First, all of the brand name PCs that I've seen advertised include not only some flavor of Win32, but also include Office and a whole host of other applications that we supposedly want on our PCs. If we're going to get a refund for the software that we don't use, we might as well get a refund for all of the software and not just the OS.
Second, I worked as a support Bob [1] for one of MS's outsourcers. I took calls on DOS and Win95. One of the things that was stressed in our training was that if the customer was not satisfied with the product even after using it then it could be returned for a refund. I even used that on a couple of calls, but (sadly) don't remember the address (nor can I find where it was written down) for dissatisfied customers.
[1] Search on DejaNews[2] for the alt.tech-support.recovery FAQ to get an explanation of what a Bob is. [2] You should know where to go by now...
Do the same with paper spam too. Remove anything with your name on it and stuff the junk mail into the postage-free "Business Reply" envelope and send their junk back to 'em! If enough people do this (this costs them postal fees), they'll start mailing out less spam.
Actually, this is very close to what we do at our house:
Open spam snail mail and look for Business Reply Envelope (BRE) and the Acceptance/Order Form (AOF).
Stuff BRE with all of the spam (including the outer envelope that it arrived in) except the AOF.
Use an indelible marker (preferably black) to scribble out the part that says "Yes!..." and anything else except your name and address which should be preprinted on it (note that it will usually include some kind of account number).
Write "please remove me from your mailing list" in plain block letters next to your address.
Put AOF in BRE, seal the BRE and mail it.
Some snail spammers are wising up and only including postcards for Business Reply Mail. Doing the scribble & return thing on these usually works, tho.
I used to work at a mailbox rental site (not one of the big chain places, tho). The USPS will not return anything sent Bulk Rate (if the postmark says "BULKRT" or anything like that).
I seem to remember somewhere seeing that if you request such removal in writing, the sender is obligated by law to do so, but don't remember where I saw it...
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First, all of the brand name PCs that I've seen advertised include not only some flavor of Win32, but also include Office and a whole host of other applications that we supposedly want on our PCs. If we're going to get a refund for the software that we don't use, we might as well get a refund for all of the software and not just the OS.
Second, I worked as a support Bob [1] for one of MS's outsourcers. I took calls on DOS and Win95. One of the things that was stressed in our training was that if the customer was not satisfied with the product even after using it then it could be returned for a refund. I even used that on a couple of calls, but (sadly) don't remember the address (nor can I find where it was written down) for dissatisfied customers.
[1] Search on DejaNews[2] for the alt.tech-support.recovery FAQ to get an explanation of what a Bob is.
[2] You should know where to go by now...
- Open spam snail mail and look for Business Reply Envelope (BRE) and the Acceptance/Order Form (AOF).
- Stuff BRE with all of the spam (including the outer envelope that it arrived in) except the AOF.
- Use an indelible marker (preferably black) to scribble out the part that says "Yes!
..." and anything else except your name and address which should be preprinted on it (note that it will usually include some kind of account number). - Write "please remove me from your mailing list" in plain block letters next to your address.
- Put AOF in BRE, seal the BRE and mail it.
Some snail spammers are wising up and only including postcards for Business Reply Mail. Doing the scribble & return thing on these usually works, tho.I used to work at a mailbox rental site (not one of the big chain places, tho). The USPS will not return anything sent Bulk Rate (if the postmark says "BULKRT" or anything like that).
I seem to remember somewhere seeing that if you request such removal in writing, the sender is obligated by law to do so, but don't remember where I saw it...