I received a PBS book today, sent in a bubble wrap envelope.  Besides the mailing label, there was also a sticker on the envelope advising me to "Vote for [insert name of political party] in 2008."  I found this sticker to be highly inappropriate for a PBS package.  Does anyone else agree with me or am I off-base?

I haven't marked the book as received yet (but I will, and not with a problem), because I want to decide if I should send a PM to the sender about what I consider to be an inappropriate addition to the package.

Thanks,

Laura

I would find it completely inappropriate and would tell the sender to keep their campaigning out of PBS packages.

A small sticker wouldn't bother me since the packaging is going to get thrown out anyway.  This time of year political stuff is everywhere, people who feel strongly are going to campaign, and a sticker on an envelope would be at the bottom of my complaint list. 

Oh to me it's just a sticker.   I'd ignore it myself.   I put other types of stickers on my BPS packages, you know, cute stickers.   I am not sure I'd be thrilled about a political sticker but hey it's the season!  

There is way too much confrontation and anger and nastiness surrounding this political season.  I would just ignore it and let it go.  Don't add to the already combative environment.   There is an overabundance of that already :)

And here is a public service message:  It doesn't matter (to me) who you vote for, just make sure you exercise your right to do it :)

I would also be really PO'd to get that type of stuff, even if it was a sticker that I might agree with--those stupid political ads are everywhere--radio, TV, internet--and in signs all over neighborhoods, billboards....we don't need to be bombarded any more than we already are. I guess there isn't much you can do about a sticker; now if you get flyers or political stuff stuck in the books themselves, then I would report it.

I don't know if I would say anything to the sender or not....I think it would depend on what sort of mood they caught me in when I first noticed the sticker. LOL

Cheryl

Thanks for the advice.  I just marked it as "sent" and didn't send a PM to the sender.  The book arrived in good shape, and that's what really matters!

I agree that it doesn't matter who you vote for, just vote!

Laura

Unless I knew for 100% certain that the sender put the sticker on there, I would ignore it.  A lot of folks recycle envelopes and packaging.  Actually, I would ignore it anyway.  :>)

As long as it wasn't on the book itself, who cares?

It wouldn't bother me.

It would bother me, because I don't like feeling proslytized to when I'm just swapping some books, but I'm pretty sure when a similar thing happened to me that I decided to ignore it.

Freedom of Speech, Censorship

It's probably not the most proper thing to do, but it's not a reason to not mark received. 

I agree with everyone that it's not appropriate, but not worth it to get worked up over. 

You know, since I can sometimes be contrary, I would probably have pmed them a "thanks for the book" and then signed it "vote for _____", the opposite of whomever the sticker was for.  Regardless of my voting preference!

Just FWIW, it may have come from another package altogether.  I once sent a package to someone and they thanked me for the cute Mickey Mouse sticker on the outside.  I didn't put it there, LOL!

If it were an insert or pamphlet or anything inside the package, I would be reminding the sender to not do this.  But this is OUTSIDE.  Say in January, I decide that I want Jo Bob to be president.  I go out and get 1000 return address labels with a little "Jo Bob for preisdent" sticker on them.  I have the right to use them.  Just like I can use the Humaine Society and Veterns Association labels that are constantly coming in the mail.  The added sticker doesn't really bother me.  The fact is, once a book is in my home, the wrappings stay around about .02 seconds.  Chances are that I've barely even noticed the sticker in the first place, unless I got the mail as I was leaving and the package is waiting in the passengers seat for us to get home to open.

This is one of those small things you should sweat.

Kerry

I would be a little bit annoyed but I don't think I would make a big deal about it. And like someone said, it could have been a recycled envelope.

Honestly, it wouldn't bother me.  It didn't have any impact on the book and at this point, I've decided who to vote for.  A sticker won't make me change my mind, LOL.

I'm going to take an opposing viewpoint here and say if the package were sent via Media Mail, it could violate the "no advertisement" clause in the requirements for Media Mail, meaning if the postal service took offense, they could toss the book, return the book to sender, or charge the recipient the higher First Class mail fee.  You might let the folks at PBS know, via the Contact Us link, in case this is a chronic issue with this particular member, so they can do whatever is appropriate.

Cheers,

Catt

Elizabeth, if the sticker is on the package, how would it violate media mail?  it wasn't something sent within the package but on the outside.  I don't know how strict the USPS is on the outside vs. the inside

In any case, I believe "advertising" is when you are selling a product for profit.  I can see being annoyed by the sticker, but it wouldn't be advertising.

oi, I agree with LG it very well could be simply a case of reusing an evelope with the sticker on it.  Even if it isn't, seriously is it worth getting upset over a sticker?  To me it would be like complaining about a religious sticker like a christmas seal when you don't celebrate that partiicular holiday.

It's a sticker, I don't think the sender meant anything malicious by it.  She had just as much chance of it going to someone who intended to vote for that person as not, freedom of expression.  I serioulsy doubt she thought it would change anyone's mind on the subject, it was just a reflection of her.

I have to side with the not-offensive side. Be thankful we live where we can not only vote but actively and openly campaign for our candidate of choice.  This country continues to go over the top with things having to be PC as to not offend.  Until I came to these forums I just didn't realize that just about everything is going to offend someone.  RCs offend, plastic wrap offends, a political sticker offends. The Madonna stamp I used at Christmas no doubt offended someone. Just my using the word Christmas will probably offend someone. I'm sure this note will offend.   As a previous poster said "don't sweat the small stuff", and comparably (current economic state, our soldiers in combat, the depletion of natural resources,etc) a politcal sticker on the outside of a package certainly fits in the "small stuff" category.

OK, I guess that was my rant for the day. But just one request. Please don't call me "short". I'm vertically challenged.

Wouldn't bother me at all. As long as the book was fine and there was nothing inside the package that shouldn't be, I'd just toss away the paper without a second thought.