You’ve outstayed your welcome…

I got three new phone books, each weighing 7-10 pounds, dropped at my doorstep this week. I picked each one up and promptly deposited them right in the trash.

 
From Jessica Hagy’s blog: Indexed.

Comments

[stephy]

SERIOUSLY! My kids go "Why do they keep putting these phone books at our door?"

[Angie K.]

We actually do use our phone book from time to time, as the computer is not always on, and it's nice to be able to look up a phone number now and then without using electricity... I never use the yellow pages, but I use the business and personal section of the white pages. There are still enough "unwired" neighbors around that I think the lack of a phone directory could be a hardship. (Keep in mind that those who frequent the blogosphere are not necessarily an accurate sampling of society.)

[Matt Carlisle]

According to a CRM Associates study, a single Yellow Page ad will deliver on average 422 calls at a cost of $10.00 per-call nationally per year. That means that the average church is paying $4,220 per-year for a return of 422 calls.

According the same CRM study, a single White Page listing will deliver on average 365 calls at a cost of $.60 per-call nationally per-year. That adds up to $219.00 a year.

The White Page listing garners about as many phone calls and is significantly cheaper.

It's time for churches to stop letting their fingers do the walking and dump their Yellow Page ads.

[Cate]

I think that's how much all the bulletins I run every week weigh too and they all go in the garbage. Yet somehow people cannot let go of the sacred cow.

[David]

You can take yourself off the telephone directory mailing lists too.

http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/stop-yellow-pages/

[diane]

we just decided this year to stop creating ads for the phone book ads as wel1: 1. costly!(how can they get away with those prices?) 2. that's what google is for.
the phone companies (we have two) won't like it when we tell them that, but they can't even get our ads right in google let alone their own books, so it's time to say bu-bye. i'll be happy for the day they no longer exist. pre-cycle!

[Julian]

I just answered a phone survey about the phone books in my house. I told the surveyor that I never use the three that are delivered to my house. But they're handy when little kids visit and need a booster seat at the table. Maybe, just maybe, the phone company is waking up to the fact that they're killing a lot of trees for no reason.

[Kathy]

They're pretty handy during a power outage. :-)

[Michelle]

Yep, gotta love those online look-ups. I'm not entirely sure I know how to use the paper edition any more.

[Pauleek]

Isn't it fun to witness history. We will be able to say we watched the slow demise of the printed phone book (and probably other printed material).

[Jeremy Scheller]

I think those are recyclable. hint hint.

[Robin Arnold]

What's really sad is that businesses, including churches paid way too much for ads in them.

[Jami Ruth]

Me too, but I actually looked in the back at the coupons first, then put them in my recycle bin. :)

[Edwardlife]

Out of the 8 units in my apartment there is still a brick of six right by the door.

And that is only round one of the book deliveries. Must be at least two more companies enroute.

it may be time to Let. Them. Go.