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revenge on snail mail spammers

some guy did the same thing and they demanded he pay the 37 cent postage... so he put 37 penies in an envelope bumping it up to more expensive postage
 
I'm no fan of junk mail, but let's not call it spam. The junk mailer had to pay to get that information into your mailbox, but spammers can annoy millions of people for free, which is why they do.

Outright fraud attempts don't take place through snail mail for two very important reasons: first, it costs too much; and second, mail fraud is taken seriously.

There's probably a million spams sent for every piece of junk mail. I can't see making an effort to cost a junk mailer money just because it's possible, when we let spammers get off pain-free because there's no way to get back at them.
 
Originally posted by: iwantanewcomputer
some guy did the same thing and they demanded he pay the 37 cent postage... so he put 37 penies in an envelope bumping it up to more expensive postage
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haha brilliant!
 
Originally posted by: kranky
I'm no fan of junk mail, but let's not call it spam. The junk mailer had to pay to get that information into your mailbox, but spammers can annoy millions of people for free, which is why they do.

Outright fraud attempts don't take place through snail mail for two very important reasons: first, it costs too much; and second, mail fraud is taken seriously.

There's probably a million spams sent for every piece of junk mail. I can't see making an effort to cost a junk mailer money just because it's possible, when we let spammers get off pain-free because there's no way to get back at them.
Click to expand...

So we should leave one PITA alone because we can't do anything about another PITA?

Anyway - I do this occasionally with just the envelope, and whatever was in it, but I think I read somewhere that what the article describes doesn't actually work. The envelope is only good for a certain amount of postage.
 
no wonder sometimes the envelopes have those bar codes with numbers in the back, but i notice the bar codes have the same numbers on all junk mail from the same company.
 
I just stuff the envelopes with non-identifying pamphlets and whatnot they sent me, that way I don't have to head to the post office. Sure it doesn't cost them as much, but I don't have to put as much work into it either.
 
I've been doing this for a while now, but not taping the envelopes to boxes. I haven't tried that. No, I usually just stuff the envelopes with all of the sunday paper sales ads such as the underwear sale at JC Penney's, or Walgreens sale on personal hygeine products, etc. Stuff as much paper into the envelopes because the company does pay for it by weight. I also prefer to send the American Express offers to Discover and the Discover offers to CITI bank, etc, etc.
 
I'd try it, but I'm too paranoid that there is some fine print somewhere that meant I was committing some sort of mail fraud (a felony).
It says "Business Reply Mail" on the envelope. Anyone familiar enough with every postal regulation who can say with certainty that this isn't some form of mail fraud, since mailing a tire wouldn't be considered business use by any reasonable person? Otherwise, I have a pile of 15 or so tires to get rid of 🙂
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
I'd try it, but I'm too paranoid that there is some fine print somewhere that meant I was committing some sort of mail fraud (a felony).
It says "Business Reply Mail" on the envelope. Anyone familiar enough with every postal regulation who can say with certainty that this isn't some form of mail fraud, since mailing a tire wouldn't be considered business use by any reasonable person? Otherwise, I have a pile of 15 or so tires to get rid of 🙂
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your just expressing your reply on a different medium then paper.
 
Roommates and I have been stuffing our envelopes full of trash (sometimes nuts and bolts) and sending them back for about 6 months now. Our volume of junk mail seems like it has gone down - don't know if they're catching on, or its just a coincidence.

I may have to try this next time I head to the post office.
 
Originally posted by: sourceninja
Originally posted by: DrPizza
I'd try it, but I'm too paranoid that there is some fine print somewhere that meant I was committing some sort of mail fraud (a felony).
It says "Business Reply Mail" on the envelope. Anyone familiar enough with every postal regulation who can say with certainty that this isn't some form of mail fraud, since mailing a tire wouldn't be considered business use by any reasonable person? Otherwise, I have a pile of 15 or so tires to get rid of 🙂
Click to expand...



your just expressing your reply on a different medium then paper.
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I'm actually more inclined to believe it's illegal than to believe it's legal. Now, if the PO decides to take you to court, do you actually think someone is going to believe that sending a tire with a business reply envelope is actually "business" or do you think that any reasonable jury is going to conclude that you were just trying to get even for the volume of junk mail? Personally, if I were the mailman that had to carry packages needlessly, I'd pursue it.
 
I always send them the empty envelope back with whatever they sent me minus anything with my name. I never thought to tape the envelope to a box filled with bricks or something. hmm.

Might need a link for the official USPS guidelines in case you get trouble at the PO.
 
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