1. 

   HL
   

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   Back when the stories were running about the city’s plans to change yellow-page directory rules, someone published links to opt out of several different directory deliveries. I filled out the forms on all of them.

   This past week, I noticed that Verizon’s SuperPages directory was being delievered (and piling up) in the neighborhood. I did not get one at my house, and instead they left a paper door hanger acknowledging that I had opted out of delivery, and providing a phone number to call if I wanted one after all. Acceptable, and compliant to my request.

   But to top it off, today I got a phone call at my home from Verizon Superpages. The very polite representative wanted to to follow up to make sure that I had NOT received a directory as their records showed me having opted out. The message also said that if I didn’t, no need to call back or do anything. But if I DID get a directory delivered in error, to call a toll free number and they would send someone out to retrieve it!! I must say, that’s going above and beyond! Way to go Verizon.

   Posted 2 years ago #
2. 

   stopgo
   

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   Do you have a link to the site? anyone on here will tell you that the yellow pages are my pet peeve! I know that Seattle City Councilmember Mike O'Brien was trying to enact some rules to stop this, but I don't know how it worked out.

   Posted 2 years ago #
3. 

   Thereminist
   

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   See these two posts:

   http://www.myballard.com/forum/topic.php?id=3629

   http://www.myballard.com/2009/01/14/more-phone-books-arrive-how-to-opt-out/

   Posted 2 years ago #
4. 

   stopgo
   

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   Member

   This looks like a gdamn scam. Are you for real right now?

   Posted 2 years ago #
5. 

   stopgo
   

   offline

   Member

   This seems almost like should I put my info in this site, I will get twice as much crap that I don't want than I already get.

   Posted 2 years ago #
6. 

   GAM
   

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   I called the numbers way back when. I have not received any junk mail because of it (and since I've gotten off all the junk mail lists, I'd notice if some came in), so I'd say you're safe to call.

   I did get a phone book from one company. I left it on my porch to deal with later and came back to find it gone, replaced with an apologetic note acknowledging I'd received it in error and that they'd scooped it back up!

   Today my neighbors all got phone books, but I only got a door hanger telling me how to get a book. Apparently when I called I needed to add "...and anything else" when stopping the books (brother...). Supposedly I will now receive nothing from this vendor.

   Overall, it's been surprisingly easy. Why the city is wasting so much money trying to legislate this is beyond me. Opting out took ten minutes spread over three phone calls. Well, add five minutes for my callback today. Still, not bad.

   Posted 2 years ago #
7. 

   shanana
   

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   <i>Why the city is wasting so much money trying to legislate this is beyond me.</i>

   There are over 250,000 residences in Seattle. If just half the population wanted to opt out (and I think that's a very conservative number), if it took them each "ten minutes spread over three phone calls", that would require Seattle residents to waste over 20,000 manhours.

   The average Yellow Pages directory weighs over 3.5 pounds. At one per residence, that's 450 tons of paper. 450 tons of trees, cut down for no good reason. 450 tons of waste that must be processed by recyclers or hauled to landfills, for no good reason. And all those phone books are distributed by cars and trucks driving down every single road in the city, polluting all the while, for no good reason.

   There's absolutely no reason for phone books to be opt-out. They waste everyone's time and money, and I hope the city succeeds in requiring them to be opt-in.

   Posted 2 years ago #
8. 

   Mondoman
   

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   Member

   sorry, shanana, but if just half the population wanted to opt in under such a system, they'd have to waste 20,000 man-hours that way. If it's 90% or more going one way or the other, I could see legislating that way as the default, but as it is, the opt-out system seems pretty reasonable. Maybe CM O'Brien should sponsor a survey to find out what the population actually wants rather than having him decide for us.

   Posted 2 years ago #
9. 

   marigold
   

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   Three cheers for the opt-in option. Who cares if it wastes man-hours? Let them go under like the abacus they are...

   Posted 2 years ago #
10. 

    GAM
    

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    Member

    I should qualify my hastily written comment and say that I love the idea of an "opt in" system. I just feel with the "opt out" working so well and the city budget so tight, they could spend their time and our money on something more productive. Like helping a senior without heat or something.

    I would like nothing better for this outmoded waste of resources to disappear. Perhaps the money saved from not having to dispose of them makes the investment in an "opt in" system worthwhile. I dunno. If so, I'm all for it.

    Posted 2 years ago #
11. 

    shanana
    

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    Member

    GAM, that reminds of this: http://www.metro.co.uk/news/807821-pensioners-burn-books-for-warmth. Perhaps someone should set up a collection program for phone books that no one wants, then they can deliver them to seniors who can burn them for warmth.

    There are, by the way, numerous programs at the federal and local levels for helping seniors who can't pay their heating (or other utility) bills. See http://www.seattle.gov/seniors for more info. Odds are the money that the City is "wasting" on fighting the phone book battle couldn't be used for these programs, though: most government budgets don't allow money to be moved from department to department willy-nilly.

    Posted 2 years ago #
12. 

    GAM
    

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    The way I understand it, some funds are indeed dedicated to programs, but there's nothing stopping anyone from applying additional funds. So (to continue with my example) you can always allocate more money to helping seniors, though you may not be able to allocate away from them. Unless there is a policy somewhere requiring dollars be spent on the phone book issue, I still think we could find something better to spend the money and time on. And I only used chilly seniors as an example. Feeding homeless school children, some additional beat cop hours, etc., etc. I'm sure there's something more productive.

    ..and I still wish the dang books didn't exist to vex us at all...

    Posted 2 years ago #
13. 

    stopgo
    

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    Buring phonebooks for warmth? What the hell century is this again?

    Posted 2 years ago #

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