[DeanFL]

How would the USPS survive financially if it wasn't for these mailings? As most of us no doubt, about 3/4 of the stuff in our box is 'junk mail'. You name it, they send it. If 'they' get one bite from 250, and able to close and get $$$, it pays for the 249 that end up in the trash.

I especially hate those huge cardboardy 12"x15" shiny mailings from the car dealers - some include a key that "could fit" a brand new car - stop in and try!!!! I won't bore you with the rest of the junk we all get. My gripe is that most of it has our names and address, so don't simply pitch it right at the postal depot - have to sort thru at home for that one piece of REAL mail. And recycle the rest after tearing off our info... And, yes there are the times when one envelope appears so authentic and urgent and important, that I open....and....yep, JUNK.

And don't get me started on marketing junk phone calls. Thankfully, able to screen those easily. But still - irritating. I decided to 'sponsor' a Central American child starting years ago with credible agency - Child Fund. Makes me feel good that one kid is -hopefully- is helped a bit with some $$ I can easily afford. However I get the usual mailing each month or so asking for more $$$. But, for the last month or so, almost every afternoon we get a phone call from "ChildFund" - goes unanswered and no voicemail. I'm certain they want to ask for $$$. Do not want to answer as that would confirm our #. I plan to write to them and threaten to quit if this wasteful marketing doesn't halt. Probably won't matter - it's the 250 to 1 hit rate thing...