How can they afford all this advertising?

Daft isn't it.
I ordered a couple of jigsaws from a company about a year ago. They sell all sorts of other tat and clothes that I am never going to buy from them. I receive a small catalogue from them on a monthly basis that contains the same items every time.
Waste of their money and my time.

Hotter irritate me for the same reason. They email me almost daily and very frequently send a glossy brochure. On the odd occasion I have bought something I receive yet another glossy brochure. Such a waste of time, effort and money.

I agree I ve bought off Joe Brown a couple of times but I m inundated with catalogues, I would think every month, and they go straight in the recycling bin
When I need to buy something else I ll look on line

Some companies allow you to choose marketing preferences, if you go to your account and untick contact by post.

It must work because they keep sending them. There must be people who buy as a result of reading them.

Thanks, rosenoir, for some reason I hadn't even thought of doing this for my Donald Russell account. I've been complaining for ages about getting catalogues every week!

I agree it is annoying but it must be worth it to the companies. Same applies to charities that send out cards ad hoc.
I’m sure they all work out the effectiveness and profitability of this sort of marketing.

Phone them up and ask to be taken off their mailing list! That's what I've done.

I return them. They immediately stop sending them

I am annoyed while buying items from Curry's and Hotter (among others) when they ask officiously for my email address. They seem surprised when I ask why they want it and then can't answer. I never give it. I'm in the shop, I'm paying for the items I don't have to share any info with them at all.

The reason they do it is ebcause it works. You may not buy every time you get a catalogue, but the catalogues generate enough business for it to be cost effective.

If it wasn't they would not do it.

rosenoir and SueDonim thanks for the suggestion! I will do that tomorrow! And Jane10 I agree about the email address. I just say no and wait for them to move on with the bill.

I printed a few labels - *Unsolicited Mail* Return to Sender - and stick these over my name & address and the whole unopened package goes back in the post box. And it works!