Scrubbing Seed Catalog Lists?

[GoDawgs]

I'm beginning to wonder if the postal rate hikes are starting to affect seed catalogs. I think that some companies are starting to scrub their mailing lists and clearing off addresses that have never ordered anything from them. So far I only have four catalogs all of which I usually order from at some point in time. There are usually more catalogs here by now.

If that's what is happening, I've always wondered why companies haven't done this before to save money. Maybe some companies are beginning to issuing paper catalogs at all and relying solely on online catalogs. Personally, I much prefer the paper ones so I can curl up in my recliner, pad of paper handy and pencil in hand!

[karstopography]

I believe I’ve gotten all my usual ones by now. Pinetree, Baker Creek, Fedco, Sow True Seed, Tomato Growers Supply, High Mowing, probably forgot one or two more.

I’ll browse through some of them, but invariably order everything online from the same vendors. I guess the physical catalogs, the photos and descriptions, prompt me to order online.

I’ve placed three orders since the recent catalogs started arriving. Baker Creek, Pinetree and Renee’s. I don’t think Renee’s sends me a catalog, but I could have missed it. Pinetree was the first order made and the last to arrive, but the USPS machinery half destroyed the package and when the package finally arrived it was in a USPS plastic bag with their apologies. Looks like the pinetree package inside got wet at some point, wet and mashed up pretty hard. Not having high hopes for those seeds.

[JayneR13]

They might be doing exactly that. Paper has gotten expensive, printing and mailing costs have also risen. I don't blame them if they're going to online catalogs. In fact, MIGardener has never had a paper catalog and claims this as part of why their seeds are so cheap. Of course, they don't claim "free shipping" either. While paper catalogs are pretty to look at, I'd rather have the tree they came from. I can curl up with my tablet and page through things online, or use search filters to find something new with the qualities I'm looking for, such as container friendly or soil/sun requirements. Of course, this is not an activity for when the power goes out and takes my Internet service with it.

I think I've received four catalogs so far: Baker Creek, Seeds 'n Such, and two others I don't remember. I downloaded the Tomato Growers Supply catalog. I've ordered some disease-resistant varieties from Seeds 'n Such and some flowers from MIGardener, but seriously, I could fund the neighborhood through the next Zombie Apocalypse! I just replanted my Aerogarden with micro-tomatoes and have some from the MMMM swap dating 2020. I'm OK with fewer physical catalogs.

[Tormato]

I thought this thread was going to be about luffa varieties.

[Whwoz]

This situation has long been the norm for us here Down Under with our smaller population. I am aware of only two companies that are still printing paper catalogues, one charges a fee for it, the other is a "club" that you need to be a member of. Makes it harder for those without internet access to obtain what they want.

[GoDawgs]

What I have is Baker Creek, Jung, Sow True Seed, Totally Tomatoes and Seeds 'n Such. Haven't seen Pinetree yet and I've been ordering from them for 20+ years. Because others have gotten Pinetree I'm blaming the black hole that is the postal service's Atlanta Distribution Center.

[Soilsniffer]

All I've received so far, has been Southern Exposure. It may have been the only place I ordered seeds last year.