I don’t like getting catalogs, even if I like the business. I don’t really read them too often, though I used to. Here is a form email I use to request removal from their catalog mailing list.
Subject: Please remove my address from your catalog mailing list
I would like to be removed from the postal mail list.
I am happy with your service, but do not read paper catalogs.
Address is:
John Lastname
1234 Somestreet Dr.
Somecity, CA 90909
Customer number 02463466
That’s it.
Typically, I just tear off the back page, which has my address, and the customer number, and also shows the company’s website URL. The rest of the catalog goes into the recycling bin.
It takes a few minutes, but this email works.
Getting off a catalog mailing list is decluttering. It doesn’t come into your home, so it doesn’t add to the clutter.
I know there are some sites that are registries where you can control the process centrally, but I find it’s easier to deal with the problem as it arrives in the mail.
The cheapest way to send a book in the United States is USPS Media Mail. Media mail is a special, low-cost postal rate, that was created to foster the exchange of information.
Imagine the typical bookbuying scenario online. You buy a book, and pay the vendor, and they mail it to you. Simple.
With book giveaways, it can be a little different. Everyone likes free stuff, but, if you want to mail order free stuff, you have to send postage money.
However, suppose you don’t trust the sender with your money. One way around this is to buy the label yourself, and then send the label, via email, to the sender.
When the sender puts the package into the mail, it’ll get scanned, and you can track its delivery.
This also removes one transaction, and related transaction fees, from the deal. Normal PayPal fees are 30 cents plus 3%. That can be over 10% of the cost of postage.
If the package is never put in the mail, you can void the label, and in a few weeks, you’ll get a refund.
What about for non-free, book buying?
Well, it depends on how cheap the books are. If you’re buying dollar books, you might as well email labels. It saves the sender some time.
You can pay the book price via Venmo or other no-fee money transfer service.
I just sold all my pants for $40! It’s so exciting. I spent a lot more on them but since I lost 50 pounds, I’m really not going to fit in them anymore, unless I gain the weight back.
So, away they went. I posted the ad below to Craigslist and Facebook, and ended up reposting it at least three times before I got any interest:
I have lost some weight, and need to downsize my pants.
I would like to trade for similar, in black, dark blue,
or dark brown, or jeans, with a waist size of 38 or 36,
and a length of 29 or 30.
I would like to trade 1 used pair for 1 used pair,
or 1 new pair for 3 used pairs.
I have:
NEW Docker Signature Khaki in Black, 40 x 29
NEW Docker Comfort Khaki in Black, 40 x 32
Basic Editions dark blue khakis, 40x30
Original Khaki Company tan khakis, 42x30
Rustler blue jeans, 40x30
Ralph Lauren Chaps white shorts, 42
Docker shorts white, 40
Lands End yellow swim trunks, 42
Brown cargo shorts (some bleach spots) 40
Basic Editions Black Pants 40
Dockers Black Pants 40
I think the key here is to list the sizes. Since they’re all the same size, and there are a couple new ones, the buyer doesn’t need to look through the inventory too much. Also, at $40 he breaks even on the first two pants.
Being “plus size” and short (5’7″ with 30in inseam), it’s hard to find this size, 40×30. you can go to the store and find only one pair of pants. It’s annoying.
Being able to buy a whole stack of pants for a low price is a real convenience for everyone.
The buyer even drove up from far away to get them. I could not be happier. I got back some money I had in the pants, cleared out some space – over 1 cubic foot – and didn’t need to drive anywhere to do it.
I was hoping to get 38×30 pants, but got no offers, so I ended up hitting up the Goodwill to replace pants. I pulled out around a dozen, and after inspecting them, bought six.
They were basic replacements.
The only highlight was a pair of gray corduroy pants. You can’t really find cords too easily nowadays.
If I could just pay $30 and get a stack of pants in the right size, I’d do it.
I wonder if I’ll need to do this if I make it to a 36 inch waist.
Adjusting Old Pants
I have one pair of shorts I really like, and decided to fix them up. These pants look like hell, but I just really like them.
The hack is to use elastic to tighten up the waistband.
With these shorts, I could use a 3″ strip of elastic, and have it pull 4″ of fabric, reducing the waist size. Using two of these, I turned 40s into 38s.
I also fixed up the long johns. For that, I used an entire loop of elastic, and sewed it into the underwear. I tacked them down in four spots, and it worked. More is probably better.
