What The Point Of A Phonebook Anymore? How Do I Stop Getting One Every 3 Months?

Any facts to support these statements or are they just your assumptions based on your own use of the internet and that of other bloggers, who are also obviously heavy internet users?

>>I have to think that the people that advertise in phonebooks either come from small towns or are over the age of 70 and don’t know how to open Google and type what you’re looking for.<>Yes, there ARE people that use them and I don’t discredit the need for them in SOME communities; albeit mostly senior citizen communities,<>80% of people just put them directly in their recycle bin<<

@Tom – The 80% piece was pulled from Reuters homepage here. But I’d say, in regards to the “over 50 and small communities” bit that there is a 97.28% chance I made those numbers up. However, in lieu of Helen’s comment above I will change that number to “over 70″. That should bump my theoretical number system up to cover 99.11% of people…

Also, I see your IP address is coming from yellowbook.com so clearly you have a vested interest in how this article is taken by the public. How about finding ways to keep it a happy medium? I have no problem with the phonebook (aside from the tree consumption). I more specifically have a gripe with MY phonebook. I personally don’t want one, and I’m sure there are others that feel the same way. Why don’t you give people an opportunity to get the phonebook if they want to?

Yea, your advertising arm may feel it a bit, but you’d be giving the phone book to people that want it, would save hundreds of thousands of trees, and stop evil bloggers like myself of criticizing your system…

I will admit to being under 70 and using a phone book from time to time. If I didn’t have a phone book, though, I’d find other ways to get the info I need.

My husband worked for a smaller phone book company in sales, and I think the reason businesses advertise in the phone book is that traditionally it was a good way to get customers. Same with the newspaper. But as we know, times are changing, and eventually the businesses will figure it out and move on to other advertising venues.

As far as getting rid of them, check with your local schools. Our elementary school does a phone book drive every spring. They get money for every phone book brought in to be recycled. Also, our local post office also has a big recycle box out, too, and people always dump their phone books (and junk mail) in there.

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Please get your facts straight:

1) the Paperless Petition is a bogus organization: http://ypgreen.wordpress.com/2008/01/21/when-is-a-petition-for-change-is-not-a-petition/

2) Neg Norton is the head of the industry association, not the publisher Yellow Book

3) the printed books were referenced nearly 14 billion times last year. Appears many people are using them.

You haven’t used one in ten years you say? How come? 87% say these use it at least once a year. It’s a heck of lot faster than culling through some one zillion hits you get on a Google type search

@Greendimes – Do let us know what they say! We’d be interested!

@Lynnae – Didn’t think of the schools and post office, but yea, they make sense! I have a big recycle bin at my dayjob also but am more complaining about the process than where to dump it – I’m all for recycling!

@MrsMicah – Good call – smaller directories seem to work just fine for me also. No ads and those are wanted phone listing for EVERYONE that gets one.

@kenc – Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate the conversation. A few items of note though:
1. I didn’t say they were “facts” anywhere in the post; they were simply other resources that have referenced the material in question. See the links in each of the posts to see my source on them. I have corrected and credited you with the find – thanks for keeping me honest.

2. I am all for “seeing both sides of the coin” in regards to PaperlessPetition.org, but again, it’s just a place to go that I haven’t verified, as stated above. I usually like to see 3 or 4 things stating the same thing to prove or disprove what I’ve read and I’ve seen it here, here, here, and here. Additionally, I see you’re the author of ypgreen.wordpress.com, so please forgive me when I say I am not completely convinced and to please send more info on this, which leads to point #3.

3. I see from your email address that you are from yptalk.com which is “the voice of of the YellowPage Industry” as stated on the site there. I understand that I’m possibly chiming in against your marketing strategies, but instead of discrediting the non-factual information I provided (and stated that it wasn’t tested by me), how about working together with the proper organizations to come up with a solution instead of trying to push old-school advertising still? There are clearly plenty of people that are still “in” with phonebook directories, but instead of spamming the advertising, give it to people that want it, you’ll probably see better return on your investment by hitting up the people that are using it, and saving $ on people who are just tossing it in the trash.

4. I’m not saying it’s a bad service and that the Phonebook companies should be disbanded and thousands out of jobs; absolutely not. I’m just saying that I don’t think EVERYONE needs them. Yes, businesses, and bus stops, phone booths, shopping malls, etc. need them. I think they should stay there, but as for a persons home, that should be left to the homeowner. Some homes DON’T have internet and use the phonebook a lot. Feel free to give them a phonebook, I’m all for that, but give me the CHOICE is all I’m saying.

5. Finally, I referenced your information in the post, but I’d certainly be interested in your factual information that the book was used 14 billion times
last year. Does that count booster seat and firestarter paper like Helen said? Same thing with the 87% of people using them? 87% of WHAT people? Where’s that info?

I DO appreciate the conversation though. The post was meant to get some information like this that I, and the readers, haven’t had before. It’s nice to see both sides of the coin and this might even be a good place for a poll; which I’ve also added. No hard feelings at all, enjoying the convo, just interested to hear how we can help with the change that is certainly happening with the old media advertising morphing to new media advertising.

@JeffL – Thanks for posting! Nice to meet you! And yes, good point, I haven’t ever searched for anything with 1 zillion hits either! Good point about the littering too. I’m assuming there is some “fine print” somewhere that phonebookers are getting around, because by the looks of it here on the .gov site, that it isn’t legal. Anyone have any info on how that works?

I know what you are talking about they just waste space. But the good news is that in my area they have not issued them in ages. No one uses them anymore they are just a waste of money to print and distribute.

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I got a phone number…

You can be put on our “Do Not Distribute” list by contacting our distribution department- 800-373-3280.
Thank you

I would try that and use yellowbook.com for your listings. I’m curious how people like using yellowbook.com as opposed to their paper directory.

I don’t like my phonebook either. I have had MORE than enough and welcome an option to get out of getting it for sure!!!! Thanks Sanjdimes for the info! I like your service too! good blog!~

Hank:

Not sure what other items you feel you are missing out on.

1> if you are not posting the facts and not wanting true full information then why are you you running this blog? I can only give you the facts and then you have to decide how to present and/or accept them.

2> the site you reference has NEVER contacted a singular publisher in the years they have been collecting names/information. After repeated attempts to contact them, no response has been received. What would you call a site like that other than bogus???

Yes, I have a blog http://www.ypgreen.info which was only started to combat the misinformation that folks like Paperless Petition continue to spew in hyperspace.

3> yes, I do run a site http://www.yptalk.com which provides information to people who work in the YP industry, but your suggestion of “working with people in proper organizations to come up with a solution instead of trying to push old-school advertising” is naive. Who are those “proper organizations”?? Groups like the Paperless Petition are clearly far from that. And there are several million small businesses that rely on that “old-school advertising” better know as print Yellow Pages to communicate their business message. There have always been people that for one reason or another don’t choose to keep a phone book. Ok, please recycle it and let’s move on, It’s just a phone book. You do have a choice. Don’t want it — recycle it.

5> I can only provide the factual information. Whether you or others choose to believe it is up to them. But the research conducted is by some of the most highly respected media research groups out there. To think they are baking the results of some 9000 surveys is just silly at best.

Your posting of these comments does reflect positively on your site. Prior experience has been that others who don’t really want to hear a balanced discussion will block it , so kudos on posting these comments

BTW…. I’m 26 and still use the books as well as the internet too.

Thanks,
J

Wow. What a passionate discussion. But there is a site that does allow consumers to opt out from getting telephone books: http://www.YellowPagesGoesGreen.org
This site does contact publishers (Ken C – unlike the paperless petition people you reference)
If you go to their site: http://www.YellowPagesGoesGreen.org you can see the Top 10 suggestions people have provided to stop the delivery of unwanted telephone books. The site states they are not against the books just the way they are dropped off and the consumers is responsible to recycle something they may not have wanted in the first place.

@Alex Ireland – AH! Nice! I’m signing up now! We’ll see how it cooks up, I’ll re-post this in the future if we’re seeing progress here…

@ Andrew Spears – I hear you man. I’m all for signing up if I WANT one, otherwise, please refrain!

Thank you both for stopping by to comment!

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@Phillip – glad to have you around. Indeed a good service to have you swing by to discuss! It gives credibility to the service! Looking forward to having you stop my phonebooks! Just signed up today!

Bill – Thanks for the follow up. The information is sent to all the publishers in North America. We have received feedback from some asking the info be sorted in a different format and from some saying that they do not accept this info from a 3rd party using comments similar to yours as the reasons.

We were told that one publisher audited the info and stated that 50% of the people did not sign up. We proposed that the database be given to another 3rd party to verify the people did indeed sign up and the names are not bogus. Every sign up receives and auto reply that they have to click to submit their name. If the auto reply is blocked (Comcast.net is bad at this) we contact the individual to inform them we received their request.

We even proposed that we will turn the list of to any Attorney General from any state to verify each request.

I understand your issues but have to wonder what motivation would a mischievous competitor, a teenager who may not be speaking for other members of the family, or a disgruntled husband/wife/former employee/you name it want to come into http://www.YellowPagesGoesGreen.org and opt out a residential home from getting a telephone book delivered? Would an ex-husband think this is the most disastrous thing he could do to his ex-wife by having the telephone book not delivered to her house? I would propose he would like to know when she is out of town and have many books delivered so potential thieves canvassing her house can see she is out of town because the books are piling upon her front door. Do you realize this is one of the reasons that communities are asking for an opt out program because thieves canvass areas after the books are delivered and see which homes the books stay on the front porch and target these homes?

We have thousands of people signing up and the information is not being used other than to notify the publishers to act on the behave of the consumers to opt out from getting telephone books delivered that they do not want. The unsolicited delivery of telephone books is a big issue. To see some of the legislative initiatives that has been proposed or pending you can go to http://www.productstewardship.us/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=282.

I was a bit skeptical of what the site http://www.YellowPagesGoesGreen.org claimed to do when I first found it too, but I signed up regardless to give it a try. After waiting a few weeks post sign up, I decided to see if they did what they claimed to do. I looked at the publisher information on the most common phonebook I receive and I called them to see if they had received any of my information from http://www.YellowPagesGoesGreen.org. After being put on hold several times while being transferred to the correct department (typical of any big company) my phone book company confirmed that they had received my information and had opted my out of receiving the yellow pages like I had asked. PERFECT!

Thanks a lot http://www.YellowPagesGoesGreen.org! It’s about time someone came up with an effective site capable of tackling this enormous problem!

Bill = Sorry for not responding to you with a list of publishers that are accepting the opt out files from http://www.YellowPagesGoesGreen.org. I read earlier in a blog from a wise man the following quote:

“It’s like the old New Yorker cartoon – on the internet, nobody knows you’re a dog.”

What publisher or Yellow Page Company do you work for?

It appears John’s experience was a positive one with the opt out program we offer. Now you are asking him for personal information that you questioned in an earlier comment on why any one would provide this to a site that may use this information maliciously. Let’s see if John follows up and provides the publisher(s) in his area.

Now to answer your request to me for the list. Publishers have accepted the list and are using it to cross reference people who have asked to opt out from getting telephone books. Some publishers have stated they do not want the list. And others have stated they are taking the list but do not want other publishers to know.

It appears the industry knows it will have to have an opt out program. I prefer it be an opt in program in which no books are delivered unless a person calls to request one. The industry, if it has to accept a program, prefers an opt out hoping the largesse of the general population would stop them from calling.

The industry appears to have banded together in a cartel to tell consumers and legislators that an opt out program may not be delivered for years but they are working on it. Independently the publishers know this is diversion and would prefer the whole thing to go away. But, with an independent source like http://www.YellowPagesGoesGreen.org and a database of names of people that have asked to opt out the industry is put in a hard place. We have and continue to provide the list to legislators and communities that have contacted us for the constituents in their areas that have asked to opt out from getting books.

And our offer continues to be if the publishers feel the names are bogus we would provide the complete database to an Attorney General from any state to verify the information.

So now you have publishers who are accepting the list but do not want to be publicly noted (at least by us at http://www.YellowPagesGoesGreen.org) that they are indeed scrubbing their list and informing the delivery mechanisms like DDA to bypass the homes that have opted out. As an industry they publicly state no thanks but individually some are using the information to satisfy the request of the consumers and do not want their brethens to know.

@Phiip- I don’t think that asking about which publishers actually use the information from your site is “asking for personal information.” On the other hand, I found it more than a little creepy when you said: “We have and continue to provide the list to legislators and communities that have contacted us for the constituents in their areas that have asked to opt out from getting books.”

So, If I use your site to try to opt out from directory delivery, you’re turning my name over to the government? Yikes! Thanks, but no thanks. You might want to think about modifying the statement on your website that: “Your information is proprietary and will not be used by anyone for any means other than to support this campaign.”

I’m not trying to minimize your concerns. I’m sure there are some folks who would prefer not to automatically receive one or more directories. Most publishers will honor requests from their subscribers to stop future deliveries and some may even provide the directory on CD-ROM if the customer prefers.

Oh, and for what it’s worth, I am not employed by any publisher, although I used to be.

@Jason – Just so you know, trees aren’t cut down for directory paper. It is composed of recycled paper (newsprint and used directories) as well as sawmill waste (which comes from turning round trees into rectangular lumber.)

@Everyone – looks like a heated debate we’ve got cooking – please keep it civil.

@Mitch - thanks for the link to the yellowdinosaur.net! It’s an interesting site for sure and filled with a lot of good ideas!

@John – I’d hope you’d come back and hit on a few of your points in your experience with YellowPagesGoesGreen.org – sounds like people are interested in the experience – along with anyone else that’s been through the process!

@Jason - I never thought of the idea of putting them on a CD and dropping them at my house. I’m down with that idea!

@Phillip – thanks for stopping by and providing some input – one thing to note that may help convince folks is real people going through the experience. We had one in “John ” up above, but there are certainly more – would you be able to post something on your site or contact an individual or 2 that are seeing the effects of your service?

Have them swing by here and report how it is going, I’d be interested myself.

@Bill – I REALLY like the fact that the Yellow Pages is printed on 100% recyclable material. That’s AWESOME news!

But at the same time, the recycling mills aren’t operating on air, they’re using natural resources there as well to run the machines to make the books; cutting back on the NUMBER of books is going to help “energy consumption” as a whole I’d think.

Also, I posed the question to KenC up above, but I didn’t get a response there, but wouldn’t it save money for the phonebook company to print less books as well? It must cost a fair penny to cook up books. And especially if you’re seeing that product go directly to the recycle bin, it is not making money or helping anyone when that happens…

Wow! The Yellow Pages police are goose-stepping all over your post.

I can definately say that I have not used the phone book or yellow pages for at least 5 years. Why would I? I have more and better info on-line.

To the person who didn’t have time to look up a plumber on-line…are you using a Commodore 64? Also, if I did keep the book, it would take me longer to find the book than boot my computer.

I lived in a 700+ unit apartment building in DC. Every so often the building would get a delivery of useless phone/yellow pages books, which would be in the lobby for anyone to grab. 3 weeks later 90% of them would still be there as a testament to the fools who advertise in them.

What I would really like to do is drop my garbage off at the nearest phone/yellow book executives house, since that’s what they are essentially doing to me.

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