[Spontaneo]

Do you ever receive return address labels in the mail from charities? If so, do you use such labels? Also, do you give a donation for such labels?

[OldGuy]

I've received them dozens of times over the years. I saved to use the ones that were accurate and used them all the time back when I used to write checks to pay bills. Thing is, they came so often I gradually had a pile about an inch and a half thick. I didn't even realize I had so many until I finally got my last monthly bill set up on autopay and no longer mailed anything. I finally tossed a couple thousand unused labels and no longer save them at all.

In fact I sort of forgot about them until seeing this topic. I have not even received any since I moved to this new address 15 years ago. I intentionally did not file any change of address forms when I moved to shake off the junk mail. I just notified those I wanted to have my new address. I've used that little trick several times over the years to get rid of junk mail.

I never paid attention to the charity that sent them and never gave them any donations. Never mailed anything other than bill payments over the last 40 years or more and did not really even need them. It just saved a little writing on the mailing envelopes for those bills.

[Spontaneo]

There is a charity that I feel strongly about and like to use their return address labels. I do not give the charity money but figure that I am doing my part. Do you realize how many people see that piece of mail?

[OldGuy]

We must be talking about something very different. I was talking about the pages of preprinted return address labels that charities send out to solicit funds. As the recipient, I can use one label at a time instead of writing in my return address when I send out a letter.

The ones I have been receiving have no reference at all to the charity that provided them. They get nothing at all out of the ones I used. It does not matter who sees them in the mailing process. The only way they make money from them is from those who choose to send them a donation. The labels are only giving you a token something in return for your donations. If you want to support them, you have to return a donation. Anything less is non support.

So what are you talking about that benefits the charity from using labels they send to you in their solicitations?

[Jem Smith]

I have sometimes used those, since I send a lot of mail and they come in handy. I don't give money to the charity though, since I didn't actually ask for the labels, and as you say, Spontaneo, this does help their name to be seen.

--- 26 Dec 2024, 14:02 ---

We must be talking about something very different. I was talking about the pages of preprinted return address labels that charities send out to solicit funds. As the recipient, I can use one label at a time instead of writing in my return address when I send out a letter.

The ones I have been receiving have no reference at all to the charity that provided them. They get nothing at all out of the ones I used. It does not matter who sees them in the mailing process. The only way they make money from them is from those who choose to send them a donation. The labels are only giving you a token something in return for your donations. If you want to support them, you have to return a donation. Anything less is non support.

So what are you talking about that benefits the charity from using labels they send to you in their solicitations?

I've seen ones that have both your address (the person they sent the labels to) and also the name and/or logo of the charity.

[Spontaneo]

Yes, I have seen to and from labels, but can only find them at supermarkets in the stationary aisle and at the Post Office. These have no emblems unless you print them out yourself.

As for charity labels, I simply use charity labels though to get people aware and interested in the cause. Not necessarily to give money,