Junk Mail Magic

Write a useful mailroom notice about junk mail

A mailroom notice can introduce residents to opt-out tools they may not know about. It should point to official resources without suggesting that any single step will end unwanted mail.

By Junk Mail Magic. Updated .

What to include in a mailroom notice

  1. Open with a plain statement that residents can ask individual senders to stop certain advertising mail.
  2. Name two or three official public resources with their web addresses, such as the FTC's junk mail guidance page.
  3. Say that each request goes to one sender and that responses and timing vary.
  4. End with a contact for building management questions, and state that the building does not collect addresses or submit requests for residents.

What the notice should not promise

A no-soliciting sign does not stop advertising delivered through the postal system, and opt-out programs work one sender at a time. A notice that implies blanket protection will frustrate residents when mail keeps coming. Wording such as "these are options" is more accurate than "these will stop your junk mail." Do not collect names or addresses at the sign. Residents should use their own devices.

Keep it short

Aim for three to five sentences, and have building management review them before posting. A short, accurate notice serves residents better than a long one that overpromises.

Instructions for the next step

Handle a neighbor's advertising in your mailboxKeep a mailroom photo station privateApartment and building mailAll practical mail guides

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.

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