9

Some companies that send junk mail include a "business reply" envelope. This allows the junk mail recipient to send a "reply" through U.S. mail at the originator's expense.

In fact these business reply envelopes can be filled with heavy junk and given to the U.S. Postal Service in order to impose additional postage costs on the junk mailer (perhaps discouraging them from further junk mailing). If a person did that could he be found liable for damages in a civil action? Or does it run afoul of any criminal statute? Are there any examples of either?

Improve this question
4
  • How on earth would the recipient know who returned their envelope with a "stone" (or whatever)?? Surely the sender wouldn't write their return address on anything??
    – Scott
    Commented Jun 1, 2016 at 22:06
  • 5
    @Scott - The idea is to "give them a taste of their own medicine." If they knew who was doing it they could simply remove that addressee from their lists. Amusingly, at least for a time, some junk mailers tried to make it look like their business reply envelopes were coded so that they could tell who was sending stuff back in them, along with vague threats that "misuse may result in legal action." Made me wonder also what, if anything, they could legally do.
    – feetwet ♦
    Commented Jun 1, 2016 at 22:50
  • 3
    I actually have worked with direct mail for over 20 years... so I've seen a lot. The reality is, if the recipient's name is actually part of the reply portion, malicious returns never happen. On blind reply pieces... you'd be disgusted and amazed at what gets returned.
    – Scott
    Commented Jun 1, 2016 at 23:26
  • There is an intelligent mail barcode option (which by the standard should be unique for at least 180 days) for business reply mail so if a mailer invested in the tech, they could possibly trace a BRM to a specific letter they sent (and they might for a "John Wanamaker half the money I spend on advertising...." marketing analysis). I don't believe the USPS would care as long as you don't send explosives, aerosols, weird powders, etc. pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/505.htm#1224365
    – user662852
    Commented Jun 1, 2016 at 23:27

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3

Two questions. Since the answer to the second answers the first I will go out of order

If a person did that could he be found liable for damages in a civil action? Or does it run afoul of any criminal statute?

As far as the post office is concerned, per Domestic Mail Manual 505 1.3.1 your heavy boxes shipped Business Reply Mail (BRM) are considered waste. Mailing the box with BRM as a label would not be a crime as long as you did not improperly ship prohibited items, like ammunition, or were trying to commit another crime such as sending a bomb or drugs through the mail, but it would be thrown out or returned to you. See: customer support ruling

If a person did that could he be found liable for damages in a civil action? Or does it run afoul of any criminal statute?

Unless you wasted the post offices time with excessive bulk mailings of junk or any of the reasons given before, not likely.

Improve this answer
2
  • 1
    This isn't entirely accurate - reading the first link, the full text shows that only for certain unsealed items is it treated as waste. For sealed items, it is delivered and charged to the permit holder. And the second link is dead.
    – Joe
    Commented May 12, 2020 at 16:09
  • The broken link went to PS 086 which has since been revoked. The relevant rules have also been changed, so this answer is no longer accurate.
    – Nate Eldredge
    Commented Jun 3 at 13:11

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .