Does putting a sign that reads “no junk mail” on your letterbox or postbox actually stop junk mail being delivered? Lenny Andrews, Liverpool Lenny Andrews, Liverpool
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Readers reply
Here in France, a “no junk mail” sign on the post box means you get just that. Simple. Jen B
I work as a postie. We have to deliver all the direct mail or we get into trouble. Customers can officially “opt out” of receiving direct mail and only then do we not deliver. So contact Royal Mail and opt out if it really annoys you. However, I think due to the fall in volumes, the money received from the direct mail is desperately needed by the business to keep Royal Mail going. Virginia B
I’m a postie. No, it doesn’t. You can opt out of Royal Mail “door to doors”, but that will include all of them, including some things you may want, for example government communications or election flyers. By “using” the Royal Mail postal service, you basically agree to accept the ads that they post through your door, unless you actively sign out. Don’t shoot the messenger: we don’t want to be carrying all this rubbish around and we don’t want it through our doors, either. Modern life is in many ways wonderful and in many ways not. Avxule
I delivered magazines for a while. I was told by the boss that the magazines were not junk and people would probably like to receive them. I judged depending on how many magazines I had that month and on how aggressive the signs were. I don’t mind receiving the occasional fast food advert, but I am very offended by anything that starts “dear homeowner”, as I am a renter with no realistic prospect of homeownership. Ricarix
Let’s differentiate between mail delivered by Royal Mail and targeted advertising delivered by private companies. Royal Mail is obliged to deliver all mail, so a “no junk mail” sticker won’t stop it. While we’re at it, let’s stop calling it junk mail. It’s a thriving little business that creates work for printers, for smaller businesses that wish to alert local populations of their services and for those businesses that provide the delivery service, and creates a useful way for people like me to make a bit of easy money by being being paid to go for a walk while catching up on whatever nuggets Radio 4 might have slipped out in the last week or so.
If I see a “no junk mail” sticker, you won’t get whatever leaflets I’m delivering today. If you think you’re special enough to have no desire at all to be informed of local businesses’ services, that’s your prerogative and I really don’t care enough to insist that you have the four leaflets that are already neatly grouped, ready to slip through your letterbox. Do us all a favour, though, and put your precious sticker at the entrance to your property, not hidden from sight until I’ve negotiated a gate, a long path to your door and eventually found your letterbox.
Oh, also, if your letterbox is placed at ground level, you’ll also be less likely to receive targeted advertising from me. Bending down that far at my age with a heavy bag swinging over my shoulder isn’t easy, so depending on where I am in the walk you may miss out. As a bonus, your postman probably hates you for the same reason. Did you know building regs now require them to be at a minimum height? Anonymous
Since putting a “no junk” notice on my door, there has been a big change – I am now getting more of the stuff! Douglas
I got what looked like a handwritten piece of mail from a company who were clearing my neighbours gutters/in the area anyway/doing driveway maintenance/running a promotional discount on double-glazing. Had I barred junk mail, I would have denied myself the chance to get a great discounted job on my driveway, windows and guttering. Anyway, I’m just off to pay for my daughter’s shopping – more seeming junk mail, but actually she’d lost her phone and purse; she was telling me her new number and bank account so she could borrow some cash … StevenageDave
