Why Is There So Much Mail From the Census?

[undertheradar]

Okay, I thought the letter advising that the census was coming and to watch for it in the mail was a waste. Received the census the day after that letter. Received a postcard reminding me to fill out and mail the census that was received 10 days ago. How much money could be saved by just sending the census and not the warnings or reminders?

 

[NotUrsula]

I thought the same thing, but then I realized that if you don't answer, they have to send out a human being, and a LOT of people don't answer.

Under normal circumstances the cost of those extra "warning, here it comes" mailings really irritates me, but this time it probably makes financial sense. Even four mailings is still cheaper than sending out someone to try to interview you in person.

 

[buckler]

I saw an interview with the person that heads the Census. He said that all the mailings actually save money because they increase the number of responses by a significant percentage. Every household that does not respond has to be visited in person (perhaps multiple times to catch someone at home). They have to pay people to do the home visits so the mailings are more cost effective.

 

[mlittig]

I don't know but a letter telling me that they are sending me the census form seems like such a waste to me

 

[DancingBear]

They've actually done the studies that show that they get a better response with the multiple mailings, and since they must send somebody out of you don't respond, it's a significant cost savings.

http://2010.census.gov/news/release...ion-households-to-receive-advance-letter.html

 

[disney1990]

And, depending on where you live in the country, those Census employees are making up to $20 an hour.

 

[brittsmum1998]

The people who don't answer the census are the ones who will ignore the reminders anyways.

This seemed like a total waste of money to me. I've already sent ours back and rec'd the postcard today.

I was thinking maybe I shouldn't have sent it in and messed w/ their head.

Then my maturity level increased.

 

[Fire14]

we have gotten nothing here. I want darn thing so i can fill it out. catching someone home is next to impossible here.

 

[Robinrs]

My county missed out on 41 million federal dollars last time due to the undercounting. I agree, those people who don't answer will never do it no matter what the push.

I'm sure they balanced out the shipping and advertising costs to what they can gain.

 

[disney1990]

we have gotten nothing here. I want darn thing so i can fill it out. catching someone home is next to impossible here.

You haven't received your Census form yet? Have your neighbors?

 

[Fire14]

You haven't received your Census form yet? Have your neighbors?

No form yet and haven't seen any to ask. My coworkers haven't said if they had or not and I havn't seen any for residents.

 

[bicker]

The people who don't answer the census are the ones who will ignore the reminders anyways.

That's actually not the case. They've actually done the studies that show that they get a better response with the reminders.

This seemed like a total waste of money to me.

Again, that's not the case, but rather the opposite is true: It saves money, not wastes money.

 

[Keli]

I'm probably one of those that the multiple mailings encourage to fill it out and actually send it in. Things like that tend to slip my mind unless I'm reminded a lot.

 

[mykidsand_i]

Yeah, it makes sense...they are saving money by sending out reminders on paper instead of sending out people! 40cents is a heck of a lot less than $20-$30 an hour!

My only complaint was that they didn't have it available to do online. Everything else now days is done online- why can't this be done online as well? I believe more people would do it if there were an online option. I have friends who rarely even check their mail- it's a p.o. box and they need to go to the post office to get it- they go once a week (or sometimes less) because of the hassle to drive there and pick it up only to find that it's all junk mail anyways.

OR, instead of visiting a persons home, why can't they simply call them? My grandpa threw his away when it came, because he didn't understand what it was. He HATES junk mail and if he doesn't recognize the sender as his one and only credit card company/it's his statement or if the sender is not a personal friend/relative of his- he throws it away. Not saying that's right- but he's stubborn and he has MS and doesn't take the time to read things. I know MANY other elderly people do the same thing!

 

[hereyago]

We got a postcard saying they hadnt gotten our Census back yet. Really, because it usually takes a couple days. I got the Census on friday, mailed on saturday. Then today, get the postcard?

 

[lillygator]

I wonder, can they actually enforce anything legal if you don't fill it out? It isn't sent with sig confirmation.

 

[FireDancer]

The people who don't answer the census are the ones who will ignore the reminders anyways.

That is my thought as well. I think secretly they are sending so much mail as a way of subsidizing the post office without having to justify it to us.

 

[dolphinrescuegirl]

Hey, I didn't get my reminder postcard and it's been a week that we have had our census. I keep forgetting to fill it out.

 

[mkel34]

And, depending on where you live in the country, those Census employees are making up to $20 an hour.

$22.75 in the Boston area.

 

[DancingBear]

I wonder, can they actually enforce anything legal if you don't fill it out? It isn't sent with sig confirmation.

Enforce what?