It’s not only gurus who are becoming obsolete. Some phone companies are no longer giving out phone books for residential numbers unless the customer requests one. Banthephonebook.com says if all phone companies adopt this idea it will save 5 million trees and $17 million in recycling costs each year.
People who opt out of getting the thick phone books will be able to look up numbers on the internet or can request a CD-ROM. I think it’s a great way to help the environment. What do you think?
In general great.
Would need to see the figures on embedded energy in CD’s and whether they are recyclable and so on.
Also people need a computer (or perhaps video?) already – shifting the costs to the customer.
Evan,
I also would like to see figures about CDs. I do know phone books are a real mess to recycle. And I’m guessing people who are online all the time wouldn’t bother asking for either.
our one here is a double job – probably be bigger next time as the ‘cities’ just almagated [?sp]. We have white pages and then yellow pages – I think the 2nd one has 2 large books…then we get a much smaller local one later in the year period.
i have a tendency to look on line as it’s the most update address or number for whomever
I wouldn’t want a CD but it would be great if there was just a plain 0800# (no charge) or you could look at some local council place ?a library.
Our libraries just combined with the new Supercity….before you were restricted on what your local council library had. Last week I ordered a book from a library about 2hrs drive from here! Exciting to get a book from that far away 🙂
just went to look at your link – put a like/fb – then noticed you could opt out if in Aussie. I am not in Aussie. But I thought maybe something in NZ! NO
but found this….oh ‘more paper’ ‘more books’ http://tools.yellow.co.nz/portal/site/yellow/white-faq
“You will notice something a bit different this year when our 2010 Auckland Yellow™ and White pages® books hit the streets over the next month.
This year we’ve split the Auckland White pages® into two books – one for businesses and one for residential. Now it will be even easier for you to search and find what you are looking for.
Why? Because we know 70% of our White pages® look-ups are for businesses… so it made sense to make these listings easier for Aucklanders to get to. “
oh looked closer at that page – the last 2 questions relate to the matter!
of course, the stats don’t necessarily make it ‘alright’ do they!! Because it always depends on the ‘questions’ asked in the first place..
now on with my day 🙂
Online’s fine. (rhyme intended)
So many people don’t have a no. in the phone book because they have cell phones. I’ve lost touch with people of my past because I have no way of calling them.
I’m generally skeptical of claims made for environmental reasons, especially when it comes to saving trees. Trees, at least in America, are not endangered like they were in the early part of the last century. In many places, when trees are harvested, new trees are planted. (A couple of our friends used to travel the country supervising tree planting crews.)
The way I view things like phone books and junk mail is that they are a waste of a lot of resources that could be used for other things. Beyond the trees, there is the energy required to produce and deliver them, the ink, and other costs.
On the flip side, of course, is the fact that elimination of any product is going to result in the loss of jobs, not only in the production and delivery, but also in the raw material supply side.
Cathy,
Thanks for the link. It’s always interesting to see how other countries do things.
I tend to look up numbers on the internet too. It’s quicker and, as you say, it’s more up-to-date.
I know what you mean about the joy of getting books from other libraries. At our library we can get interlibrary loans from all over the country. It’s a wonderful resource. And it’s fun to see where the book comes from after we’ve put in our request.
I like your idea of there being a free number to call for phone numbers. It would be a nice backup in case our internet providers have trouble. It would save having to order a CD. I also agree that the local library should have print copies of the phone book.
bikehikbabe,
A lot of people are giving up their landlines and as you say, there’s no way we can look them up right now. Things are really changing!
Mike,
It does pay to be skeptical about environmental claims, but I think this one is a no-brainer. A lot of people don’t want to mess with phone books and now there are more effective ways of getting that information.
Mike, what I get ratty about when trying to find a listing is how it’s listed.
Particularily government depts that are forever changing their name – logo and everything else. One year they are ABC, the next year when you look under ABC they are not there anymore because now they HIJ! But you haven’t caught up with quite in the same way 🙂
Jean, one of the online problems is – sometimes the drop-down box wants you to know where they live – which town/city and you might not know! You’ve only a got a vague idea that it’s in Southland but now sure if it’s Nightcaps or Te Anau (yes there is place called Nightcaps in NZ – seems to me to be intriguing!)
Phone? But I use Skype and Facebook chat and email …
Cathy,
I agree with you about government agencies that change their names. But we can’t blame the phone company for that!
I think if the search function is good it should be easier to find a person online than in a phone book if you don’t know where the person lives. The city and address should be optional, to narrow the search if you have that information.
Looney,
I’m afraid we’re not that technologically advanced in my home. My husband even uses our rotary phone. 🙂