What do YOU do??? - A POLL

What do you do, or think is right to do, when you receive unsolicited products in the mail, and the sender is asking for a donation for this product? What comes to mind, since I received some today, is return address labels printed with your name and address. I used to get these all the time from different charities such as VFW, Humane Society, Arthritis Foundation, etc, etc, etc, and then they stopped for a good while. Today I received another batch from the Arthritis Foundation.

I didn't ask for them, so I feel no responsibility to send any donation for them. Will I use them?? - sure - why not? Is this wrong on my part?? - I don't think so. What do you think - and why?

When I receive these items I use them. I do not feel the need to send a donation as I did not ask for them.
I pick and choose what charities I donate to.

I use these items occasionally, or - if it's something I don't like - throw them away. When I still had more money, I occasionally made donations to charities that are important to me, but not to all. I simply can't do that.

I have used the return address labels in the last, cards I generally have recycled unused. They are making a gamble sending stuff out HOPING you will feel guilty and send something. But as it is completely unsolicited, you never asked them to send you anything, you are not responsible, and should feel no guilt.

Since most address labels sent unsolicited to me have the wrong last name........ I throw them away. I don't need to be made to feel guilted in to donating to a cause.

I just received today in the mail, address labels from the HSUS, also a key chain and a new card. I haven't sent money to them in a few years, just can't afford it. I do use the labels tho and throw the key chain in a drawer with the rest of them.

I wish these people would stop sending stuff out, save the money you spend sending this stuff out and feed the animals instead.

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Originally Posted by redbird

I wish these people would stop sending stuff out, save the money you spend sending this stuff out and feed the animals instead.

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AMEN!!!!!

And it's so nice to see all of these PT'ers in agreement. Woo-hoo!!! - miracles will never cease. I was hoping I wasn't the only one who thought this way. :)

I'm with Redbird. I don't need another batch of address labels. I'd rather you use that money on the cause itself. I donated to the American Diabetes Association so now I get other health-related solicitations - they must exchange mailing lists. The American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and on and on.

I've got enough unsolicited address labels to last me three lifetimes. Years ago when the address labels first started, I sent a donation. However, it seems that every other charity or whatever must have found out that I contributed because then they all started sending address labels. Now I do not send any of them any money. No, I do not feel guilty about keeping the labels and using some of them.

Back in the days before bichons, I did often donate once a year to certain groups. That all ended 6 years ago, but I still receive the address labels, along with the request for a donation.

Ellie, you likely got one of those labels on your Christmas card from me! :D

I have not had to buy address labels in years!

yep even down under i get them from WSPA and another i cannot remember right now, they are really nice too, i do feel a bit guilty not donating, but i do donate if it is a cause i believe in and one on my list, i too donate to certain charitys when and if i am able, but i am also in total agreement with everyone here, if they are there then use then, i used to get xmas cards sent to me by the hand foot and mouth people, i never asked for them, not could i afford them or want them, but i always sent them back return to sender and please do not send to me, they did it a couple of more times ,but seem to have stopped now, does seem rather silly wasting their time like that.

It seems that everyone is pretty much in agreement, but I can't help but wonder who voted for "none of the above" and why. Maybe it's that they don't receive anything unsolicited in the mail??? - tho that's hard to believe.

When I was still working, one of my co-workers was absolutely horrified that I would actually use a product sent to me without me requesting it, and told me that I was stealing, and that if I didn't send the requested donation, then I should "return to sender". She really did need to get a life..........:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by pomtzu

It seems that everyone is pretty much in agreement, but I can't help but wonder who voted for "none of the above" and why. Maybe it's that they don't receive anything unsolicited in the mail??? - tho that's hard to believe.

When I was still working, one of my co-workers was absolutely horrified that I would actually use a product sent to me without me requesting it, and told me that I was stealing, and that if I didn't send the requested donation, then I should "return to sender". She really did need to get a life..........:rolleyes:

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The thing is, if they have your name and address on them, what good will it do to return them? No one else can use them and you are out for postage? I'm with everyone else on this one. :love:

I cannot see the poll on my tablet, so I'll vote later. But I receive the address labels from ARF all the time asking for donations. My thought on that is they get my time, instead of my money, almost every weekend. I definitely use the labels. I was receiving labels from SPCA for a while and I used those as well. Like someone said........nobody else can use them so why return them?

Anything sent unsolicited through the mail is considered a gift, if I remember correctly. I used to send bux, too, but I thought they were starting to take advantage. Also, I wasn't involved in a local rescue yet. Now that I am, they get the lion's share of donations since I know exactly where the money is going.

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Originally Posted by redbird

I wish these people would stop sending stuff out, save the money you spend sending this stuff out and feed the animals instead.

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I agree! And, these people prey on the elderly. My mother gets so many of these it is ridiculous. They get about 25 calendars or more every year at the beginning of the year asking for donations. And, my mother is a sucker for this. She sends money to some of them. If they send her a nickle or a dime she sends it back!

I use the labels if I can. The U.S. Post Office says if you receive something you didn't order, you do not have to send it back.

So many people get ripped off every year by these so called charities. I do not trust any of them.

I just keep it. The only thing I ever really get is address labels though. I don't donate to larger organizations anymore - I feel too much is sent on advertising and sending out crap like that, not where it really needs to go. I donate to local rescue groups only. I donate a portion of my pet portrait profits to the local arctic breed rescue and the store I work at raises money each year for several foundations that I donate to. I really only donate to pet related things that's probably bad but it's the truth.

I get so much stuff that I would go broke sending donations to all . I think once you make a few donations your name might be given to other organizations in the hope you will donate to them also...just can't do it.I donate to only one organization because I do know where the money goes but most of the time I never get anything from them asking for a donation, I'm so used to making out a cheque every January that it's become a habit.
When I get something that is useful I use it but don't send a donation-- if it's something that will collect dust I throw it out. Nothing to feel guilty about since I didn't ask for anything.

I just got some today in the mail from the stroke foundation.

My mom throws them away, but hey, if they want to take the time to send me free stuff, why not use it?