Editor’s note: Several things bothered Tina Pelikan about the piles of coupon circulars in plastic bags that were deposited weekly in the entryway of her building — and all along her brownstone-lined block. Not only were they unsightly, but a terrible waste, and bad for the environment, she thought. Then, one day, on the edge of a plastic bag, she saw a phone number.
By Tina Pelikan
Each week, my block — 95th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West — is inundated with piles of packages of coupon circulars packed in plastic bags, most of which, according to evidence on the street and discussion with building superintendents, end up in the trash.
Thanks to being very much at home this past year, I noticed the enormous weekly pile of plastic bags in my own entryway, and recently decided to take action. On March 17th, I called the contact number printed on the bags and spoke with a very efficient person, who looked up my address and was able to tell me that 35 circulars were being delivered to our building of fewer than 30 households. I told her that our super had said that, at most, five people in the building take and use those circulars. And she agreed to diminish our delivery quantity to five packages per week.
I am thrilled to say she was true to her word, and, for the last three weeks, only five packages were left for our building.
I am writing this to give people the phone number to call — (800) 376-6222 — in order to make a similar request, if they are so inclined.
Hate’em or cut’em? Let us know in the comments.
I was expecting something far more dramatic; thousands of plastic-wrapped circulars, collected and stacked as far as the eye can see at the doorway of the circular office! I guess kindness civility is most effective, if less spectacular. Brava Tina.
“So then we formed a posse to hunt down the bandit leaving the flyers on our doorsteps. The hardest part was finding horses in Manhattan.”
LOL! I nominate Bob for a shirt!
Great job! You went right to the source and didn’t take the circular route!!!
Cut the coupons! What she did was a good thing. I hope other buildings do the same.
The cat business a little too extreme, eh? Fair enough. How about:
Just to clarify something, 800-376-6222 is the number for CBA Industries, a NJ company evidently responsible for depositing a great many flyers, circulars, papers, & whatnot on NYC doorsteps. I’m pretty sure, however, that they don’t handle ALL such litter, so you might want to check for another number on the debris in question, call them up, and calmly explain that you’ve started a collection of Scientology ads they can examine closely if the problem continues. Just my 2¢.
You’re the Kosmo Kramer of West 95th street.
There once was a woman named Tina /
She wanted her building to be cleana /
She soon found a fix, said “We need less than six!” /
And now there’s no mess to be seen-a!
You go, David!!
And also no need to subpoena.
Best comment of the year 🙂
What a wonderful article 🙂 it shows how one person can really make a difference and inspire others. I am doing something similar to get rid of the abandoned kiosks for free circulars on my block. An eyesore that attracts garbage, and completely redundant in these days of the internet. Let’s all work together for a clean Upper West Side !!
Sometimes… If you ask you actually get. Tina, a woman of action, is a good, resourceful and kind neighbor.I love that she did this.
“One Local Was Sick of Coupon Circulars, So She Called the Phone Number For People to Request That Coupon Circulars No Longer Be Sent to Their Address, And the Coupon Circulars Stopped Coming.”
Amazing. In other news, “Man Sick of Getting Emails From Online Retailer He Once Purchased From Clicks Unsubscribe Button And Now No Longer Gets Their Emails.”
It does not seem very dramatic, does it? And yet, how many people actually look for the number,pick up the phone, and call? And how many of these companies actually comply? The flood of these unnecessary items in the street suggests that the answer to one or both questions is “very few”.
Game,set,match for Fred.
I ALWAYS use the unsubscribe button at the bottom of any and all emailsI I get. I also get great satisfaction of clicking UNSUBSCRIBE.