Compare mail before and after a request
Noticing less mail after a request feels encouraging, but memory is unreliable over weeks. Counting pieces from one sender across equal periods gives you something concrete to compare.
Set up a fair comparison
- Before submitting a request, count pieces from the target sender over a fixed period, such as four weeks. Log the count, the sender name, and the label type you saw.
- After submitting, count again over a period of the same length. Comparing a four-week baseline to a two-week follow-up would make any drop look larger than it is.
- Note the label type in both periods. If the sender prints two versions of a mailer or uses different list codes, a change in label type may explain a change in volume.
- Log the result as a plain observation: pieces before, pieces after, the window used, and any label differences. Describe what you counted without claiming the request caused the change.
What the numbers can and cannot tell you
A drop after a request could reflect your removal from a list, a seasonal pause in the sender's campaign, a smaller mailing budget, or coincidence. An increase could mean your address reached an affiliate before the removal took effect. Neither result proves what happened to your record. The comparison is still worth doing because it tells you whether a follow-up is worth your time.
Decide whether to follow up
If the same sender is still arriving at the same rate after an equal period, you have a reasonable basis for one follow-up. Use the same route, or a different one if the sender offers another. See the guide to timing and follow-up for background on timing.
Instructions for the next step
Have an unwanted advertisement ready?
Photograph one piece you are authorized to handle, with the sender and full mailing label visible. Review the details before submitting. The first request is free; the sender controls the response.
Try one request free