Phone books, why?

[jebartle]

Obsolete, save the psper!

[vintageogauge]

Paid advertising

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I received my third one yesterday. You're correct it is a waste of paper. But as long as businesses keep paying for ads they will continue to print them.

They sell the ads based on the fact that a copy of the book goes to every home in The Villages. I'm surprised that more business owners haven't figured out that 90% of them go directly to the the trash been. But maybe the advertising is still paying off or the prices have come way down.

I continue to be amazed at the incredible waste of paper in this country. Every day I go to my mailbox and it is filled with advertisements that go straight into the trash. Some are very elaborate and must cost a lot of money to produce. How about those fliers that have a car key attached? I don't know what they cost but I can't imagine that more than a small percentage of people that get them actually go to the dealership and try to win the car. And how many of those people were going to go to buy a car anyway? And how many of the ones that weren't going to buy a car can they possibly talk into buying a car?

Direct mail was at one time the bast way to advertise and maybe it still is. It just baffles me that it actually works, especially in this day of the internet.

[Art cov]

When t.p. Can’t be found, store shelves have none, we may have to resort to desperate measures. I would hate it but who knows! Wipe with reverse mortgage, or Subaru ads is not pleasant thoughts! We just never know

[dewilson58]

Obsolete, save the psper!
This is an "annual" thread. No need to waste internet data.

[Two Bills]

They are very good as emergency TP, and as a stabiliser for wonky chairs and tables.

[delima2000]

Is there some place you can contact to cancel these phone books? I got a second one yesterday and it is the same book.

[jebartle]

Phone books go straight to recycle pile, ugh!

[Bogie Shooter]

This is an "annual" thread. No need to waste internet data.

Well, not actually "annual", here is one from last month with 55 posts!
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/new-villages-phone-book-still-2020-a-311890/?highlight=phone+books

Is this what is know as "beating a dead horse"?

[retiredguy123]

Is there some place you can contact to cancel these phone books? I got a second one yesterday and it is the same book.
No. They will keep coming.

[John41]

disagree, they should be mandatory nationwide. try finding someone’s phone number on the internet. phone books very useful for locating contractors

[EdFNJ]

This is an "annual" thread. No need to waste internet data. Replies saying it wastes data wastes just as much data. :D :D

[EdFNJ]

When t.p. Can’t be found, store shelves have none, we may have to resort to desperate measures. I would hate it but who knows! Wipe with reverse mortgage, or Subaru ads is not pleasant thoughts! We just never know WARNING!: If not properly selected phone book pages can cause severe itching and swelling. Use ONLY the pharmacy and physician pages when wiping.

[dewilson58]

Replies saying it wastes data wastes just as much data. :D :D
:bigbow:
(and emoji's really waste data)
:MOJE_whot:

[Stu from NYC]

When covid is over we should all get together and have a phone book bonfire with lots of marshmallows and hot dogs

[retiredguy123]

This is an "annual" thread. No need to waste internet data.
That reminds me of when Dilbert told his boss that he should delete some of his hard drive files to make his laptop easier to carry.

[tophcfa]

Look at them as a free doorstop : )

[Topspinmo]

This is an "annual" thread. No need to waste internet data.

Can’t waste cyber space:1rotfl:

[EdFNJ]

That reminds me of when Dilbert told his boss that he should delete some of his hard drive files to make his laptop easier to carry. I'm sure you heard the old FLOPPY DISK tech support story when the TS guy told the customer to put in the disk and close the door:

A Dell technician advised his customer to put his troubled floppy back in the drive and close the door. The customer asked the tech to hold on and was heard putting the phone down, getting up and crossing the room to close the door to his room.

[kendi]

I appreciate having the phone book.

[david@suchla.com]

Very obsolete, people in that past 5 years ago, also people that left villages 4 years e

[graciegirl]

Very obsolete, people in that past 5 years ago, also people that left villages 4 years e

Both of the people that left the villages four years ago?

I sort of always feel the phone book discussion is the subtle banner of those who do not think we are aware of waste or that the globe is warming or that sea creatures get plastic on them that harms them....It is sort of a "lecture".

Just like the subtle "battle" between Costco and Sam's advocates.

[Girlcopper]

Obsolete, save the psper!
What’s psper? Oh. Paper! It’s good and bad. I’m sure many elderly don’t have or don’t use electronic devices so they need a phone book.

[Redsmom]

Agree. As a visitor here in the villages, grabbing one of the phonebooks at the house that I’m renting is quite useful.

[Pinball wizard]

What would make a lot more sense is to write a simple phonebook app, including the ability to display ads and make it downloadable and/or deliver on a USB drive.

[Bob.Betty]

My mom uses hers all the time

[meridian5850]

Our macaw loves shredding the phone book we get every year. :)

[newgirl]

I love the phone books! Especially since it includes cell numbers here. If you lose a number or want to look up a address it is much easier for many to look in a book then do the entire google thing.

[72lions]

I received my third one yesterday. You're correct it is a waste of paper. But as long as businesses keep paying for ads they will continue to print them.

They sell the ads based on the fact that a copy of the book goes to every home in The Villages. I'm surprised that more business owners haven't figured out that 90% of them go directly to the the trash been. But maybe the advertising is still paying off or the prices have come way down.

I continue to be amazed at the incredible waste of paper in this country. Every day I go to my mailbox and it is filled with advertisements that go straight into the trash. Some are very elaborate and must cost a lot of money to produce. How about those fliers that have a car key attached? I don't know what they cost but I can't imagine that more than a small percentage of people that get them actually go to the dealership and try to win the car. And how many of those people were going to go to buy a car anyway? And how many of the ones that weren't going to buy a car can they possibly talk into buying a car?

Direct mail was at one time the bast way to advertise and maybe it still is. It just baffles me that it actually works, especially in this day of the internet.

Having sold cars at a Leesburg dealership, we would have 100 or more come in with a flyer. They all got $5 for the effort. Converting just 2 into a sale - yes it happens - more than pays for the advertising. Plus, it gets people into the dealership who might be impressed by either the cars or the facility and return one day.

[Joe C.]

If I need to look up a local phone number, it's quicker and easier to go to the phone book instead of turning on my computer and waiting for it to boot up.

Also, the Villages phone book is great for dropping it on unsuspecting "palmetto bugs".

[Villagesgal]

Many people over 75 don't own smart phones or computers or have easy access to someone or someplace that does. Also much of the info about individuals online is incorrect. We really still do need phonebooks for now. Give it another 10 or 15 years and that might change. We need reputable correct online info for peoples names and addresses.
I remember when the Villages gave you a directory of all people in your Village, names, addresses and phone numbers organized by street address. That really was helpful.

[graciegirl]

Many people over 75 don't own smart phones or computers or have easy access to someone or someplace that does. Also much of the info about individuals online is incorrect. We really still do need phonebooks for now. Give it another 10 or 15 years and that might change. We need reputable correct online info for peoples names and addresses.
I remember when the Villages gave you a directory of all people in your Village, names, addresses and phone numbers organized by street address. That really was helpful.

The median age for people living in The Villages is 71. Of the posters now viewing your post and who have posted today and are frequent posters, I would say at least a third, maybe more are over 71, and that means that we are using computers. The directory of people in "your village" was likely compiled by a person who lives in your village. That is where we have received our neighborhood lists for the past 15 years.

Only a few of my peers are not computer literate and I am 81.

[BunnyA]

In Atlanta, there’s a number in the cover of the phone book that you can call to opt out of receiving. We haven’t gotten one in years.
That could be a solution but time consuming for delivery person.

[John41]

In Atlanta, there’s a number in the cover of the phone book that you can call to opt out of receiving. We haven’t gotten one in years.
That could be a solution but time consuming for delivery person.

When we bought a home in Milledgeville, Georgia ATT informed us they don’t distribute phone books and that was the first place we lived that did that. Really missed the phone book for local contractors.