Catalog Choice's free MailStop Mobile app

Use your iPhone or iPad to take photos of junk mail you want to eliminate, and Catalog Choice will do the rest of the work for you.

Thu, Dec 08 2011 at 11:41 AM

Related Topics:

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, iPhone, Waste, Technology

I’ve written about how useful I find Catalog Choice several times in the past. The website allows you to opt out of various types of junk mail. You input the information on your mailing label, and Catalog Choice does the work of contacting the company and telling them you want to opt out of receiving their mailings.

The company has just released its first app for the iPad and iPhone called MailStop Mobile. Downloading the app is free and it includes the first five opt-outs for free. After that, you can make in-app purchases to buy more opt-outs priced at $1.99 for five, $6.99 for 20 or $14.99 for 50.

The MailStop Mobile app works in sync with a free online Catalog Choice account (which you must sign up for before the app is usable). It is used to opt-out of all types of direct mail including catalogs, credit card offers, donation requests and coupons.

On Catalog Choice’s website, there is no additional charge for opting out of unwanted junk mail after your first five, but there are some reasons that paying to do it through the app might make sense for you:

It’s quicker. Taking a photo of the mailing label is quicker than entering the information from each catalog or junk mail. If time really does equal money for you, this might be a good way to go.
MailStop isn’t just for mail that comes to private residences. It can be used for junk mail that comes to an office, too. Whoever handles the mail could quickly stop unwanted junk mail, decrease the amount of mail that comes into the office that needs to be waded through daily, and lessen the amount of office waste quickly with the app. It could even be considered a business expense.
You can help friends and relatives who don't have a computer get rid of unwanted junk mail. My mom doesn’t have a computer in her house. She’ll never have a computer in her house. I could easily set up a Catalog Choice account for her, and when I’m at her house, quickly snap photos of junk mail she doesn’t want so she can opt out of it.

If using the Catalog Choice website to eliminate your junk mail works for you, then by all means, keeping using the online version. But, if the ease of the mobile app appeals to you, check it out. You’ve got nothing to lose. Downloading the app is free and so are your first five opt-outs.

A version of the MailStop Mobile app will be available for Android devices in 2012.

The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.

Previous Post
Upper body noodle-soup burns send children to hospital daily

Next Post
Cash is better than cans at food banks