I sent in my requests for removal from the distribution list, and waited patiently for the 6-8 weeks to pass until the changes took effect. The ads eventually stopped.

And then they started up again…but this time, without the address card. The address cards specifically state: "Postal Service Regulations require that address card be delivered together with its accompanying postage paid mail. If you should receive this card without its accompanying mail, please notify your local postmaster."

Now, reading that, my understanding is that if there is no card, you don’t get the "accompanying mail". I first left a note in my box for my postal carrier, explaining the situation and asking to please not receive these fliers. The junk mail continued.

Finally, I called the USPS and tried to figure out which number to call to complain. After much explaining that I’m not receiving the cards anymore, so I must have been removed from the list, I was given my Carrier Office number. Again it took me quite a while to explain to the woman what I was requesting, and she assured me I would no longer receive these fliers.

They certainly don’t make it easy. Did anyone else try to remove themselves from the junk mail distribution? How did it go? If you would like instructions on how to remove yourself from these mailings, visit our previous post: Get Greener, Miami! Stop Junk Mail!

Here’s our idea, please feel free to run with it!

Related to the Stop Junk Mail post, sometimes store ads are useful, because they tell us about special offers, give us coupons, and can sometime really save us money. But that doesn’t mean that I want my mailbox full of ads every week. Nor does it mean that I want to see those ads on paper. But I would like a way to review weekly specials at my local stores – electronically.

Currently many stores offer a way to view their weekly circular online. Best Buy is getting good, (click on Weekly Ad in the upper-left corner), as I"m sure are other stores. But you have to go into each site and input your zip code. Then you have to take time to scroll through something that looks like it was made for paper and then just plopped up on the internet without thinking about different formatting.

Local e-Ads would be a web service that individuals could subscribe to. The service would put together all of the weekly ads that apply to that zip code – all in one place, in an easy to access manner. Free to the consumer, the companies pay for the service (hopefully!). It can be customizable to see only ads that the consumer wants to see.

Each time a group of fliers arrives in your mailbox, it is accompanied by a little card addressed to "Resident" (shown below). By looking at the details on these cards and contacting those companies, you can request to be removed from the distribution. The tips below are geared towards Miamians, but are useful anyone annoyed with junk mail.

There are 2 main companies in Miami that send out these weekly ads: ADVO (ShopWise) and The Flyer. They work under an "opt-out" system, so if you request to be removed from your list, they will do so. Here is how to do it.

Request removal from ADVO mailings (typically has a "Have you seen us?" photo):

Visit ADVO Consumer Support. Complete form, checking to make sure that you check "Remove from list" in Type of Request. In a week or so, you should receive a confirmation postcard that confirms your request. Removal takes 6-8 weeks, and lasts 5 years. At the end of 5 years, you’ll need to request removal again.

Request removal from The Flyer mailings:

This one is a little more manual.

Option 1: Send the card that arrives with The Flyer (shown above – white card) to the address below (also listed as the return address). Write on the card that you wish to be removed and sign it. Send it to (for Miami-Dade only): 11900 SW 128th St., Miami, FL 33186.

Option 2: Call The Flyer nearest you, Miami-Dade: (305) 232-4115, and try to find someone that can transfer you to the right person to remove you from the mailing list.

Results also take 6-8 weeks.