# stuffing envelopes for money? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 1, 2001, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791 "2001-10-01T17:19:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![doggus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@doggus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doggus)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/1 "2001-10-01T17:19:19Z")
I just got an email about stuffing envelopes at home for extra cash. Most of what I’ve seen about this seems to be a little shady, but the recent email I’ve received looks pretty legit. The question I have is, what’s the catch? Does anyone know? Has anyone here tried this? The email I received offers $2.00 an envelope. Do you have to pay for postage? If so, are the packages expensive to send? Are there any websites that expose this as a scam? ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/2 "2001-10-01T17:23:02Z")
It’s a scam. Rule of thumb…if you have to pay them money upfront…it’s a scam. If it sounds to good to be true…it’s a scam. ---
**Author:** ![DPWhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DPWhite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPWhite)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/3 "2001-10-01T17:28:48Z")
Professional mailing services charge about a dime per envelope, so if someone is willing to pay you 2000 percent mark-up, someone is supposed to be a chump. And don’t do any money holding for Nigerians either. ---
**Author:** ![doggus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@doggus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doggus)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/4 "2001-10-01T17:29:34Z")
For the one I’m talking about, They ask for $10.00 to cover the cost of sending you start up material, but they say there are no further charges after that. One question I have is this…Machines can automate this process, how could it be cheaper to hire people? Please give me hard facts to convince me if this is a scam or not. ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/5 "2001-10-01T17:31:32Z")
It’s almost always a scam. Having said that, though, my wife and I (in our youth) stuffed envelopes a few times and made some money. This wasn’t through a mail order scam, but from a parent’s friend’s local home-based bulk-mailing company. After a few hours (and some wax-like tacky stuff you put on your fingers to help pick up paper), we got pretty fast at it. I don’t recall the pay per envelope, but at top speed we were making the equivalent of just over minimum wage, so it wasn’t quite a get-rich-quick scheme 🙂 As **Reeder** points out, if you have to pay them money up front, it’s a scam. I didn’t pay anything to stuff the envelopes- I just drove over to pick them up (along with the inserts), and drove back with them stuffed, and picked up a check. Arjuna34 ---
**Author:** ![DPWhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DPWhite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPWhite)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/6 "2001-10-01T17:35:18Z")
Doggus: Okay, send in your $10 (last you will see of that) and give us some hard facts about who it is and exactly what they want you to do. If it is legit, I’ll give up the practice of law and send out envelopes for $2 each and make a lot more money. In fact, I’ll hire people at minimum wage to do it for me. ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/7 "2001-10-01T17:35:22Z")
Here’s one website about the scam:[ [Stuffing Envelopes Information Site](http://members.tripod.com/jruizleon/stuffing_envelopes.htm) A pertinent quote from it: > [@](#): > > Please read these stuffing envelope companies legal disclaimers! They clearly state what they will and will not actually pay you for doing. Their legal disclaimer is how they avoid lawsuits and stay in business. Some of these company legal disclaimers actually tell you that it would be insane to pay anyone to just stuff an envelope for a dollar or more! Arjuna34 ---
**Author:** ![doggus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@doggus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doggus)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/8 "2001-10-01T17:43:20Z")
No need to get hot, DP I told you…$2.00 per stuffed envelope. I’ll copy the email to my next post and leave compnay info out. I just don’t want hundereds of people telling me it sounds like a scam. I know it does. But is there any proof that anyone knows about? I admit… I don’t even know where to look to find it, hence my GENERAL QUESTION. ---
**Author:** ![Acco40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Acco40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acco40)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/9 "2001-10-01T17:48:40Z")
**Doggus** : do a search in GQ with the keywords being “stuffing” “envelopes” “money” and it’ll spit out a bunch of threads about this very subject… and they’re all compelling. Basically, from what I understand now, you pay your money and they send you instructions. The instructions say to make x amount of copies of the instructions and mail them away to a certain list… like a pyramid scheme. How they could promise $2/envelope is unfathomable… I still haven’t figured that part out yet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![doggus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@doggus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doggus)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/10 "2001-10-01T17:54:03Z")
Gotta admit, the option of writing down the applicaton on a piece of notebook paper seems a little suspect. But please, read and respond. HOME-MAILERS NEEDED! $300-$1000 PLUS WEEKLY Simple, pleasant work…you do at home. Dear Friend, Are you seeking a rewarding second income? Would you like to set your own work schedule? Work the hours you choose? Earn extra income for your family? If so, then we may have the answer. Current statistics show that by the year 2010, 40-60% of the American work-force will be working from home. Get a jump on your future and secure a job through us. Our company provides a service to thousands of people and businesses across the United States. With your help, we can reach and provide a better service to more of these people and businesses, faster and at a lower cost than our competitors. We handle a marketing program called the xxxxxxxxxxxxxx, which consists of envelope processing and mailing. These positions require no special skills or experience, just a sincere desire to GET STARTED, and EARN MONEY! YOU CAN EARN GOOD MONEY!!! Potential incomes range from $300 to $1000 weekly or more. Pay rate is based on a $2.00 per envelope basis. The average home-mailer stuffs anywhere from 150 to 500 envelopes a week, depending on the amount of free time they have available. The envelopes you process can make you a substantial income. You’ll find this work, done easily and quickly, can double or even triple your income. With just one or two hours per day you will be excitedly surprised at how easy we’ve made it and how profitable this work actually is. You can earn enough money working in your spare time to purchase that new car or boat you’ve been wanting, pay off credit cards, bills, or even take a vacation. Maybe just add more financial security for yourself or your family. Whatever the reason, you can’t go wrong. ALL BUSINESS CAN BE DONE RIGHT FROM YOUR OWN HOME You can start the same day you receive our materials and begin receiving money within a matter of days. These positions require no prior experience or special skills. We’ll get you up and running as fast as possible. Checks are mailed out every two weeks on the 1st and 16th of the month. HELP SOLVE YOUR MONEY PROBLEMS If you are looking for an excellent extra income to relieve financial pressures, you owe it to yourself to investigate our program. Naturally, no company can afford to send out costly materials to everyone who writes in asking for it. Therefore, we must ask each applicant for a one time application processing fee of $10.00. This fee covers processing and the materials you will receive upon your acceptance and is returned to you with your first check. It also assures us that you are serious about working with our company as a home-mailer. We will not ask or require you to pay us for any additional information, instructions, or materials to stay with us, and stay with us as long as you desire. If for any reason you are not accepted into our home-mailers program, your processing fee will be sent directly back to you. There is no hassle. However, you must act promptly. At this time we are in need of dependable home-mailers in your area, of whom may start in the very near future. There are only a limited number of positions needed for each region of the country and as soon as we have enough people to complete the needs in your area we will not be offering any more applications. We need your help now! So, if you’re a productive, positive person, we’re looking forward to working with you. SIMPLE, EASY, AND PROFITABLE, THIS PROGRAM IS THE BEST WAY TO MAKE AN EXCELLENT INCOME AT HOME. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, read on. If not, thank you for your time. We hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely Yours, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx Division Manager Start earning now. Here’s what you need to do. (1) Read, complete, and return the attached application. (2) Enclose your one time application processing fee of $10.00. (3) All correspondence and materials will be addressed to you. Please open on day of arrival. (4) Follow all instructions when processing and mailing. (5) If you find yourself pressed for time, you can stop work with us and come back at a later date, but we must insist you maintain a high level of quality when processing and mailing. OUR STEP-BY-STEP SYSTEM OF MAILING IS SIMPLE, AND OUR INSTRUCTIONS ARE WRITTEN IN AN EASY TO FOLLOW LANGUAGE. There is a way to earn a substantial income at home… The xxxxxxxxxxxxx program. YOUR SERVICES ARE NEEDED NOW. Please Respond Today! Positions are limited and time can affect your acceptance for desired positions. FILL OUT APPLICATION AND RETURN TO OUR ADDRESS BELOW Last Name:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ First Name:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Mailing Address:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ City:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ State:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Zip Code:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Home Tel.#: (**_)-_ Age:** Date of Birth:_ **/** _/\_\_\_\_\_\_ E-mail Address:\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Do you work more than 40 hours per week?YesNo (READ AND SIGN BELOW) By signing, I state that I am seriously interested in becoming a home-mailer for your company and not just out to satisfy my curiosity. I wish to have the necessary materials and instructions sent to me at the above address. I understand that xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx is not a get-rich-quick scheme and that the fee I am enclosing is an application processing fee which will be returned to me with my first check. Signature\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Date:_ **/** _/\_\_\_\_\_ Code # JDA915 \*\*PLEASE NOTE: We are currently over-staffed in the state of Indiana and are no longer offering positions there until further notice. \*\*Processing fee must be in US FUNDS ONLY please. \*If applicant is under 18 have a guardian sign above and indicate age of applicant. \*If you don’t have access to a printer, you may copy the application onto regular notebook paper. Please use pen. (NOTE: Please be sure to include the Code # on your application. Applications without a Code # can not be processed.) \*All fees are one time fees. You will not be required, asked, or need to pay us any other fees to stay with us and stay as long as you like. All potential pay rates are Guaranteed! \*Please note that personal checks may be held up to 30 days for bank clearance. If you are eager to get started, you should use a Money Order for your processing fee. Send Application and a $10.00 Check or Money Order (US FUNDS ONLY) made payable to xxxxxxxxxxxxx. Send to: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx USA Because we are a company recruiting people from the public we must assure you that we are the BEST company to work with and that we provide the MOST PROFITABLE income. Because we require an initial fee to get started, many people are skeptical, and miss out on a great opportunity. This fee covers our expenses for materials, postage, processing, and assures us that you are serious about working with xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. We know that current home-mailers are happy and making an excellent income just from reading their testimonials. This makes us happy and enables us to succeed and continue our success together. Here are just a couple of the many testimonials received from home-mailers: I want to thank you for giving me this opportunity to work for your company. It couldn’t have come along at a better time. The work is so simple and the pay is incredible. My wife and I have been stuffing envelopes together part-time and are exceeding what either of us make at our full-time jobs. Thanks again! J. Thomas ------ Miami, FL Thanks for everything, Ron! I was having trouble making ends meet at my present employment. But thanks to you and your home-mailers program, I was able to pay off some old bills and put money in the bank. Now I’m looking forward to taking a well deserved vacation. M. Daniels ----- Seattle, WA Why do we need home-mailers? The cost of supplying an office is more expensive than most people may think. The cost of office space per square foot, taxes employing mailing staff, taxes employing supervisors, taxes, medical insurance, dental insurance, and office liability insurance, multiplied by each region we cover, all involving paperwork, accountants and more taxes. WE NEED YOUR SERVICES TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY! Your role in our company is as an Independent Commission Mailer, not an employee. We will not take taxes from your checks and we cannot offer medical or dental insurance. As a home-mailer, your residence and many other aspects of everyday living can be declared business expenses. Receive cash-back on your taxes! You may request copies of personal materials at any time at no charge to yourself. You can start the same day you receive our materials and begin receiving money within days and have a steady income as long as you desire. These positions require no prior experience or special skills. There are many distribution companies who want to expand their businesses, but do not want to pay the higher expenses. It is much easier to have independent home-mailers earn money doing this work themselves. This program is designed to help people cash in with a company who needs home-mailers. The home-mailers program has been perfected so that it has become one of the most successful and profitable programs ever and is supplying people around the world with excellent primary and secondary incomes. We invite you to take part in our success. The money you earn is up to you. We do not require that you mail a certain number of envelopes each week. You can take on whatever amount of business that fits your schedule and you can stop whenever you want. There are no obligations. There is no need to do any door to door selling or phone soliciting. You may work in the comfort of your own home, choose your own hours and set your own pace. No need to leave your present job. Form workshops with your friends or get the whole family to join in. The possibilities are UNLIMITED! DUE TO COMPANY EXPANSION YOUR SERVICES ARE NEEDED NOW. Thank you, and we’re looking forward to working with you, together in the future. _«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»_ _«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»_ _«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»_ ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/11 "2001-10-01T17:55:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by doggus \* > \*\*But is there any proof that anyone knows about? I admit… I don’t even know where to look to find it, hence my GENERAL QUESTION. \*\* We can’t _prove_ your particular offer is a scam without knowing more about it, besides the mathematical impossibility of anyone being able to pay $2/envelope. However, as my previous post suggested, the fine print of their legal disclaimer may well tell you what you need to know. THAT’s where I’d start looking. Arjuna34 ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/12 "2001-10-01T18:03:58Z")
Well, having read the email, it looks like you have to pay $10 just to _see_ the agreement. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/13 "2001-10-01T18:09:50Z")
You’ve blanked out the address (probably a good idea. If you hadn’t, the moderators would have), but I’m going to guess that they are based in Indiana. That’s because they specifically say they don’t want anyone from that state. I’m guessing this is not due to overstaffing, but to avoid some legal issue. Perhaps what they’re doing is illegal in-state, but is allowed inter-state. Anyway, I don’t think anyone can offer proof whether this particular one is a scam or not, based on this info. It just seems likely. It’s really hard to see what you’d be doing that would be worth $2 per envelope. ---
**Author:** ![doggus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@doggus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doggus)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/14 "2001-10-01T18:12:19Z")
maybe it’s a bonus for all the licking… Wouldn’t it be nice if it weren’t a scam though? I like the way they discourage curious inquiries. ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/15 "2001-10-01T18:23:12Z")
> [@](#): > > Pay rate is based on a $2.00 per envelope basis I take this to mean that the ridiculous claims of $300-$1000 per week is based on getting $2.00 per envelope, **not** that they’re paying you $2.00 per envelope. Notice that nowhere in the email does it say “you will earn $2.00 per envelope”. You probably have to find your own customers, which you then convince (yeah, right) to pay you to stuff envelopes at the rate of $2.00 per… ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/16 "2001-10-01T18:25:27Z")
150 to 500 envelopes a week. Hmmm. In my old office, we’d send out very small batches of mail, say 40-60 at a time. I got to the point where I could stuff two envelopes a minute (that includes sticking on the label, sealing it and running it through the postage meter.) Our office manager could easily do three a minute. If I could get $2 for stuffing each envelope, that means I could earn $120 an hour, and someone who’s good at it could easily earn $180 dollars an hour. Why on earth would anyone stop at 500 envelopes a week if you could work only 20 hours a week and earn $2,400. I can’t check it right now, but I believe Cecil once did a column on this, wherein he noted that what you’re doing is sending out the “license agreement” and making your money from people who pay you the $10 to get copies of the license agreement that they send to other people. As for Indiana. . . they’ve probably already agreed to the concent order or have been served an injunction there. ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/17 "2001-10-01T18:32:28Z")
**kunilou** , you’re right, Cecil DID have a column on this: [Can you make big money stuffing envelopes at home?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_358.html) Arjuna34 ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/18 "2001-10-01T18:36:01Z")
Almost all internet-based (or snail-mail based) envelope-stuffing opportunities are scams. Here’s a good [article](http://www.friendsinbusiness.com/scams/envelopes.shtml) on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![doggus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@doggus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doggus)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/19 "2001-10-01T19:06:14Z")
Thanks for the links. I am enlightened. Knew that there was a catch. Just wanted to know what the catch was. The things people will do to others to make money…it makes me sad for the world. Well, I gotta get back to ripping off my own company. Thanks everyone. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791/20 "2001-10-01T19:22:48Z")
All the information you could want about the envelope stuffing scam, and more, is here: [http://www.friendsinbusiness.com/scams/catalog.shtml](http://www.friendsinbusiness.com/scams/catalog.shtml) Hope this helps. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuffing-envelopes-for-money/84791.md?page=2)