tip to Pablo Paster for providing some substance on the impact of unwanted phone books.
Got credit?
If you’re looking to cap the number of credit cards in your wallet, you might consider visiting OptOutPrescreen.com. They provide a couple different options for opting out of credit card offers. Incidentally, the average consumer is holding 5.4 credit cards in their wallet. You can find some more interesting facts at creditcards.com.
41 pounds…
According to 41pounds.org the average adult receives 41 pounds of junk mail each year. Forty-four percent (44%) of this goes to the landfill unopened. For $41.00, 41pounds.org will do the heavy lifting of contacting 20 to 30 direct mail companies on your behalf to mostly eliminate all of your junk mail for five years. They’ll even send you some pre-addressed postcards for you to send to the companies that require a signature from you. They also claim to donate more than 1/3 of their fee to community and environmental organizations.
Divide and conquer…
If you think you might like to shed something less than all 41 pounds of junk mail every year, then your best bet is to start sorting your mail. Make a few bins such as ‘junk mail’, ‘electronically preferred’, and ‘paper approved’. Then contact each institution about your preferences. Unwanted catalogs are particularly easy to cut out. Retailers that distribute catalogs often provide opt-out preference functionality on their websites. You can also cut out your mailing label (include any customer numbers printed on the label along with your address), and send it back to the company with the words, “Please remove from mailing list.”
Zumbox
When it comes to paperless mail, Zumbox is positioned as the killer app. The folks at Zumbox have completed the colossal task of creating a secure digital mailbox for every street address across the nation. Whether you know it or not, you have a Zumbox too!
Here’s how it works:
With the exception of hand-written letters and cards, most all mail starts as a digital file. This file is then printed, processed (folded, put into envelopes, addressed, stamped), and finally delivered to your home. With Zumbox, that same file can be sent to your street address. The difference however is that it’s sent online without paper or scanning to your secure mailbox at Zumbox.com.
How is Zumbox different from email?
Mail that’s delivered to your Zumbox is based on a physical street address. It’s also 100% secure. From a business perspective, these are significant distinctions from traditional email. Most businesses lack valid email addresses that correspond with all their street address listings. This is just one of the reasons it’s so challenging for businesses to go paperless. Beyond that, there are also the typical issues with tracking email deliveries. With Zumbox, businesses are assured that their mail is delivered, and that even sensitive information can be securely sent and received.
Changing 300 years of postal tradition isn’t fast or easy.
I claimed my Zumbox about a year ago, but haven’t received much mail since then. I had the chance to speak with Zumbox VP of Marketing, Rob Reed, to understand where Zumbox was headed. This is what I learned.
Rather than rolling out a nationwide campaign targeted at consumers, Zumbox intends to target neighborhoods and cities in a coordinated effort with businesses that are currently using the regular postal service to distribute their mail. In this way, consumers in the target area would receive a series of paper mail notifications from various companies such as their utility and phone company alerting them to the paperless transition, and prompting them to claim their Zumbox to retrieve further mailings. From this point forward, a regular and growing stream of mail would be sent to their Zumbox. This process would continue with the next neighborhood and city.
Changing 300 years of postal tradition will not happen anytime soon, but 2010 is sure to be a breakout year for this Paperless Postal Service. If you’d like to stay ahead of the game, you can claim your Zumbox at www.zumbox.com.
Skip the receipt, not the donut.
For those of you that would rather be entertained than educated, here’s a tip from the late Mitch Hedberg that should satisfy your sweet tooth and the environment. (Flash plugin required for viewing)
| Comedy Central Presents | Friday 10pm / 9c | |||
| Mitch Hedberg - Donut Receipts | ||||
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