Stop Junk Mail. Be Eco Friendly. Do Good. The GreenDimes Blog

Green Children's Book Free with Green Me!

Special Offer -  Little Critter Children's Book!

Mercer Mayer has written over 300 children's books since 1966.  Somehow, I missed the boat, but everyone here at the office has had fond childhood memories of his stories.  He even has his own website complete with interactive games and video story-times. 

Now, our friends at Harper's Collins have given us a special printing of Mercer Mayer's latest creation from the Little Critter series - Little Critter: My Earth Day Surprise!

Our $36 Green Me pack already comes with our junk-free service, a tee, two efficient light bulbs, and a reusable tote.  As a special bonus, we have added the book to our Green Me! pack free for a limited time.

Front Cover

It's an entertaining positive way for kids to learn about the environment.  No kids, no problem, gift it to a little one.

Enjoy!  -Sanjiv

End the Avalanche of Catalogs

GreenDimes Services: Introducing Our New & Improved Catalog Screener

Yeah, okay, our new Catalog Screener is ridiculous, ridiculously good that is. Here’s how it works. The first time you’re a member, you’ve got to log in to your account and click the ADD NAMES button. Enter in all names and name variations in your household. (yep, we cover your entire household) 

Then, as you receive catalogs and non-profit mailings that you don’t want, click on the CATALOGS AND REQUESTS button, choose the name (mail recipient) who receives it, plug in the catalog, and watch your catalogs disappear.

It’s that simple. And we’ve made it even simpler. As you’re typing in the unwanted catalog, suggested names pop out in a drop-down menu. Now look below.

That’s your report card of catalogs and Its status. 

Its status is either:

NEW: We don’t have that catalog in our database yet, but will open up a new request

PENDING: We’ve automatically requested an opt-out and are awaiting confirmation

COMPLETED: You’re off their catalog list!

ACTION REQUIRED: A handful have made it so complicated, that the catalog requires more info (ahem Victoria Secret)

Pretty cool, huh? Oh and look just to the right of the date requested, that’s right, the first 5 catalogs, we plant 5 trees.

Enjoy your New Catalog Screener!

Sanjiv

Get your Green Resolutions in One Place

Easy Green Resolutions

So what's the top 5 easy green things you can do? 

I resolve to (not in any order):

1. Use reusuabe bags more instead of using plastic. (saves landfill space)

2. Switch to energy-efficient lightbulbs. (saves energy)

3. Get rid of my junk mail. (saves trees)

4. Properly inflate my tires (saves on gas)

5. Manage your thermostat (saves energy)

Now we can't help with 4 and 5, but you can grab 1,2 & 3 all in one spot - our Green Me pack, and we'll throw in a American Apparel Tee.

Enjoy resolving,

-Sanjiv

Some Sleighings Of Unwanted Holiday Catalogs

GreenDimes Services

Marissa Tomei’s Testimonial.  A Testimonials Blog Post? Get It?  Neither Do I.

First off, someone’s gotta tell me why there wasn’t a pic on the web with Santa on trial from Miracle on 34^th St that I could use.  I digress.   Here are some great holiday testimonials from some Great GreenDimers... 

Checking your junk mail list twice,

-Sanjiv

I must say I am so very pleased with your service.  It has been a wonderful holiday season  - because when I return from the mailbox I am not straining my back carrying all the catalogs that seem to reproduce exponentially as Christmas Day gets closer.  Honestly, last year I received anywhere from 5 to 12 catalogs A DAY between October and January.  This year, I think I got a grand TOTAL of about 12.  Awesome job, guys!  Keep it up!

Thanks again,

Kathryn

[Above: wow]

[Below: actual customer font size]

Thank you so much for reducing my holiday mail to almost nothing but the personal stuff!!!

Ellen
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Looking Towards the New Year

Hi, this is Jeff, the product manager for GreenDimes. After being at GreenDimes for almost two months, I thought it would be about time to do my first blog posting. As product manager, I get to work with everyone from our existing and potential members, as well as internal staff including marketing engineering, customer service, and operations in defining how the GreenDimes site works. My goal is to make reducing the amount of junk mail you receive as simple and easy as possible, which isn’t easy given all the roadblocks put up by direct marketers!

Next week, we’ve got some exciting things happening including a new GreenDimes site which will include:

·         A cleaner user interface (and a new logo!) and a streamlined purchase and gift redemption process

·         A new and improved catalog screener making it easier than ever to search and select catalogs and mailers that you’d like to stop receiving

·         In January, members will be receiving their first ever GreenDimes “report card” detailing all the hard work we’ve done for you including what junk mail we’ve stopped and the environmental impact you’ve made as a member

Here are some other exciting things to look forward to in early 2008:

·         A new Refresh Me! Service for those members who have moved or see that they’ve been put back on to the major junk mail lists

·         Easy ways to spread the word about GreenDimes service and planting trees all over the net

·         A community blog that will allow members to voice their thoughts and opinions on causes that they support and would like to see GreenDimes support in the future, thoughts and lessons learned from eliminating junk mail, and feedback about GreenDimes in general

·         Refining our dozen or so activities to maximize your removal from catalogs and direct mail lists

We’re always looking for ways to improve and simplify our service, so please drop me an email if you have any ideas on making GreenDimes better for our members or if you have ideas on little things we all can do that can have a huge impact on the world.

I hope everyone has a great holiday and a prosperous new year!

Jeff

jeff@greendimes.com

Rebate & Switch - Why you should Redeem

GreenDimes Services

We were very excited by the record number of gifts bought from us this year.  Now, we need people to redeem. 

Weird request, right?  Normally, companies do things like offer mail-in rebates knowing full well that only 10-30% redeem (according to PC Data).  You won’t find that at GreenDimes.  Sure the redeemer's membership will costs us, and yes, we are a for-profit company.  But we want to earn our revenue, and start saving people’s time and trees.

Remember, each redemption plants 10 trees and starts saving more trees as we stop their junk mail.  We know, people are busy.  My Barnes & Noble Gift Card is still stuck in the back of the glove compartment…from 2006. 

Your call of course, but I think a friendly e-mail reminder from you in a couple weeks would suffice.

-Sanjiv

How to Fix Your Plastic Bag Woes

Weekly Shameless Promotion Series : The GreenDimes Bag Add-On

Alright, not as shameless as you think.  A GreenDimer wanted details about our bag, so here goes.   (I edited this from our manufacturers Chico-Bag's website)

THE FACTS ABOUT SINGLE-USE BAGS

* If everyone in the United States tied their annual consumption of plastic bags together in a giant chain, the chain would reach around the Earth not once, but 760 times!

* According to the American Forest and Paper Association, the U.S. alone uses 10 billion paper grocery bags, requiring 14 million trees to be cut down.

* Plastic bags don’t biodegrade, they photo-degrade—breaking down into small toxic bits contaminating soil and waterways and entering the food-chain when mistaken for zooplankton or jellyfish.

THE FACTS ABOUT THE REUSABLE GREENDIMES CHICO-BAG

Design: Designed to be unforgettable! Fits in a pocket or purse! Carabineer for your belt loop.

Material: Made of strong and durable woven nylon.

Pouch Size: Integrated Pouch measures approximately 3” by 4”.

Bag Size: The ChicoBag measures approximately 18” by 18” when un-stuffed.

Weight & Capacity: 1.5 oz, 20 Pound Capacity.

Washing: Machine washable cold, hang to dry.

Manufacturing:  ChicoBags are manufactured by a fair labor, fair wage manufacturing company in China. This allows us to make adopting a reusable bag habit affordable for the majority. Through our interactions and friendships, we believe that we are making a positive environmental and social impact in Asia.

Warranty: Each ChicoBag comes with a one year warranty from the date of purchase.

Recycling: ChicoBag has a recycling program for expired ChicoBags so you can feel good about supporting us. Expired ChicoBags will be repurposed into door mats, dog beds and prayer flags.

Reviews: 

"The ChicoBags have sold so much better than our canvas bags" -Draeger’s Supermarket

"ChicoBags are the perfect way to cut down on the wasteful use of paper and plastic. What makes them better than many other bags is their compact nature. Now, there’s no longer any excuse for not having a bag with you!"    - Ed Begley Jr., Actor and Activist

**Well, there you have it.  If Ed Begley Jr likes them, who are we to say no.  -Sanjiv

Give the Gift of GreenDimes

GreenDimes Weekly Shameless Promotion Series

Whoa, the holiday season is here!  GreenDimes gifts are flying off the shelves (if we had shelves.)  Our orders have increased a bunch fold.  Here's why you should consider GreenDimes.

It makes a great Stocking Stuffer.

It makes a great Hanukkah gift.

It makes a great Kwanzaa gift.

It's a great gift for your activist friend.

It's a great gift for an activist friend to give.

It's great for Grandma.

It's great for Ma.

It's great to warm up your inlaws.

I think I can, Sam I am.

Okay, you get the pictures.  You can print out a beautiful PDF certificate.

Hurry while supplies last (okay supplies never run out, but oh the pressure of thinking supplies will run out.)

One more - Give your mail carrier the gift of carrying less junk mail and a less achy back

-Sanjiv

MySpace Our Planet Channel

I finally got a chance to check out our partner MySpace’s Our Planet in more detail. This is MySpace’s environmental channel that garners 300,000 page views (go double that.) It has very cool features, here’s the rundown.

GREEN VIDEOS

The featured video shows clips from the MySpace debate recently held. Find out your political candidate take on the environment. If you dig a little further, MySpace features clips from the 11^th hour, and What’s Floating In the Water. Easily the best part of the channel.

GREEN TIPS

Me: Where’s the get rid of your junk mail tip?

You: Hey, aren’t you featured in the MySpace Promo Box?

Me: So.

One tip they did have was that the average American family needs to plant 30 trees to offset their environmental impact. GreenDimes gets you 1/3 of the way there and cuts your junk mail for a one time nominal fee. (plug, plug)

GREEN NEWS

They nicely lay out news stories with a scroll bar to read older features. So did I read about “Solar Cells in Developing Nations” or “IBM’s Plan to Recycle Silicon”? Or did I read “Jack Bauer Set to Take on Global Warming” (you know the answer, I’m such a sell-out)

GREEN BLOG

There isn’t one, and they sure could use one… one that informs and entertains… one that plugs its partners… one that rhymes with GreenLimes… I wonder…

Your planetary junk mail eradicator (let Mars deal with it)

-Sanjiv

Sundance Eco-mmunity

So I got a chance to surf around our partner's Eco-mmunity site, and they've definitely got some nifty features.

The Map:

One of my favorites.  If you as a business or individual do anything green, you can create your virtual push-pin on the map.  It can tell you what green businesses, events, concerns about, and accomplishments done in your community.

The Discussion:

What community site wouldn't have a good discussion board. This one's especially nice because of how break it down - Green Consultations, Hot Debates, and Green Inspiration.   I'd say the level of expertise on this forum is pretty high

The Quiz

Eh, gotta work on that one.  I like it in concept, but there too many items and some are more opinions than quiz items.

The Greenzine

Okay, you want the latest in the world of green.  Come here.  In fact, we wrote about the same subject recently (Nanosolar.)   ...Yeah, their article kinda blew mine away.

The E-card

Gotta say, this is one of the niftiest features.  You can create your own green card that you can email off to your friends and family.  You can drag from a gallery of photo and messages and create your own e-montage.  Usually I am the traditional Holiday card type, but I'm starting to rethink that position.

Takes a minute to join...so join!