In this part of the world, you’ll notice that many people’s mailboxes sport stickers that say things like “no advertisements, please”. That’s all it takes to avoid a box full of Werbung (ads and leaflets). Mass mailings from political parties and charities still come through, but nothing else. Less junk, save a few trees… who wouldn’t want that? In fact, almost everyone seems to take advantage of this easy way to opt out of junk mail.
The other day we received a piece of mail from Swiss Post itself. The envelope contained a sheet of mailbox stickers (in a variety of convenient sizes) which all say “Werbung? O.K.!” The accompanying letter was an impassioned plea for the implementation of the stickers on our mailbox, containing lines such as “maybe you’ve changed your mind about receiving Werbung” and “perhaps it wasn’t even you who made the decision to halt the Werbung flow, and you just inherited your ‘no ads’ sticker from the previous occupant” (in fact, this is true in our case). The letter attempted to make Werbung sound like something you were missing out on, something that would make your life fuller, more complete. It made me laugh. Hard.
I’m dying to know if anyone actually placed the “Junk mail for me, please!” stickers on their mailbox after receiving this letter from the Swiss Post. I’m also tempted to stick them on other people’s mailboxes, or perhaps even on our mailbox, right before we move out.
I firmly believe my Kein Werbung sticker is preventing me from receiving my precious IKEA catalog.
NHS – I’d be happy to send you some “Werbung? O.K.!” stickers…
Here in Albania most people (including me) don’t have an address AT ALL- let alone a mailbox. As far as I can see there is no mail, not even JUNK. I can’t believe I’d “die for” a few store flyers right now- but it’s true!
(Anything I really need gets delivered to hubby’s office).
I used to work for the post office for a summerjob as a student. Carrying the Werbung out is even a bigger pain than receiving it. Those things can be really heavy and nobody liked getting them anyway.
Oooh, they should definitely do that here! My California mail box is filled every day with dozens and dozens of leaflets and junk mail! 🙁
I leave the junk there in the mailbox hoping it will disappear…
naechstehaltestelle – FYI…I noticed a stack of IKEA catalogs free for the taking at my local post office here in Binningen. Maybe your post office has them too.
jul – We are siblings in mischief; my first thought was that I would put stickers on other peoples’ mailboxes. As it is, whenever I want to get rid of some stupid thing that’s taking up space in my junk drawer, I just walk down the street and stick it in some random mailbox when I think nobody is looking. The best thing ever: a soft, fuzzy, happy-face beer stein that yodeled and the burped when it was squeezed. The stinkin’ thing drove me crazy.
Just found your blog and I guess I’m looking forward to reading previous posts and keeping up-to-date with current ones – I am a Scot moving to Zurich in the New Year and can’t wait ;0)
India
THanks for dropping by my blog :0) I have heard that Swiss German is very different, but I want to be able to read/write German so I’m going to give it a go – might take my mind off what seems an interminable wait…
India
Our mailcarrier is a woman: Frau Postmanin?
To Nächstehaltstelle: As someone else said, check your local post office, they probably do have a stack. I’ve also seen stickers that say something like no ads except for the Ikea catalog (probably supplied by Ikea).
I’m back to say that I’m going to link to this post in my next post — hope that’s alright.
Z in Villigen
Sure, Z, link away! 🙂
Trav One – That lack of address thing definitely sounds a tad troublesome. Good thing you have an alternative place for receiving mail!
TBF – that fuzzy talking beer stein sounds like it could cause nightmares.
Z brought me here.
A postman in the UK was sacked last year for handing out leaflets to his customers that told them how to avoid receiving junk mail!
Sometimes when I see the people who deliver advertising flyers coming up the drive I’ll go to the door to meet them. I take the junk off them and put it straight into the paper-recycling bin. Some of them just shrug but some look aghast at my action.
I too was brought here from z’s blog.. I live in Zurich, just outside, but haven’t received any such pleas yet. I have to say coming from the UK originally I love the absence of junk in my mailbox. I can understand the captains of industry disagreeing, but it’s a curious development from Swisspost. I can’t recall ever seeing a mailbox that DOESN’T have “Keine Werbung” stickers, so the post must get fed up carrying a load of junk out and then carrying it all back again