DEAD LETTER OFFICE
My grandmother had her own (unique) solution to unwanted solicitations (Loose Cannon, June 1). After my grandfather died, she received numerous letters, phone calls, etc. from marketers and professional organizations that persisted in trying to sell him goods and services.
Finally, she started telling them that he was no longer at that address, and asked if they would like his new residence. When they said yes, she gave them the name of the cemetery and the plot number.
The calls and letters stopped.
Although, he did get a parking ticket about a year after he died (a very remarkable man, my grandfather).
Jodi Kaplan
Principal
KaplanCopy
New York
Good column on what responsible marketers should do about removing a deceased name from their list. Direct might want to refer readers to the DMA’s ethical guidelines. On the very first page there are 10 principles on ethical direct marketing.
Richard Levey made some great points!
Don Hinman
The Allant Group
Naperville, IL
Network
