Yellow Pages – Just Say No!
I don’t know how things happen around your parts, but here at Electric Firefly Headquarters in downtown sunny Enmore, we dread the day on which our peaceful suburb comes under siege from an army of delivery trucks and their hulking cargo of Yellow Pages Directories. Every year we find ourselves awoken by the crashing sound that a cubic foot of shrink wrapped paper slamming into our front door tends to make. Then, when we’re certain that the coast is clear, we venture out and cautiously retrieve the aforementioned cube of paper and cardboard. We then carry what can only be described as the all time motherload of unsolicited mail through the house, out the backdoor, before depositing it into the recycling bin. Each and every year is like our own version of ‘Groundhog Day’.
I can’t actually recall the last time I used a phone directory of any description. With access to the internet practically always within reach whether it be in the form of a laptop or mobile phone, I simply have no need in my life for the 4kg of paper that’s forced upon me annually. That said, I’m not for a second suggesting that the remainder of Australian population is the same – of course there are the elderly, the Luddites and there’s always Australia’s ever increasing Amish community, for all of whom the Yellow Pages Directories would provide a veritable treasure trove of information.
So what options does that leave for you and I, digital pioneers of the information superhighway? Good news, it’s now possible to opt out of delivery. All you have to do is visit the Sensis – In the Community site or if you’re a sucker for punishment, call 1800 810 211, option 2, then option 7. Then just request to opt out of the yellow and/or white pages directories. If the person on the end of the line is dutifully following their script, they’ll also ask why you want to opt out. Cite global warming, the environment, the current socio-economic climate in Latin America, it really doesn’t matter.
Tags: Phone Books, Recycling, White Pages, Yellow Pages
Posted July 25, 2009 by Josh under Off Topic, Rant, Recycling
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:19 am
I agree with this and so does the Twitter industry FINALLY. Our strategy has always been local search with over 73 Local Metros, Local business must be brought online and in large numbers.
September 17th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Seriously. I can't tell you how happy I am to see this post!!!
I've been wanting to start a campaign against the auto-delivery of these stupid directories!!
I dread the day they arrive as they always sit out the front of the unit block for about 2 months before I get fed up with them and put them in the recycling bin – seems ridiculous!
December 8th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Happy too, some people care !
I’m french, new to Sydney and have been surprised of those non-sens auto-deliveries…
Since it’s the same in France, I’ve been looking around and found that the french yellow pages have an opt-in/opt-out page !
http://www.recevoirmesannuaires.pagesjaunes.fr/OptInOptOut/
Far from perfect, but I haven’t found such a service over there…
December 12th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Hi,
AGREED! I too would like to see the end of this prehistoric slab of destruction.
I have started a Facebook page “Rid the world of yellow/white pages” just to see how many other people feel exactly the same way. If I get enough support I am hoping to bring it to the attention of Mr Yellow Pages.
January 6th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Just found out the above link is now kaput. Here’s a new one for you: http://about.sensis.com.au/Sustainbility/Environment/Choosing-not-to-receive-director-print-products/
January 25th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Hey guys – great post – I hope you can help get the word out.
I also feel strongly about eliminating printed telephone directories.
(Sydney City Mayor) Clover Moore is already on side and has started lobbying at the Federal level. Her camp tells me numbers for support are crucial.
What we really need is for people to join the Facebook group: “Let’s eliminate phone books” at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?v=info&gid=249297253481
Even if we can’t eliminate phone books then with your help and endorsement Sensis might at least change phonebook delivery from “opt out” to “opt in”.
Dear Reader – please just think of the resources this simple measure would save.
I’ve gotten sick of the number of printed phone books I see outside every apartment building in Sydney and the enormous waste of resources this entails so have decided to do something about it.
If you feel even a little bit strongly about this then please help me organise a groundswell of support for the cause so Sensis will change.
We need people to join the Facebook Group.
We need people to post it on their Wall.
We need people to enlist the help of others with distribution lists or a wide reaching voice.
Please help.
Daniel Rollston
January 26th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
Sensis? Senseless more like. Senseless waste of time and resources. Just tried to cancel on web – facility no longer available, if it ever was. Probably too easy and convenient – we can’t have that. So tried 1800 # – please call back tomorrow. So emailed appropriate feedback to the Senseless guys… Now I need to find my anti-cynic tablets!!!
January 27th, 2010 at 10:02 am
Hi all. Tried to cancel paper waste last night, but no web option and 1800 closed. Great! This morning called 1800 and cancelled, and found out there is still an obscure web option. Go to yellow pages site and select order yellow pages option. Then fill out quantity as zero and put to discontinue printed copies in comments box. This is the logic of Sensis…
February 2nd, 2010 at 3:15 pm
I too live in sunny Enmore. I have just arrived home today to find a pile of Sensis directories on my doorstep. At the beginning of last year I rang Sensis and opted out of receiving their blocks of paper. I asked the person I spoke with then if I needed a reference number. He assured me that I would not be included in the next delivery.
Then about a week later I was at home to hear a loud thud on the front path. I instantly knew what it was and yelled up the road to the delivery guy to retrieve the pile of books. When I said to the delivery man that I should be on his ‘not to deliver’ list he looked at me as though I was stupid. He obviously didn’t have an opt-out list and just delivered to everyone.
Now I have contacted Sensis again and this time been given a reference number. I have also insisted that they pick up their books. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.
February 8th, 2010 at 11:20 am
Seems that the mainstream media is finally picking up this story: http://bit.ly/aH8FfQ
February 15th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Just rang them using the number provided and opted-out of both white and yellow pages. Mine were just delivered and unfortunately went stratight to the recycle bin. One of the reasons why Telstra and Sensis revenues have fallen this year
June 2nd, 2010 at 7:45 pm
The opt out page has moved. It’s now at http://about.sensis.com.au/sustainability/environment/choosing-not-to-receive-director-print-products/.
Kinda bollocks that you need to actually make a phone call, though.
October 5th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Phone calls are no longer required! See our new post here – http://electricfirefly.com.au/blog/2010/10/05/how-to-officially-cancel-future-phonebook-deliveries/
August 6th, 2011 at 3:04 pm
The electronic version of opting out of the White, Yellow and associated pages has been moved to http://directoryselect.com.au/.
You’re able to cancel the delivery of all associated books. The annoying thing is that it only works for three years, and they’ll still drop off a postcard saying that you opted out of paper wasting. It’s a little bit ironic, but it is a little bit less paper.
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:24 am
We cancelled delivery for three years. Even so, we wanted to know why we could not just make delivery a client choice. We wrote several emails to sensis pointing out that it should not be up to a business to make up a client’s mind. No replies, no answers. And, of course, garbage night after the last delivery saw recycle bins full of these books.