The NRA irritated me a bit today......

View · by **Stradawhovious** on Mon May 07, 2012 5:22 pm

I received an unsolicited mailing from the NRA today containing a medallion and a DVD. At first glance I thought.... "Oh, Rob Pincus' defence this or that....looks like an interesting watch for free....." then I read the insert.

Long story short it said, "Either keep the DVD and send us $14, or mail it back."

Not a big fan of this sales technique. I shouldn't be required to have the obligation to return an unsolicited item they send to me on a "no obligation" basis.

Now be fair, they did enclose a return envelope, but it is still Irritating. Does anyone know if this is going to become a regular sales tactic of theirs?

View · by **David** on Mon May 07, 2012 5:26 pm

You're under no obligation to send it back, or to send them $14. You probably already knew that, and I agree that it's a sleazy gimmick.

View · by **Stradawhovious** on Mon May 07, 2012 5:33 pm

David wrote:You're under no obligation to send it back, or to send them $14. You probably already knew that, and I agree that it's a sleazy gimmick.

Of course. But with the language used, it certainly alludes to it.

"P.S. We must receive your response by May 25th, 2012. Whatever you decide, the Springfield M1903 Coin is your to keep, FREE. It's our way of thanking you for considering this program"

"NO. Thanks for the offer, but I'm returning the DVD along with my Member Reply Form in the enclosed Product Return Envelope and want no further DVDs at this time"

The only thing that hints you don't have to return the DVD is tiny little print that states "this is not an invoice" All other language is written to make you think there is an obligation to return it.

It's like the "Columbia House Records Program". :roll:

View · by **cobb** on Mon May 07, 2012 5:50 pm

Keep it, it a freebee. If you do buy, the next in the series will follow with the same return option. So keep this freebee and enjoy, you will most likely receive no more from them, they do not know if it was delivered or in the bulk mail junk pile.

View · by **BBeckwith** on Mon May 07, 2012 5:57 pm

I got something similar from a Photography mag. They sent 3 or 4 reminders to pay. After a month or two they gave up.

View · by **mmcnx2** on Mon May 07, 2012 6:08 pm

I had a coffee company send me a coffee maker and a sampler. They pestered me for 4 months, I finally said come pick it up or send a call tag otherwise I was not putting any effort in to returning it. I got about 2 lbs of various coffee and a maker out of the deal. I donated it to the food shelf after i got them to leave me alone for amonth.

View · by **Paul** on Mon May 07, 2012 6:08 pm

I'm irritated that I didn't get a free DVD.

View · by **Chunkychuck** on Mon May 07, 2012 6:37 pm

When my kids were young we would get sample books in the mail. The companies would call after a month and want to know when I would be paying. I told them I considered it a gift and if it wasn't they could see me the postage to send it back to them. Only had one company take me up on it and I mailed it back to them. Link below explains your responsibility for mailings like this. It is not a long read. I've pasted what I think are the important portions.

https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/inve ... Fraud.aspx

These rules are codified in Title 39, United States Code, Section 3009. That section of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 incorporates these protections for American consumers and makes the mailing of unordered merchandise unfair methods of competition and unfair trade practices under the law.

If you do not wish to pay for unsolicited merchandise or make a donation to a charity sending such an item, you may do one of three things (in each case, by law, you have no obligation to the sender):
•If you have not opened the package, you may mark it "Return to Sender," and the Postal Service will return it with no additional postage charged to you.

•If you open the package and don't like what you find, you may throw it away.

•If you open the package and like what you find, you may keep it for free. In this instance, "finders-keepers" applies unconditionally.

View · by **Sigfan220** on Mon May 07, 2012 6:56 pm

Yeah I got the same thing a couple years ago. I called the NRA and told them there was no way I was sending it back and no way they were getting money for it. They said that was fine. I then had them take me off the junk mail list. I can't belive how much crap they send out, it is nice now to just get a letter a month or so.

View · by **blizzard** on Mon May 07, 2012 7:34 pm

I received the same dvd the other day, thanks NRA!

View · by **EJSG19** on Mon May 07, 2012 7:39 pm

Paul wrote:I'm irritated that I didn't get a free DVD.

don't be. I watched it and sent it back.

not sure if an instructor could be any more wordy, but he sure tries.

IMO it taught nothing a good hands on pistol class doesn't. And, much to internet comando's dislike, watching a dvd teaches you about 5% of what you'd learn if you'd pony up the cash and take a real class. So overall I gave the dvd a "meh".

View · by **rukwikenuf** on Mon May 07, 2012 7:39 pm

ya gotta admit, it's nice to see our NRA fees going to something useful, like soliciting current members to pay more money! i realize that those DVDs probably only cost around $0.83 to make, package, AND ship out, but still... the only things i'll respond to are when they send those "chose your top 127 firearms from our list, YOU COULD WIN 'EM!" things. i still don't pay in, and i know i'll never win 127 firearms from their list (especially after reading the fine print), but it's like the lottery: you can't win if you don't play. however, unlike the lottery, i'm not PAYING to be PLAYING

View · by **Stradawhovious** on Mon May 07, 2012 8:56 pm

rukwikenuf wrote:ya gotta admit, it's nice to see our NRA fees going to something useful, like soliciting current members to pay more money!

It says in the packaging that.... and I quote.....

"NRA Member dues or contributions are not used for this promotion, program, or any other related expenses"

I'd really like to believe that, but seeing all the other things the NRA uses their money for I'm a little skeptical. Don't get me wrong, they do a lot of good for the gun community and I'm glad to have them on that front, but it seems as much of a money machine as it does anything else. Especially after seeing this.

View · by **illbits** on Mon May 07, 2012 9:05 pm

I got one a year ago, I watched some of it the other day... Meh. I kept it and send nothing in return for my trouble.

View · by **xd9** on Mon May 07, 2012 11:41 pm

I too got the American Rifleman DVD Advanced Personal Defense Combat Focus Shooting and Home Defense Tips. Kept the disk and heard not a peep. Like it has been stated, they would need proof you got it in the mail as it was sent along with other junk mail. They would have had to have a tracking number or proof or delivery to really prove you received it anyway.

Just a advertising gimick. You own them nothing. (unless you want more DVD's) ;-)