Nothing to do with Sony or Photography

Marty Scher B said:

Although I am in the credit card business (it's just a business), I
also get tons of card solicitations from other companies, along
with alot of other crud that clutters my house.

Not sure where this started, but the mail return thing won't help
and will probably just make more work for the post office to
dispose of it.

Most junk mail is sent 3rd class, which cannot be returned to the
sender. (only 1st class can be returned).

Maybe you can relax in knowing that shredding doesn't help either
since everyone probably already has your personal information : )

Hang in there.

Ed (;¬ > ) said:

I am taking license to vent and rant.

There is no need to respond either pro or con. This message is for
information only, it may prove usefull. I hope so. It has certainly
given me some perverse pleasure.

Of late I, as I'm sure every homeowner and credit card holder, have
been inundated with offers for instant credit. I can't just dump
them in the trash or recycling because they contain not only
personal information but would allow someone to obtain credit in my
name.

I bought a shredder, but it never was a satisfying result. I still
felt like a victim.

Then I heard of a grass roots effort to stem the tide. It's
painless, almost effortless, and if enough people do it, might
actually put a stop to it. Just send the stuff back.

Either black out or cut out or rip off identifying data. Conversely
you can leave out that page and shred it. Then just stuff all the
other crapola back into the PostagePaid envelope and mail it off.

It's elegant, really. Not only do they have to pay for the postage,
they have to pay employees to open it up and sort the wheat from
the chaff (just like you do at home.) It costs them the full 1st
class rate.

While you're at it, take all the stuff from the bills you do have
to pay and stuff it in, too. I gaurantee you'll have a lot less
garbage each week.

Oh, BTW. Take all those Postage Paid cards stuffed into your
magazines and mail them off too. Blank, of course.

-Ed (We might have a fighting chance) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

Click to expand...

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Chris said:

I have hint for YOU, imagine phone is ringing "Can I talk to
Chris?" (BTW that's my first name as well)....."Sorry, too late
...he just DIED..." --- "Oh, that's bad"...or kind of "Sorry to
hear that" etc... Usually no more calls expected from same
people/company....One guy I remember came with sudden riposte for
that announcement "THAT'S OK".... Just listen what of word you
get for your "departure", it's FUN anyway....
Chris from Florida (still in mint condition at the moment)

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Ed (;¬ > ) said:

This is the perfect retribution. These vermin deserve no sympathy
whatsoever.

-Ed

Robert Holloway said:

At first my wife got annoyed at this habit and thought I was mad,
now we are really excited when a telemarketer wanders like a fly
into our web.

Here's what i do....

The moment I realize that it's the local paper, an insurance scam,
credit card or whatever I immediately act interested.

I then pretend that I'm a little slow on the uptake and have them
explain everything several times. I always talk very slowly.

I then get pretend to be confused.

Now I let them move me closer to the sale. You can literally feel
their excitement, it's tangible.

Then I get confused again. But because they smell success they stay
with it and round we go again. 5-10 minutes has now passed. Or as
long as you want if you have the patience.

Then just as we get close to the sale I ask the killer question.

I change to my normal voice and ask them if they've enjoyed the
chat for the last 10 minutes. I ask them if they enjoy wasting my
time, becuase I really enjoy wasting their time and i know that
their time is money.

Their reaction changes. I ask them why they phone me at home.

It disintegrates.

I never get angry. Always totally pleasant.

I can't do justice in writing to the fun I've had. My wife has
literally laughed out loud at some of the latter calls.

Guess what, I used to get called every few days. A few months of
this and the calls dried up.

Now some folks may think this a cruel and unusual punishment to
people trying to make an honest living. Me, I have little sympathy.
I was getting called 2/3 times a week at 7-9pm (I guess I hit a
demographic target) at home by people who had no thought for my
limited private time.

Ed, I can't wait to start a mail room in the back of our house.
Great idea!!
Rob

--
Thought - The weakest part of my pictures is not the camera, lens,
tripod, memory stick or editing software - it's me

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Ed (;¬ > ) said:

No the crux of what I was talking about is the fact that 98% of all
these solicitations come with USPS "Business Reply Mail" return
envelopes (or in some cases post cards.) This is what you use to
stuff everything back in—except identifying info—and send their own
crud back to them.

Even if you don't stuff the envelope, just mail it back. The
addressee must pay 1st Class postage.

-Ed (if it's from a flack, send it back) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

Marty Scher B said:

Although I am in the credit card business (it's just a business), I
also get tons of card solicitations from other companies, along
with alot of other crud that clutters my house.

Not sure where this started, but the mail return thing won't help
and will probably just make more work for the post office to
dispose of it.

Most junk mail is sent 3rd class, which cannot be returned to the
sender. (only 1st class can be returned).

Maybe you can relax in knowing that shredding doesn't help either
since everyone probably already has your personal information : )

Hang in there.

Ed (;¬ > ) said:

I am taking license to vent and rant.

There is no need to respond either pro or con. This message is for
information only, it may prove usefull. I hope so. It has certainly
given me some perverse pleasure.

Of late I, as I'm sure every homeowner and credit card holder, have
been inundated with offers for instant credit. I can't just dump
them in the trash or recycling because they contain not only
personal information but would allow someone to obtain credit in my
name.

I bought a shredder, but it never was a satisfying result. I still
felt like a victim.

Then I heard of a grass roots effort to stem the tide. It's
painless, almost effortless, and if enough people do it, might
actually put a stop to it. Just send the stuff back.

Either black out or cut out or rip off identifying data. Conversely
you can leave out that page and shred it. Then just stuff all the
other crapola back into the PostagePaid envelope and mail it off.

It's elegant, really. Not only do they have to pay for the postage,
they have to pay employees to open it up and sort the wheat from
the chaff (just like you do at home.) It costs them the full 1st
class rate.

While you're at it, take all the stuff from the bills you do have
to pay and stuff it in, too. I gaurantee you'll have a lot less
garbage each week.

Oh, BTW. Take all those Postage Paid cards stuffed into your
magazines and mail them off too. Blank, of course.

-Ed (We might have a fighting chance) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

Click to expand...

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Ed (;¬ > ) said:

Marty, I don't return the entire envelope unopened—although I'm not
sure what the rules are on that. I'll check. Most of the mail I'm
talking about doesn't come Bulk it comes Presorted 1st Class. That
may be returnable. Stay tuned.

No the crux of what I was talking about is the fact that 98% of all
these solicitations come with USPS "Business Reply Mail" return
envelopes (or in some cases post cards.) This is what you use to
stuff everything back in—except identifying info—and send their own
crud back to them.

Even if you don't stuff the envelope, just mail it back. The
addressee must pay 1st Class postage.

-Ed (if it's from a flack, send it back) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

Click to expand...

Ed (;¬ > ) said:

I am taking license to vent and rant.

There is no need to respond either pro or con. This message is for
information only, it may prove usefull. I hope so. It has certainly
given me some perverse pleasure.

Of late I, as I'm sure every homeowner and credit card holder, have
been inundated with offers for instant credit. I can't just dump
them in the trash or recycling because they contain not only
personal information but would allow someone to obtain credit in my
name.

I bought a shredder, but it never was a satisfying result. I still
felt like a victim.

Then I heard of a grass roots effort to stem the tide. It's
painless, almost effortless, and if enough people do it, might
actually put a stop to it. Just send the stuff back.

Either black out or cut out or rip off identifying data. Conversely
you can leave out that page and shred it. Then just stuff all the
other crapola back into the PostagePaid envelope and mail it off.

It's elegant, really. Not only do they have to pay for the postage,
they have to pay employees to open it up and sort the wheat from
the chaff (just like you do at home.) It costs them the full 1st
class rate.

While you're at it, take all the stuff from the bills you do have
to pay and stuff it in, too. I gaurantee you'll have a lot less
garbage each week.

Oh, BTW. Take all those Postage Paid cards stuffed into your
magazines and mail them off too. Blank, of course.

-Ed (We might have a fighting chance) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

Click to expand...

Ed (;¬ > ) said:

chrys said:

Amen to that Ed!

Now, any idea how to get rid of telemarketers that call during
dinner??

Click to expand...

1. 1. [Interrupt immediately] "Oh, thanks for calling. I...

[yelling] JUNIOR! STOP THAT! Excuse me a moment." [Put phone down.
Resume dinner. At earliest convenience—no less than 10 minutes—hang
up phone.

1. 2. [Interrupt the speil immediately] Hi! What are you wearing?

[pause] I'm only wearing my underwear. Do you like leather?
[pause... Continue, interrupting if necessary] I love leather. Do
you want me to take my underpants off? Can you guess what I'm doing
now? [If the moron hasn't hung up yet.] Oh, gosh! It's my daughter!
[Hang up immediately]

1. 3 Simply hang up the instant you recognize it is a sales call.

1. 4 Get one of those Zapper thingies.

-Ed (Remember: they invaded your privacy) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

Click to expand...

Laneyweb said:

Another side benefit of this: The USPS is considering upping the
rate for first class stamps again(sooner instead of later). The
reason?? A decline in the amount of mail processed. So, if we all
boost the amount of mail being mailed (because they are getting
paid for each envelope) then we may be able to put off a rate
increase : ))

Laney

Ed (;¬ > ) said:

Marty, I don't return the entire envelope unopened—although I'm not
sure what the rules are on that. I'll check. Most of the mail I'm
talking about doesn't come Bulk it comes Presorted 1st Class. That
may be returnable. Stay tuned.

No the crux of what I was talking about is the fact that 98% of all
these solicitations come with USPS "Business Reply Mail" return
envelopes (or in some cases post cards.) This is what you use to
stuff everything back in—except identifying info—and send their own
crud back to them.

Even if you don't stuff the envelope, just mail it back. The
addressee must pay 1st Class postage.

-Ed (if it's from a flack, send it back) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

Click to expand...

--
DSC-S85 Owner

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Laneyweb said:

Another side benefit of this: The USPS is considering upping the
rate for first class stamps again(sooner instead of later). The
reason?? A decline in the amount of mail processed. So, if we all
boost the amount of mail being mailed (because they are getting
paid for each envelope) then we may be able to put off a rate
increase : ))

Laney

Ed (;¬ > ) said:

Marty, I don't return the entire envelope unopened—although I'm not
sure what the rules are on that. I'll check. Most of the mail I'm
talking about doesn't come Bulk it comes Presorted 1st Class. That
may be returnable. Stay tuned.

No the crux of what I was talking about is the fact that 98% of all
these solicitations come with USPS "Business Reply Mail" return
envelopes (or in some cases post cards.) This is what you use to
stuff everything back in—except identifying info—and send their own
crud back to them.

Even if you don't stuff the envelope, just mail it back. The
addressee must pay 1st Class postage.

-Ed (if it's from a flack, send it back) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

Click to expand...

--
DSC-S85 Owner

Click to expand...

Mike Fitzgerald said:

Side issue — "No advertising mail" signs.

I read of some guy here who has extended this wording to something
like the following:

WARNING
No unaddressed advertising mail accepted. Advertisers and their
agents depositing such mail are advised that a $75 administration
fee will be charged to the advertiser for the return of same. By
depositing items of this class you signify that you accept
liability for payment of this fee.

And he follows it up. He had been doing this with notable success
for about 18 months when I read the article. A lot of companies had
been paying up without question (just another bill on the human
conveyor belt). And even though some of them would surely have
realised what the bill was for, nobody had as yet challenged the
legally binding status of the notice.

Worth a try!

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• Had I had my handset in for repair in the last six months? (YES)

• What was the nature of the fault? (recharging problem – not really relevant)
• What type of service facility did I use? (independent authorised service agent)
• How was I directed to it? (via a phone call to the manufacturer – Ericsson Australia)

Mike Fitzgerald said:

Ed, you'll LOVE this:

Last April I received a phone call from yet another market research
company, doing a customer survey on after-sales service issues with
Ericsson mobile phone handsets.

Since I happen to have a large axe to grind with Ericsson over
service (love the handset though – t28s), I said that I'd be happy
to respond on this occasion in the faint hope that it might
provide some constructive feedback.

There was the usual statistical input re my age (just nudging 57)
and gender, etc., but the relevant questions amounted to nothing
more than the following:

• Had I had my handset in for repair in the last six months? (YES)

• What was the nature of the fault? (recharging problem – not

really relevant)

• What type of service facility did I use? (independent authorised

service agent)

• How was I directed to it? (via a phone call to the manufacturer –

Ericsson Australia)

At the end of the questionnaire, I voiced my disappointment that
nothing at all had been asked about the actual QUALITY of service -
it looked as if I had wasted my time after all.

The market researcher then mentioned that Ericsson was currently
running some 'discussion groups' involving users, that were being
convened to discuss after-sales service issues; i.e. exactly the
sort of forum I would welcome. But she went on to explain that I
didn't fall into a user group that was eligible to be invited to
these.

I asked: "Then just which categories of user ARE eligible?"

"They only want people under fifty."
======================

Right... So not only is re-employment next to impossible for my age
group, but now not even our opinion as existing users of modern
technology rates at all!! Presumably, if we're offended by the
quality of service, then either nobody is likely to take our
opinion seriously or we simply won't be around long enough for any
dissatisfaction to spread.

Is ALL of today's industrial management now completely in the hands
of egocentric kiddies?

Mike Fitzgerald
Melbourne, Australia

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Ed (;¬ > ) said:

Not sure what the laws are in Oz, Mike, but here the feds prohibit
anything without a stamp being placed in mail boxes, ...

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Ed (;¬ >) said:

... so most leaflettes get hung on doorknobs.

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Ed (;¬ >) said:

Interesting tack your friend has taken. Might work here where they
could be taken to small claims court. Fortunately I don't live in
the city any more so I don't get peddlers or pamphlet hangers.

Click to expand...

Ed (;¬ > ) said:

I am taking license to vent and rant.

There is no need to respond either pro or con. This message is for
information only, it may prove usefull. I hope so. It has certainly
given me some perverse pleasure.

Of late I, as I'm sure every homeowner and credit card holder, have
been inundated with offers for instant credit. I can't just dump
them in the trash or recycling because they contain not only
personal information but would allow someone to obtain credit in my
name.

I bought a shredder, but it never was a satisfying result. I still
felt like a victim.

Then I heard of a grass roots effort to stem the tide. It's
painless, almost effortless, and if enough people do it, might
actually put a stop to it. Just send the stuff back.

Either black out or cut out or rip off identifying data. Conversely
you can leave out that page and shred it. Then just stuff all the
other crapola back into the PostagePaid envelope and mail it off.

It's elegant, really. Not only do they have to pay for the postage,
they have to pay employees to open it up and sort the wheat from
the chaff (just like you do at home.) It costs them the full 1st
class rate.

While you're at it, take all the stuff from the bills you do have
to pay and stuff it in, too. I gaurantee you'll have a lot less
garbage each week.

Oh, BTW. Take all those Postage Paid cards stuffed into your
magazines and mail them off too. Blank, of course.

-Ed (We might have a fighting chance) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

Click to expand...

Ed (;¬ > ) said:

No the crux of what I was talking about is the fact that 98% of all
these solicitations come with USPS "Business Reply Mail" return
envelopes (or in some cases post cards.) This is what you use to
stuff everything back in—except identifying info—and send their own
crud back to them.

Even if you don't stuff the envelope, just mail it back. The
addressee must pay 1st Class postage.

-Ed (if it's from a flack, send it back) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

Marty Scher B said:

Although I am in the credit card business (it's just a business), I
also get tons of card solicitations from other companies, along
with alot of other crud that clutters my house.

Not sure where this started, but the mail return thing won't help
and will probably just make more work for the post office to
dispose of it.

Most junk mail is sent 3rd class, which cannot be returned to the
sender. (only 1st class can be returned).

Maybe you can relax in knowing that shredding doesn't help either
since everyone probably already has your personal information : )

Hang in there.

Ed (;¬ > ) said:

I am taking license to vent and rant.

There is no need to respond either pro or con. This message is for
information only, it may prove usefull. I hope so. It has certainly
given me some perverse pleasure.

Of late I, as I'm sure every homeowner and credit card holder, have
been inundated with offers for instant credit. I can't just dump
them in the trash or recycling because they contain not only
personal information but would allow someone to obtain credit in my
name.

I bought a shredder, but it never was a satisfying result. I still
felt like a victim.

Then I heard of a grass roots effort to stem the tide. It's
painless, almost effortless, and if enough people do it, might
actually put a stop to it. Just send the stuff back.

Either black out or cut out or rip off identifying data. Conversely
you can leave out that page and shred it. Then just stuff all the
other crapola back into the PostagePaid envelope and mail it off.

It's elegant, really. Not only do they have to pay for the postage,
they have to pay employees to open it up and sort the wheat from
the chaff (just like you do at home.) It costs them the full 1st
class rate.

While you're at it, take all the stuff from the bills you do have
to pay and stuff it in, too. I gaurantee you'll have a lot less
garbage each week.

Oh, BTW. Take all those Postage Paid cards stuffed into your
magazines and mail them off too. Blank, of course.

-Ed (We might have a fighting chance) W.
http://www.pbase.com/ewaldorph/dpreview
Sony F505v (with Canon 500D +2 lens for macros)
(;¬ þ)

Click to expand...

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SFishy said:

Hi Ed,

Your junk-mail idea is great! I'm definitely going to try this.

I do have another take though on the phone solicitor thing -- as in
giving them a hard time, or keeping them on the phone. Harmless
"he's dead" comments are fine, but please think twice before you
keep them on the phone for extended periods of time. I did this
kind of work many years ago when I was having difficult financial
times, and pay is usually based on a quota (for surveys) or a
commission (for sales), and you are expected to get a certain
number of successful calls in to keep the job. It doesn't help to
have someone pretend to be interested just to "get your goat" -- I
just WORKED for the company to feed myself, so it really is unfair
to punish that person just for doing their job. Either say "I'm not
interested" and hang up, or tell them to remove you from their list
and then hang up. No need to try to hurt some poor employee back --
it's really the company you're mad at.

Amy

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• Talanthas