Open Letter to the Phone Book Industry
Dear Esteemed Leaders of the Phone Book Industry:
Congratulations on a great run! From the early days of Alexander Graham Bell to the heydays of the 1990s, you connected people and businesses to each other in ways no one else had every done before. Unfortunately, a couple things have happened recently that you might want to be aware of if you haven’t already.
Since I imagine you are pretty busy plotting the next clear-cutting of a pine forest in Georgia to handcraft the new edition of your fine publications, I’ve taken the liberty to assemble some information for you and your team:
- The Internet is here.
- Google and other search engines help me find the people and businesses I need/want.
- My wife and I don’t own a landline phone anymore and so technically don’t fit your database anymore.
- We waste gasoline driving to the recycling bins the day after you deliver your publication.
- I never asked for the ten you sent me last year.
- You’re wasting about 10 lbs of paper for every household and about 250 lbs for the average small business.
- I am not the only one who has reached the limits of my patience with your waste and intrusion.
- The Interconnected Age allows people like us to organize into digital swarms to voice our displeasure and change the course of history.
While I’m a peace loving person who doesn’t usually seek out a fight, I am an borderline idealist who does have a revolutionary streak in me. I’ll give you a little bit of time to consider this research and come to the conclusion that your business model is outdated. Let’s just hope you saved something for retirement and your kid’s college education.
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July 9th, 2008 at 8:14 am
here here,
I have to find a place for my 10 pounds. I actually have competing paper-based connection organizations vying for none of my attention.
This time next year, there will be an out and out revolt. This makes no sense. My wife suggested they should charge people for the books if they want them, but that kinda kills their model b/c no one would pay.
I suggest everyone call the customer svc. department and ask them to come pick them up because you didn’t ask for it