Using Customer Numbers to Opt Out of Catalogs
November 18, 2010
Providing your account or customer number when opting out of catalogs is of high importance – as detailed in the below email responses we received recently for opt-outs from Patagonia.
The address label codes on your catalog contain precise information so the mailer can more easily locate your personal information in their database. The easier you are to find, the easier you are to remove!
Remember, it’s also easy to enter a typo when entering a string of numbers into a database search.
Therefore, most companies and mailers that use customer numbers in their opt-out process will also engage in a manual spot check to ensure they have located the correct customer to add to their “do-not-mail” list.
If you do not provide your exact name and address, therefore, or if you only provide your customer number to opt out of catalogs, the liklihood is that you will not be removed from a postal mailing list.
Our advice is to make sure that you give the catalog companies as much information as you can so they may find you in their database and successfully make your catalog choice.
Actual Patagonia Customer Service Email #1
*****************************
> Hello,
>
> Is there a customer number on the back of the catalog in a blue box? I
> cannot locate the name or address in our database. If there is no
> customer number or it is all zeroes it was a one-time mailing from us.
>
> Have a good day!
> Skye
> Patagonia Customer Service
>
Actual Patagonia Customer Service Email #2
> Hi,
>
> Thank you for your email. Unfortunately we were unable to find you in
> our system and if you have a customer number we can then remove you from
> our list. If you do not have a customer number and it’s all zeros, it
> was a one time mailing from us. You can also go to
> http://www.dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html to have your name
> and address removed from other mailings.
>
> Thank you and have a good day!
>
> Patagonia Customer Service
>
>
Actual Patagonia Customer Service Email #3
> Thank you for your email.
>
> Is there a customer number on the back of the catalog? If so, we need
> that number to remove you from our mailing list. If not, or the number
> is all zeros, it was a one time mailing from us.
>
> All the best!
>
> Patagonia Customer Service
In short, providing a customer number can help a mailer identify you and flag your account for removal, suppression or general opt-out from postal mail marketing lists.
