Phone books?

[stiltman]

They just delivered a new set of phone books and it got me thinking
When was the last time I actually used a phone book, and for the life of me I can't remember. It has to be at least 7 or 8 years. So when was the last time you used a phone book?

I only use the Internet. Www.anywho.com


Might be a good poll question

[yoda313]

I have. I used it earlier this year to look up used car part places like junk yards. My car radio gave up the ghost and looked for an exact replacement. It was cassette but I figured it might be cheaper than buying new. The few places I found were going to be 60 to 65 without installation. I figured it was best to get new with installation and settled on a jvc cd player at a local car stereo chain - it was around a 100 or so plus tax and stuff.

But you are right I don't use it very often.

[JimmyJoeBob]

At one time my ISP became quite erratic due to the company being sold over and over. The downtime was as long as 3 days as "Upgrades" were being made. If I needed to look for services the phone book was the only answer.

The cable system is now quite stable so the phone books are being saved for the incoming Ice Age and will be used to set the rest of the furniture on fire for warmth.

[redwudz]

I end up with 15 - 20 lbs of phone books a year. I use them for doorstops. I don't have a land line phone, just a cell phone but they still deliver them. I think I have looked into the yellow pages of one maybe once in the last few years.

But the local phone company is considering eliminating them. I suspect in a few years they will totally disappear, at least the white pages. Some merchants get together to put out their own yellow page versions anyway.

[handyguy]

Our phone books have useful coupons.

[yoda313]

Our phone books have useful coupons.

Way off topic here:

Have any of you gotten those coupon booklets schools sell? You know the ones the size of a good paperback novel?

Years ago my family bought one and I think we ended up using some of it. The problem is remember you have the darned thing. Or its for places you never go or its worthless like buy two get 1/2 off the third item.

I'm not belittling coupons by any means. I use them. It's just some are worth your time and others aren't.

[lordsmurf]

Most coupons are for overly expensive items -- alternatives are still cheaper, even without a coupon.
Or only good if you have a traditional family (two married adults, two kids).

I used a phone book once in June.
Prior to that ... no idea.
I did rip one up to wash my car windows back in December. Newsprint is great for cleaning windows.

[redwudz]

My favorite phone book story. : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2035808/BBq-restaurant-accidentally-listed-ani...hone-book.html

[yoda313]

I did rip one up to wash my car windows back in December. Newsprint is great for cleaning windows.

I'm not sure thats such a great idea. I'd rather use an old tshirt than phonebook. Seems too rough for car windows.

[lordsmurf]

I did rip one up to wash my car windows back in December. Newsprint is great for cleaning windows.

I'm not sure thats such a great idea. I'd rather use an old tshirt than phonebook. Seems too rough for car windows.

I've been cleaning windows with newsprint for at least 15 years now. That t-shirt is easily more damaging than newsprint, due to the fibers. Rag paper fibers are less ... something, I forget the word at this early hour. The ammonia in rag paper is the main reason it works so well at cleaning windows -- a streak-free clean every time!

My favorite phone book story.

That BBQ place has a solid case. Most phone books are scams anyway, sending customers fake information, and then basically demanding an extortion fee to "fix" it in the final book. This was a poor-taste joke that ended up being published. I've seen similar things in corporate directories and even annual reports, where Mike Hunt, Richard Head, Oliver Klozoff, Amanda Hugginkis and Seymore Butz are listed as board members.

This is the main reason you should Lorem Ipsum placeholders, not something cute.

[zzyzzx]

Contrary to popular opinion, not everyplace had a webpage. Or a webpage that you can find. Try looking up home improvement contractors on the internet then in the phone book. You'll get way more in the phone book.

[lordsmurf]

It depends on your location.

In a large city, I'd completely disagree with you.

In some backwoods county, definitely correct.

[zzyzzx]

It depends on your location.

In a large city, I'd completely disagree with you.

In some backwoods county, definitely correct.

In the Baltimore - Washington DC area, the phone books are way more useful than the internet when it comes to finding contractors. For finding store locations and hours, yes, the internet is better.

[stiltman]

Contrary to popular opinion, not everyplace had a webpage. Or a webpage that you can find. Try looking up home improvement contractors on the internet then in the phone book. You'll get way more in the phone book.

Maybe you missed my link?
I really wasn't talking about lets say a google search for a website for the company I was looking for. I was referring to actual "paper" phone books, and what I use instead

[lordsmurf]

Very true. The benefit of searching for a business online is you often get reviews to read, too!

I just typed "general contractor" and my city/state. It pulled up more than a dozen businesses, with pinpoints on a map. Some had websites, most did not. A few reviews were excellent, some were really bad.

Several of the websites were complete shit. But that's what you get from the local $199 service. It looks like something that was built in 1995. Most people avoid companies with bad websites (even if they don't realize it). Their loss, and honestly that's what they get for being cheapskates.

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

Off Topic: I agree with Lordsmurf, a crushed newspaper page is the best thing available to clean a window/mirror. Two sprays of glass cleaner and it leaves it sparkly new

[usually_quiet]

I still use phone books, but the Internet is faster if I know the name of the business.