In Germany, you can just put a little sign on your letterbox that tells the post person to not give you any free newspapers or mail.
Only ads I've gotten in years where the ones directly addressed to me, and that's like every few months from one of two slightly old fashioned firms, and tends to include a voucher, so that's something.
The rule they're referencing is actually a pretty good one. It prevents postal workers with an agenda from selectively not delivering non-specifically addressed mail, which includes things like public hearings on land use and taxes, voting information, class action suit notifications, etc.
Unfortunately it's a little easy to exploit, but there's only 1-2 big mail advertisers per region and if you speak to your local post office you can easily opt out of the junkmail they send out.
If it's so easy, and it works, why is "go talk to the local post office and you won't get any more ads" only mentioned here, deep down in the comment chain? Why isn't this the advice actual post office workers come with? Why do they just tell you to personally, manually, routinely sort out "Standard" mail instead?
I personally think you're talking bullshit.
I'm guessing in reality it only opts you out of some ads, or maybe post offices are inconsistent in actually following the requests, so people who've tried it are unlikely to recommend it as in practice it barely changes the situation. Am I wrong here?
I also think "Equal rights for all advertisements! The post office must get it all out to the people!" is a terrible way to prevent tampering with what does and doesn't get delivered, and again you as a society have been hoodwinked by suits telling you what's in your best interest. Like the clowns you are.
"Unfortunately it's a little easy to exploit..." should be printed on every cover of every title of the US Code of Laws. With a little winkey face ;)
Yep, you're wrong! This is the advice post office workers "come with". It's the same as with the do not call registry - most people just don't know about it.
Also, erm, this isn't "equal rights for advertisements"? It's just an old law that says the post office has to deliver everything they're given. The first poster was just embellishing it for drama, which is a time honored american tradition so I can't really judge them.
Hate on the US all you want tho, just seems like there are more worthy topics than a misrepresented law.
I'm gonna need to see a lot more testimonials from people this has worked for before I even begin to believe you; That it's as simple as going to the post office once and asking them not to deliver ads to your address, and you stop getting ads there.
And if this is true, it just means a different couple of traits were creating America's ad mail problem. Ignorance and laziness.
Lmao traits that as we all know have never been ascribed to the american public, or the human species in general.
(Unrelated but dude, an entreaty: If this is bait it's pretty weak. And even if it's not you might want to try taking a break from the internet, it's making you act like a stooge.)
((Seriously you're not going to get me to argue that the US isn't fundementally broken. I just want the ways it's broken to be accurately recorded, is all))
Same in Estonia, I check my mailbox maybe 2-3 times per year, and that is just because I have nothing else to do while waiting for the lift to come. Also, now I want a cheesecake.
Yeah, cheesecake would be nice. Anyways, the problem here in Germany is that letters are still used for most things that are in any way official, we still don't have that whole e-government thing you got over there.
In eastern ruzzia, they already knew the mail was coming and there was a big time payment due. They knew this for months 🤣 and that brings the pleasure. Oh by the way, if you guys like Moscow, you gotta a few months before it gets a much different look and a new name 😁. It's okay 🆗, they know.
I'd love that. My current routine is to just toss the ads and whatnot in the recycling bin on my way in. I look at it just long enough to determine whether it's important, I don't even look at what their deals are.
I don't know know if you're in the US, but the junk mail senders here have been making their ads look like official mail.
I had one the other day that said IMPORTANT stamped across an otherwise nondescript, but official looking enevelope. So opened it just in case. It was an ad for some douchbag company stating that it wanted to buy our house for cash.
I always worry that one day I'm gonna toss a piece of mail that I actually needed because of this bullshit.
I got that same exact mail as well. lol. I hate that when you buy a house, your information is basically exposed for all these 3rd parties and scummy companies to spam you with mail that’s made to look official and urgent.
Yup, am in the Us and have that issue. I generally hold my "important" mail up to the sun while walking back in, and can usually spot an ad within seconds. I have learned to recognize a few return addresses, so I know where the junk in my area tends to come from, as well as the official stuff from my banks and whatnot.
Sadly too many asshats ignore the stickers. I could now sue the shitty "free" newspaper ad delivery device, but that's somehow more work and money than I'm willing to invest.
Once again, European consumer protection laws make Americans look incredibly dumb. It's almost like we haven't updated our postal service since it's inception...
Canada too. My wife was a letter carrier for a few years, she would make a note of non-admail boxes if someone put a notification on the box or sent in a form to opt-out, and put a red sticker on their sort slot at the depot. Then when she delivered it would only be addressed mail that went to that box.