Imagine my surprise when reviewing today's mail.

DVD from F&P - ultimate dvd collection/inspiration for creating classic quilts and more

Instructions for returning dvd in enclosed envelope after preview OR enclosing payment of $12.95 and signing up as regular subscriber for additional mailings every 2-3 months.

Please note message: Because you didn't ask for this special DVD, you don't have to participate or send it back and can consider it a free gift.++++++++++++++ Just a heads up regarding merchandise you did not order.

I got mine today too. I plan to keep it, I didn't order it and don't have to pay for it. I won't be ordering anymore. I plan to drop the empty envelope in the mail with a big red NO on it.

I recieved it a couple of months ago...I sent the DVD back, along with Do not Want....It might be nice, but too pricey for me.

I got something like this today from Discover... I almost wrote a letter of complaint to send back with the DVD, but figured no one would read it any way.

I DO NOT like this kind of opt-out promotion. Also started to keep the DVD, but decided to just return it. Don't want to get into an argument later about it.

I got that deal from McCalls and called and complained. They are really making a mistake sending unsolicited merchandise and asking us to do anything. Evidently the same ad company is doing this for Fons and Porter. It really makes them look "cheap".

I received the same deal from McCalls. I highlighted the part that said I could consider it a free gift and wrote "thanks for the free gift" on the form. I haven't looked at it yet, but I bet they don't send me another one!

I'll see what comes in the mail tom.

I got a notice for female veterans that my health care would be free, just to call so-and-so. I started laughing and asked Dh, "when was I in the military? Does ROTC in HS count?"

VA sent a letter the next week stating the company they hired to send out the notices, sent to all female vets and wives of vets. Too bad since I don't currently have any health insurance. Oh well. Happens more than we know.

I got mine on Wednesday from McCalls Quilting.
DVD's will be $12.99, I mailed mine back. Checked the box so they don't send anymore. I guess this is a way for them to make money. But I don't like the fact that they are using their mailing list to send me something I didn't order.

Well said. Thank you!

Me also, from McCalls. Nothing very interesting on it to make it worth buying. I, also, am NOT going to return it or pay for it. Now waiting for F&P!

It is my understanding that anytime you "did not order something" or even if you have ordered and "not want" IF you do not "OPEN" you can "write" REFUSE ON PACKAGE AND NOT PAY THE POSTAGE :) Have done this for years and never had any problems.

I decided to put my complaint for receipt of the DVD and the use of my name on a mailing list because I subscribe to the magazine (whew) in writing. Went to the F&P magazine site tonight and expressed my opinion.

I, for one, felt better after putting my complaint in writing directly to them. Since I had contacted the magazine several months ago when they had an error on the hexagon template, I feel as though someone will read my response. No use in waiting for snail mail to go to some processing company.....

I got mine the other day. I don't like that they used their mailing list to try to get me to buy this too.

I emailed about the DVD asking more info about the program.
Here is their reply more information, pleaseFriday, July 9, 2010 7:00 PMFrom: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Thank you for your email. The series will consist of products similar to the promotional offer and the price for each subsequent item will be around $28.00 including shipping & handling. Each mailing will include 1 DVD similar to the first one you received.
The collection is based on customer demand and popularity so there is no set number in the series. There is no minimum to purchase and you are able to preview and return any item you choose not to add to your collection.
If you have any other concerns please contact us.

Sincerely,

Lindsey Jones

Product Programs

don't think I will be participating...might have considered the $12.95 but not this...however, they don't say how many demonstrations will be on each dvd

I got the McCalls & kept it. A few interesting things on it. Are you saying that they will keep sending them even though I didn't pay and didn't return it?

I too received a disc like this from McCalls. Knowing the postal laws I called them to tell them I was keeping it for free as it was unsolicited. They were very friendly to my surprise, and told me that was quite alright, and enjoy! I kept it, never looked at it, and forgot completely about it until seeing this post!

I also received the McCalls one, I emailed them my complaint and thanked them for the free gift, and requested they not mail me any other, or I will consider not renewing my subscription. Received a very nice reply.

Please take me off the mailing list for the DVD's. Thank you Brenda Capps

I dont like that either!

Haven't gotten either of those. I'll have to ask my mom if she did.

I received two of the very same dvd's a long time ago. Didn't send them back or reply. Just accepted them them as a nice 'quilty' gift.Nooooowwwww , where are the free quilt books?

I got one last spring and thru it away.I have received 2 bills for it since-what a joke.

I have been recieving Fons and Porter's magazine for more than a year and I did not subscribe. Somewhere I read that magazines have to prove that they have a certain amount of subscribers to get advertizing. Even if they have to give the magazine away through a mailing list they can claim that it reaches so many people. The advertizing pays for the magazine, subscriptions don't begin to cover the cost.
I remember when I thought that paying for cable TV meant that there would be no commercials. My son-in-law writes for and edits a "trade" magazine. Subscriptions to it are more than $800 a year. I don't think it has any ads.

It is apparent that I did not order this DVD because they keep telling me (at least 5 reminders) that," We understand that you did not order this DVD, you are under no obligation
to do anything and can consider it a free gift, but we do hope that you decide to participate"
WHY DONT THEY READ THEIR OWN WORDS. SURE THEY SENT ME THE DVD AND I LAID IT DOWN SOMEPLACE AND DO NOT KNOW WHERE IT IS BUT THEN AGAIN IT IS FREE SO WHY DO I HAVE TO RETURE IT. SO WHY DO THEY HOUND ME FOR SOMETHING THAT IS FREE.

I am to through with BE. I will never, ever order from them
for fear they may ask me to return what I pay for.

BE you dont send a person a free gift and then hound them to
get it back. Either it is mine or mine. Which one is it?

Read your letter and tell me if I am doing something wrong.

oh, if you continue to send me threatening letters I promise to RETURN TO SENDER your letters back to you UNOPENED every time you send me a letter.

i received one also. I figureed that since I didn't order it, it was mine to keep. Wrong - had many letters from F&P about it. I finally sent it back with a note !!

I have not received one. I guess I am not missing out on much.

debra

I had something like this happen last year with Fons & Porter and didn't return it as it said free, but than kept receiving the letters asking about it and what was my reply. so I returned the dvd and said no thanks. Haven't received any more from them. Of course the DVD and patterns were a couple years old as well. Nothing current.

I don't get stuff like that. Probably because I am not on anyones mailing lists. I think I would have previewed it and then returned it.

I received one, too. And, yes, they will keep coming. Write refused on the unopened envelope (and the "will not pay postage is a good idea.) I kept the free one. There were some things that I have not tried yet and I liked it, so it is mine now. At some point (maybe the next one) I will write on the outside, "Stop sending these to me please."

Wow. I am jealous. How can I get MY free DVD?

Same here. I threw it away and have received at least 4 or 5 bills for it. I just throw those away too.

I also did not sent my F&P "free" DVD back as I didn't order it. If that's the way they want to do business, I will not renew my subscription. I will purchase off the magazine rack if it has something of interest in it. Their magazine is not exactly cheap. Occasionally I order a "free" magazine and when the bill comes and I'm not really interested in what the magazine offers, I write "cancel" in red on the bill. Some continue to send me a bill and one actually stated my subscription is on hold for nonpayment. Hello, I wrote cancel on the first bill.

I got one the other week and I am not impressed.

Can't even access the pdf files they claim is on it and I have professional Acrobat program.

Will not be ordering and will not be returning it.

I got a DVD from Fons and Porter as well. They kept sending me bills. I finally called them. Keep your fingers crossed for me, no bills yet!

If they state on it that you can keep it without paying them I might depending on what is on the DVD. I subscribe to both magazines but haven't received anything yet, being in Canada it may take longer for it to arrive.

A couple years ago I received a book from one of the Quilting Magazines. It came while I was away and for some unknown reason my husband had opened it. He thought I had ordered it. I could not for the life of me remember ordering a book. But I paid for it because I was not sure how it came to me. Then another one came a month or so later and I knew I did not order it, so sent it back as refused. Then one more book came, and I did the same thing. Then I got an odd letter telling me that I should be paying the postage to return books I ordered and then did not want. So my letter was rather stern that I had not ordered anything from them and if I received one more book I would consider it a free gift. So no more books came.

I also received one several weeks ago. I returned the dvd with big X to indicae NO so they wouldn,t send anythingmore. Too expensive for me.

Years ago they did this type of marketing, but I thought they outlawed it way back when. Guess not. I feel it is an intrusion and then you have to take time out of your day to send it back or whatever, not a good thing.:(