# Spam question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 13, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-question/459846 "2008-08-13T14:31:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Joe\_Mahma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@Joe\_Mahma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Mahma)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-question/459846/1 "2008-08-13T14:31:59Z")
I am flabbergasted by the amount of spam I get from Cheryl’s Cookies, Alpha Software, and Sam’s Club. Why do such large mainstream corporations stoop to such skeevy marketing techniques? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-question/459846/2 "2008-08-13T14:41:21Z")
Are you talking about marketing emails or actual gobbledegook spam that says it’s from one of those places but is actually a Viagra ad from a .ru domain? If it’s not really from them, they’re not doing anything wrong. It’s just a spammer using their good name to get you to open ads. If it’s really from them, it’s not spam it’s marketing email and you probably inadvertently agreed to get it at some point. It’s not any different than the grocery store ads you get in the mail every day. You can very safely unsubscribe from these emails using their unsubscribe link. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-question/459846/3 "2008-08-13T14:41:40Z")
To my best recollection I have never received a single piece of email from any of those companies, or found their email in my spam folder. Are you sure you haven’t signed up for some kind of a mailing list? ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Mahma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@Joe\_Mahma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Mahma)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-question/459846/4 "2008-08-13T15:01:38Z")
[QUOTE=Bill Door] To my best recollection I have never received a single piece of email from any of those companies, or found their email in my spam folder. Are you sure you haven’t signed up for some kind of a mailing list? [/QUOTE] Yes, it’s definitely from them, and I don’t remember ever giving them my email address. I will try unsubscribing (which I haven’t done so far for feaar of letting them know that my email address is valid). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-question/459846/5 "2008-08-13T15:04:45Z")
Generally, legitimate companies will remove your from their list if you ask. They have no reason to want to piss off customers. Assuming you’re sure it came from them (did you check the headers?), then sending an unsubscribe will end them. Legit companies also don’t spam out randomly. However, if someone gave them your e-mail on a form, they will use it. ---
**Author:** ![KRSOradio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/0ea827/32.png) [@KRSOradio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRSOradio)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-question/459846/6 "2008-08-13T22:36:06Z")
The problem is some of the most reputable companies have the slimiest opt out policies. You will find the box that is already checked and you must uncheck it. But this box is located somplace you wouldn’t look. Or it’s on a screen where you have to scroll way to the right to see it. There are tons of examples of companies making it hard for you to opt out, but they have to, but they don’t have to make it easy.