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This comes from Kalmbach's Privacy Policy:
"You may also receive periodic mailings from us about new products, services or upcoming events, and -- from time-to-time -- your address information may be made available to other reputable companies or organizations for marketing or information gathering purposes. Typically, such third parties serve the hobby and /or leisure-time industries in one form or another. You may again request to be excluded from such mailings by contacting us directly or by taking other proactive measures, as specified below."
I would get offers for train sets and other such material when I was a subscriber to MR, after all Kalmbach is a business out to make money. If you don't care for the unsolicited material, just contact customer service to get off the list.
TONY
"If we never take the time, how can we ever have the time." - Merovingian (Matrix Reloaded)
Will do, thank you!
I recently received a sales flyer from Model Expo, saying on the first page "For readers of Model Railroader". Since I've never ordered anything from them, that's how it got to me. I don't mind, although I can't see me ordering anything from them, and they do have some great deals - because of their shipping policy to Canada. $34.99 for any size order, by FedEx only. Thanks but no thanks! Shipping to US addresses is much more reasonable, depends upon the amount ordered. I receive stuff by regular mail all the time and it works just fine, no need for overpriced delivery services!
Bob Boudreau
CANADA
Visit my model railroad photography website: http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/
I would guesstimate that I receive about one unsolicited advertising flyer or catalog every two months from sources that might have gotten my address from MR or the competing model mag. All come from reputable organizations that I recognize as legit.
Far more annoying to me are the almost daily bombardment of age-related and health-product ads for things that I don't want, don't need and can't use in my business. I rather suspect that those originate with Social Security or Census Bureau lists (AKA, "Your Tax Dollars at Work.") I'm absolutely certain that the ones trying to sell me Medicare supplement insurance DON'T originate with the Air Force's roster of retirees - every one of whom (including Yours Truly) already receives the equivalent through Tricare for Life.
I have a Post Office box, and I triage my mail before I leave the building. If I am likely want something from a model railroad or 'support equipment' (tools, electronic parts) supplier, the catalog goes home with me. Hawthorne Village's overpriced ripoffs (and other worthless paper) goes into the Post Office's trash can - minus address information if it has my name on it. (Subscription magazines and bills always go home. Ditto for anything specifically addressed to my wife.)
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Personally, I enjoy the train related mailings. I seldom buy from them, but they are fun to look through. I always get a kick out of the Hawthorne trains, even though I find them overdecorated and overpriced. But someone must like and buy them since they stay in business.
Enjoy
Paul
A while back I started to recieve in the mail a lot of Golf related fliers and advertisements. At first I could not figure out where they were coming from, then it hit me. A local supermarket chain here has a "bonus Card" program where you earn points when you use the card while checking out there. I bought a couple of Golf Magazines one time there when I was getting ready to fly out of town on a business trip. The store sells the shopper info and that is where all of the golf literature came from.
A trick to try sometime if you are unsure about signing up for something is to intentionally mispell your name by one letter. I will sometines change the i at the end of my name to a y. If you suddenly start seeing stuff come with that spelling then you know they sold your info. I would imagine that if MR says they don't sell your info then they probably don't. Most reputable companies do adhere well to there privacy policies if they have it published. I don't know if MR has one though. As a small business I do get solicitations for my customer list from time to time. I do not, however, sell the list nor do I intend to start.
Dan Pikulski
www.DansResinCasting.com