Does anyone still use the PHYSICAL Yellow pages (or yellow book whatever they callit)

[Merlocke]

I've just noticed that mine's been sitting on top of my fridge collecting dust for ages now. I think I opened it once by accident because it fell off of said fridge. I can't remember the last time I didn't just use google... anyone else still sporting around one of these things? I suppose you could use it for kindling if it ever got too cold and the heat went out...

[remy1492]

once, in the last 8 years or so, just once.

Most here use them as target practice. Its an incredible waste of paper but since its all advertising revenue and sponsored by local lawyers, I suppose it will never go away.

[monkeysugar]

I use it at work on a fairly regular basis, when I'm trying to figure out what to order for lunch. Cell phones are prohibited at all posts where I work, and the internet is heavily filtered/monitored, so grabbing the phone book and making a few calls to find what I'm craving is sometimes the only option available.

[uncle phil]

all the time...

[Meditrina]

There should be a way to opt out of receiving them. I just found a new one at my door. I don't use it. Ever. What a waste of paper.

[Baraka_Guru]

They have their uses. For example, you can use them for doing a job search, as you could peruse the listings by business category.

Sure there are business directories online, but I'm sure just having them as a hardcopy in front of you could be useful.

Me? I haven't used one in years. They're about as useful to me as encyclopedias.

[genuinegirly]

My rabbit uses them. All the time.
Not for their intended use.
Shredding, digging, bedding...
People give them to her as gifts.

[lurkette]

I actually do, particularly when I'm looking for home repair/service businesses. The online yellow pages don't have the kind of detail that I can get at a glance from the display ads in the yellow pages: do they offer free estimates, same-day service, etc.?

[Reese]

I use them a lot. It's really hard to find businesses around here on the net unless you know exactly what you're looking for and even then, it's not guaranteed. It's easier and more convenient to grab the phone book.

I really do think they should be opt-in or opt-out though.

[snowy]

Originally Posted by lurkette

I actually do, particularly when I'm looking for home repair/service businesses. The online yellow pages don't have the kind of detail that I can get at a glance from the display ads in the yellow pages: do they offer free estimates, same-day service, etc.?

The business listings on Google are getting there, though.

The other day I had to explain to a much younger worker of mine how to use the phone book. She was trying to find out what time a church in town had services, and couldn't figure out where to look. I remember once upon a time when I used to read the phone book for fun (I liked the pages on what to do in an emergency).

[LordEden]

I've used one every once in awhile or when I didn't have access to the net. I've used it for repairs and lawyers then researched them on the net. I do agree it's a waste of paper.

[genuinegirly]

Originally Posted by snowy

I remember once upon a time when I used to read the phone book for fun (I liked the pages on what to do in an emergency).

I did this, too! It was actually handy to have the numbers like poison control and local police office memorized, or to be able to turn to them in a jiffy.

[Orchrist]

This made me think of this episode of Mythbusters:

YouTube - Mythbusters - Phone Book Friction

YouTube - Mythbusters - Phone Book Friction

and there was one about ripping a phonebook in half too, those are about the only times recently I can remember seeing phonebooks.

Every once in awhile I might find a need to pull it out, but that's VERY rare and only after I've exhausted all other resources.

[Sedge]

Once a month or so...quicker than booting up. I also read the daily paper, use the library for DVDs to watch, try not to shop at Walmart, wash my own car, use a charcoal grill, and couldn't tell you a single artist in the Top 40 for the last ten years. Just out of touch I guess.

[Jetée]

• New Survey Shows 81 Percent of US Adults Willing to "Opt-In" to Receive the White Pages Phone Book to Save the Environment and Tax Dollars
• New phone books bring choices: keep or recycle?
• Recycling Your Phonebooks

[snowy]

Originally Posted by Sedge

Once a month or so...quicker than booting up. I also read the daily paper, use the library for DVDs to watch, try not to shop at Walmart, wash my own car, use a charcoal grill, and couldn't tell you a single artist in the Top 40 for the last ten years. Just out of touch I guess.

The library is an awesome place for DVDs.

[Lindy]

I keep a phone book in my car, under the seat, and use the Yellow Pages every now and then. Also sometimes in a hotel room when I'm on the road. Good way to find food or auto service when in an unfamiliar area. Yellow pages recently directed me to a great pizza in Terre Haute, Indiana, a place called Monical's (part of a regional chain).

Lindy

[Chicory]

I still use the yellow pages, but less and less I've found.

[Merlocke]

Ok, so this was kinda like a poll to see if another business venture that I'm working on would be beneficial or not. Most online business directories suck, cost too much, and are just plain ugly. I wanted to create one that looked good, delivered way more value than the yellow book, and even the digital version of the yellow book. I had no idea until a YP rep approached me that it cost hundreds of dollars a month just to put up a listing with a map and a video... So I built something that did everything the "big expensive package" did and am gonna sell it for peanuts so businesses actually have marketing money to spend elsewhere, and donate 20% of the proceeds to local charities to give back tot the communities. If you wanna see the site, pm me and I'll give you the link. With blessing from the mods, perhaps I could structure a way to benefit the tfp. I've been wanting to do something that produces an evergreen income source for our community for awhile now.

[Wes Mantooth]

I use the yellow pages all the time along with my fax machine, floppy disks, rotary dial phone, CompuServe account and adding machine, its the only way to run an efficient business. Why this very evening when I was having trouble locating typewriter ribbon the yellow pages came in VERY handy and while all you fools would probably be driving around from business to business wasting time I simply looked up the number and had new ribbon sent out COD! Quick and efficient.

Heheh, nah I can see how having a copy could be useful in a bind but really the yellow pages (and phone books in general) are becoming more and more obsolete. Personally I never use it and now that I think about it I don't think I've even seen a phone book in a few years now.

[lurkette]

Also, the Yellow Pages are excellent for hollowing out a space to hide stuff. Just sayin'. Not that I have anything to hide. Exacto+white glue = stash!

[sephir]

I stopped a while ago.

[Grancey]

I used the yellow pages just yesterday to find a new glass company in another city. A local glass company recently bought out the other two that were here, and now their customer service sucks.

[FelixP]

I used them in the past when I was still a sub-contractor; they're easier to use than a computer when you're in a truck. Now if I need something I try to find it on the internet or use a trusted store I already know about.

[Martian]

If I'm looking for a specific organization or business, I Google it. If I'm looking for a category, I turn to the Yellow Pages. Perhaps this is a habit thing, but it's worth noting that the Yellow Pages are not prone to SEO.

[dogzilla]

I use them because it's easier to find local businesses in a category than to have to try to filter out all the unrelated hits in a search engine. Also, when I travel I use them to find restaurants.

[World's King]

Originally Posted by uncle phil

all the time...

My grandparents are the only ones I know that still use it.

[ring]

Funny how some people are under the impression that everyone has 'round the clock
access to a computer,
and if they do, that all numbers are available.

Where I live, ( smallish mid-western city)
it's common for most households to have 5 or 6 different books.

Even then, some areas are not covered, & numbers you would think should be listed
are not. (it's a conspiracy to get you to spend 75 cents by dialing information.)

[greytone]

It has been years since I have even brought one inside the house. I pick them up on the front step and drop them in the recycle bin the day they are delivered.

[Merlocke]

Originally Posted by ring

Funny how some people are under the impression that everyone has 'round the clock
access to a computer,
and if they do, that all numbers are available.

Where I live, ( smallish mid-western city)
it's common for most households to have 5 or 6 different books.

Even then, some areas are not covered, & numbers you would think should be listed
are not. (it's a conspiracy to get you to spend 75 cents by dialing information.)

That's a really interesting angle. Just living where I am I can see at least one person in 3 has a smartphone with Internet of some kind so it's almost foreign to me to not have Internet acess. In fact this is being written via an iPad of which I see at least 2 other people using one in my area.

[Xerxys]

I use it to wrap and provide cushioning for my packages.

[Merlocke]

Most interesting usage? Martial arts training. Strap it to a big ol' tree and throw 100 punches every day. Every day, tear off a page. Wash rinse repeat. When you get to the end, you're a ninja ( or a lumberjack... )

[m0rpheus]

I use it most of the time I'm ordering take out. Don't know why, I look up everything else online but for some reason I always grab the physical phone book for ordering food.

[MexicanOnABike]

it's still faster than turning on the computer and checking out the yellowpage.ca website.

but it's rare. about 5-10 times a year.