Telephone directories
March 16th, 2013 at 2:00 pm by David FarrarAmelia Wade at NZ Herald reports:
For the first time, Aucklanders will this year have to request a copy of the White Pages telephone directory.
The decision came after 75 per cent of Aucklanders wanted the chance to “opt in”, according to a survey conducted by Nielsen and commissioned by Yellow.
Every year, about 6.5 million phone books are distributed around New Zealand.
Research from Nielsen in 2010 found only 41 per cent of people aged 15 and over used the White Pages.
Mine go straight into the recycling box.
The pilot is being run just in Auckland this year, and the company is watching the reaction before deciding whether it will be rolled out nation-wide.
They should.
No tag for this post.
March 16th, 2013 at 2:38 pm
About time. I haven’t used mine for years and just dump them back at the Post Office.
Vote:March 16th, 2013 at 2:51 pm
How are fellows like me going to skite when we have nothing to tear in half?
Vote:March 16th, 2013 at 3:00 pm
well obviously you guys never have to look up new numbers.
If you are looking for say “Joe Bloggs & company Limited” (as its listed in the pages) and you put “Joe Bloggs and company ltd” in the search box – it says they dont exist.
Or if you just put in Joe Bloggs & Co – it still says no.
The on line search is extremely unfriendly.
The only way i find them is via google or the companies website or the real book form white pages – where everything is at least listed alphbetically – but that maybe of no use to our grandchildren – the little buggers cant spell…….
Vote:March 16th, 2013 at 3:04 pm
And if the sample group had the age start at say 25 or 30 ,I’d expect usage to be much higher.How many 15 year olds use the effing thing anyway?
Sampling these days seems to be about getting the answer the payer wants rather than the truth.
Some samples are more equal than others.
Vote:March 16th, 2013 at 3:06 pm
I use them all the time. 41% is not insignificant.
Far better than online directory’s.
Vote:March 16th, 2013 at 3:06 pm
True. I bet 99% of folks 65 and over use it all the time!
Vote:March 16th, 2013 at 3:31 pm
With a bit of luck the Chair of NZ Post may suggest to the outgoing National Government in 2014 that they splurge a billion or two on buying some old worn out printing presses and the rights to the white pages just to fuck up David Shearer.
Vote:March 16th, 2013 at 3:36 pm
Today, bang on cue, the Yellow Pages (but no White ones) appeared at the bottom of our driveway. And that is where they will stay until the recycling truck takes them away again in a couple of weeks.
Vote:March 16th, 2013 at 3:45 pm
Just another sign DPF how much you are out of touch with the “common folk”. Remember there are still people without computers.
Vote:In fact, the phone directory print needs to be magnified considerably.
Younger people tend to network,not needing new phone numbers.
March 16th, 2013 at 3:45 pm
johnboy
The last 2 years the print has got so small that most 65 year olds would need a magnifying glass to read ‘em.
Tell you what,these “corporates” ( I hate that term) don’t really care about their core customers,simply making life harder while pretending to be modern (or sexy as so many like to say) in fact they’re being cheap and disdaining of their loyal customers.
Vote:March 16th, 2013 at 3:54 pm
Dont be silly kowtow. I never said they used it to look up phone numbers.
It’s more used to offset the horrendous cost of dunny paper for the poor old dears!
The wife’s grandad used to rip the pages out and punch a hole in the corner for the nail everytime a phone book was delivered.
Used to make his old eyes light up it did!
Vote:March 16th, 2013 at 4:00 pm
I have no desire to be common!
Vote:March 16th, 2013 at 4:04 pm
But you have the common touch old chap!
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/common+touch
Vote:March 16th, 2013 at 5:35 pm
But a strong desire to continue advancing progressivism!
Vote:March 16th, 2013 at 7:04 pm
Yellow pages is also under stress. The online version is losing its usage as well. Dramatically in the last few months if my hits are anything to go by. The rep has confirmed that and so the next step is Google adverts but wait they are getting canned as well oversea’s.
You have to have a real fully functional website and use other means to drive people to the website. Works but can be expensive.
Vote:March 16th, 2013 at 7:09 pm
Haven’t used them in years… probably since 2007. Stopped advertising my business in 2008. Look in the IT section now, god it’s a void.
Viking2: Yellow is getting raped online because they want to charge $150 a month to have you there. Fuck that. $150 on adwords will do much more. People aren’t stupid.
Vote:March 17th, 2013 at 8:58 am
Basically they print out part of the Internet and drop it at you letterbox. What a waste.
Vote:March 17th, 2013 at 10:57 am
BIG YELLOW must go … a No brainer … we/I do not need more doorstops/step ladders.
Vote:March 17th, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Google SEO and Google PPC / Adwords are a much better ROI. A good website isn’t too expensive – and Google has an 0800 number to help you get started. There is some thought that needs to be put into an online campaign, but it still works out to be much cheaper than $15,000 – $30,000 on Yellow Pages.
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