I am here to see if anybody has an opinion on this subject, I am being bombarded with Similac baby formula stuff.
Here is how it started, oh, about spring, I got a postcard from a local ultra sound place, congratulating me on my recent pregnancy. I threw it out like junk mail, but thought it was odd. Then two or three more show up in the weeks after. Then I start getting congrats on your pregnancy and new baby news from Similac.
I wasn't paranoid at first, and I am trying to think, mmmhhmm is it me just thinking, ****, I am fat, I think I look pregnant, other people do too? I am now getting something EVERYDAY about being pregnant, like it was me put on a list.
I live in an extremely rural area, my neighbor, who I don't argue with, but don't care for, she has a 1 1/2 year old baby, if he is that old... I wondered, did she do it? There aren't words exchanged, but there have been tense things between our families... her mother in-law lost a lawsuit in a slip and fall against us back in 2006....
I thought, if I was maliciously put on a list, then who would it be? As, I said, I live in a small isolated place, 45 miles from the next big town, where the ultrasound place is. I thought about what I might have done that might have triggered a sale of my name somewhere, but that would be medical stuff being being pregnant.
So, now, my paranoid mind is thinking, she put me on some kind of mailing list, possibly. I can't lie, it bothers me to see this stuff daily, almost like a smack in the face because I think it is malicious now. Tonight I got home and there was a big box, my son, said, mom you got a big box.
Similac baby formula sent me a half case of baby formula and a magazine for my new baby. I am so not impressed right now. I just laughed it off to him and my husband saying my name got sold...because I am embarrassed to tell the truth.
I am wondering, before I really get my fur flying for the neighbor next door, do they just sell your name around like that? I don't think they do... I am not going to go confront her like all that, because we don't speak, and then she would know if got to me, if was her.
Who ever, (if somebody did do it) would have to have my address, which she does. Not too many people have it. I live really isolated. People at my school, don't know me like that, plus, my school is in Portland, and this town where the ultrasound, seems like a closer place she would go to.
I am just embarrassed. This weight thing is such a nightmare for me, I know I am hypersensitive to it already. I can't say for sure it was her, but I just can't think of who else would do it.
I will forget about it and then get home and see the mail and feel hurt all over again and as much as I try, it takes me some time to get it out of my head. Like now, I have been home an hour and this is still eating at me because it went from freakin' post cards to cases of baby food....
So, I am going to email Similac an see if they will remove me from the mailing list too. This is ridiculous, there is a lot of mail from them. The ultrasound place, hasn't sent anything in about a month, but the next time, if there is one, I am calling them and telling them to remove me. They only do pregnant women, by the way, not any other ultrasounds...
Thanks fellow chickies for letting me get on and vent. I am sort of sad tonight. I see this stuff and think, I have nobody to blame, but me for making myself a damn target.
you did not make yourself a target. If your neighbour is that kind of person, she would have found a way or reason to harrass you regardless of your weight or how you look. Those kinds of people look for our sensitive spots because they are malicious. If it wasnt your weight, it would be osmething else so dont blame yourself. I think they can sell your name like that, but there should be a site somewhere that you can remove yourself from the sort of "master list", at least there is here. I would call the ultrasound place and the baby company and say you dont want anymore stuff
My sis in law was receiving pregnancy/baby related things because she sent a card back for some diabetes magazine I believe. I just happened to have a baby in March so she gave me everything and most of it was similac. Did you sign up for something free recently.
Truthfully I think it is just somehow you got on the mailing list. I've gotten things in the mail about elderly care and I'm 36.
Just call/email similac. Don't worry about it to much it will just make you feel bad about yourself.
You're not a target, I've had things like that happen, but not about pregnancy. One time I kept getting shampoo samples and now I keep getting food magazines and things. Somehow my name got put on something, but I just laugh it off and move on. I think one time I got like a magazine for RVs and then for like two months it was RV stuff all because like a year before I had gotten a free cd about RVing lol. Then the other day I frequently go to a grocery store named Wegmans. I've never given them my info, but I'm getting magazines from them now lol. My boyfriend got the elderly care stuff for awhile too. Oh and suddenly I was getting a plus size catalogue one time and I was actually miffed at it and thought "who did this to me?" Then I realized and this was my first lesson in how things work, the company was owned by the same company that I had bought stuff from maybe 6 or 7 months earlier. So it is the same company, of course I'm going to be put on another list as they have my name and address and what I recently bought.
I don't think you can really pinpoint who or what put your name on a list because you are on the internet, you could have signed something, registered for something, and it doesn't have to be something you did recently either.
I understand why it is making you feel bad and making you feel like a target. Call up/email say "no send" etc.. *HUGS*
I honestly don't think it is malicious. I wouldn't confront the neighbor, there are just too many things it could be. If the neighbor confesses that is different, but probably it wasn't because of the neighbor. I think if it was something other than pregnancy stuff you wouldn't have reacted in the way that you are. Also like if someone put you on a list for pregnancy items, of ALL the lists why would someone do that? If someone wants to make you feel bad about your weight, it seems like they would do something else to get their mean point across.
So *HUGS* Understand your feelings. Call them up and tell them to stop sending you junk.
Last edited by Jacquie668; 10-03-2009 at 09:14 AM.
There are a lot of ways to get on mailing lists, but I've noticed two main ways. Catalogs/magazine subscriptions and online product requests or surveys. If you order a free sample from an online company, request a catalog or subscribe to a magazine, or fill out a produc warranty card or online equivalent.... all of those can put you on a mailing list - and that mailing list can be sold to someone else...
I'm partially of irish/scottish descent, so I've been fascinated with celtic stuff - so I ordered an irish import catalog. That apparently put me on import catalog lists, and I started getting catalogs from all over the world, including Africa. Then I started getting all sorts of catalogs and advertisements and even free samples of products aimed at African Americans (so somebody thought I was black. I'm so pale, this is actually a bit amusing to me).
I ordered a bra catalog (old-fashioned lady underwear) and I ended up on naughty lingerie catalog mailing lists, which apparently put me on naughty product mailing lists, which put me onto raunchy porn mailing lists. I was so mortified, wondering whether the mailman thought I was a pervert.
I ordered a sci-fi movie catalog and got weirder and weirder sci-fi stuff to the point of worship-the-aliens religion propaganda (how to tell if you're really an extra-terrestrial type stuff).
I ordered a museum catalog, which was largely reproductions of suits of armor and other artworks. Then I started getting armor and weaponry reproduction catalogs, then art knife catalogs, then knife making catalogs, and then military surplus/survivalist paramilitary catalogs.
When I was engaged, I ordered some bridal magazines and catalogs, and got junk mail regarding weddings for several years after the marriage. When my mom WAS pregnant, she got pregnancy and baby related mail for years and years afterward (she couldn't be pregnant for THAT long).
I've gotten mail that seemed to assume I was African American, Asian, pregnant, sado-masochist, psychic, gay male, bride-to-be (for several years after the wedding), very fat (ok, that one's true), and gullible on many levels (lots of get-rich-quick products and/or get-thin-quick products - sometimes combined).
You may have bought or ordered something somewhere that suggested that you were within child-bearing age, and might be interested in getting pregnant. Who knows what that was, or how it permutated into pregnancy, but it probably isn't intentional harassment.
Donate the similac to a woman and childrens shelter and send similac a letter asking them to stop, if you get a letter, not a package scratch out your address and give it back to the mailman marked return to sender . This is how I stopped mailings to my deceased mother.
Just passing by to second the notion that it's easy to get on a mailing list. Your neighbor may or may not have submitted your name, but you can never know for sure so there's little merit in pursuing that one.
Many, many, years ago I let my DD use my computer to order something from Victoria's Secret. Much to my embarrassment, I still get a yearly advertisement with a coupon for a free pair of panties. It's now a joke with my DD since I can send it to her for redemption, but I still get flashes of concern that someone will think I'm a perv.
My advice would be to ignore the whole thing. Mailing lists die down, rather slowly it seems, but not clearly any faster by chasing after them. There must be a food pantry somewhere that will gladly accept your Similac.
I am sure you just somehow got on a list somewhere. I just received a big catalog on betting on fantasy football, yeah, we don't even watch football in our house, so explain that one. We don't buy sports gear, nothing...so you can get on random lists and there is no rhyme or reason to it. So, please don't think that you are being terrorized lets just assume it was a mistake and somehow you got on the list...
I have received incorrect items too--like my younger daughter was receiving items for a health condition she didn't have. I think (as it was explained to me) because she was having testing done for a related issue, it triggered (initially) our insurance company to send incorrect pamphlets to us--soon after we began hearing from all sorts of people regarding the condition.
I wouldn't stress actually. The baby mailings will stop. After all, if they have sent you formula they assume the baby is about ready for delivery. LOL. Don 't assume your neighbor did it. Just ignore it and move on. Besides, if she really wanted to front you on the weight issue there are more hurtful things than saying you are preggo. There are all sorts of plus size companies and programs she could have signed you for.
Also, you could start marking items, "return to sender" on the envelopes and packages--could be that some companies will remove your name.
Sounds like you got on a mailing list. You can always donate the stuff. plenty of places will take it. I'd give it to a church and be happy you have something to give that can help someone else. I really think they sell your address!! Worry about the big stuff. It doesn't sound like someone is out to get you. If it really bothers you I would do what they said and return to sender.
Thank you all fellow chickies! Ironically, right after I posted that night, I got an American Baby magazine. I got online to remove myself from the list and it showed all the other magazines I was subscribed too... my diabetic magazine and Heart Healthy were in the same family.
I felt somewhat better, like it was just my paranoia getting me and feel like maybe that is how the whole thing got started. If I get another ultra sound postcard, I will call them and find out if they buy their lists, it is a small office... but who knows.
I do thank you guys for your support. I have received over 5 boxes of this formula... where was this free stuff when my son was a baby?? LOL I took the box down to our local shelter where they hand it out for free, since it is sealed, they were happy to take it.
I am so happy I have somewhere to turn with people who understand the feelings that come from being a fluffy chick!
Being hit with mailings for pregnant women
you did not make yourself a target. If your neighbour is that kind of person, she would have found a way or reason to harrass you regardless of your weight or how you look. Those kinds of people look for our sensitive spots because they are malicious. If it wasnt your weight, it would be osmething else so dont blame yourself. I think they can sell your name like that, but there should be a site somewhere that you can remove yourself from the sort of "master list", at least there is here. I would call the ultrasound place and the baby company and say you dont want anymore stuff 
and feel like maybe that is how the whole thing got started. If I get another ultra sound postcard, I will call them and find out if they buy their lists, it is a small office... but who knows.