JUNK MAIL IN MELBOURNE

We have quite a problem in Melbourne with junk mail. Many houses, like the one pictured here in our suburb have very visible signs that attempt to prevent the delivery of such unsolicited advertising material.

The Distribution Standards Board (DSB) is the self-regulatory arm of the Australian Catalogue Association, which represents about 90 per cent of all unaddressed advertising catalogues. Their Code of Practice requires that ‘no junk mail’ stickers are respected.
People can report irresponsible distribution practices by calling the DSB Consumer Hotline on 1800 676 136. The Board can follow up the complaint with relevant members.

However, a lot of the unwanted junk mail we receive falls into that 10 per cent of materials coming from non-members, who are typically local pizza joints, estate agents and other local businesses. If this is a problem for you, you should contact the business directly and politely inform them that your sticker has been ignored. They will follow this up with their distributors accordingly. Most of the businesses that distribute advertising mail are happy to abide by people’s wishes to avoid junk mail. The last thing they want to do with potential customers is rub them up the wrong way.

For more information visit www.catalogue.asn.au. The DSB offers their own standard No Advertising Material sticker for free if you send a stamped self-addressed envelope to DSB Sticker, PO Box 7735 St Kilda Road Melbourne VIC 8004.

This post is part of the Signs, Signs meme.