Dex Phone Books Opt-Out Fail – Yet Another Year
Another year, another stack of print spam phone books in a plastic bag from Dex.
This year had a new wrinkle. Dex delivered three books that I requested not to receive AND a door hanging acknowledging that I did not want to receive the books.
Yes, that is correct. They delivered a door hanger telling me that I’ve opted out of phone books while delivering phone books that I’ve opted-out of receiving.
I also received a phone call from Dex calling to verify that I did NOT receive books from them, as I had requested. Sadly, I had to tell them that their delivery team failed in their effort to NOT deliver their print spam to my door. They did offer to come pick up the books that I previously told them I did not want.
So, by opting-out of Dex phone book deliveries, I ended up with even more waste on my doorstep than had I not opted-out. I get to deal with phone calls from them where I spend my time helping verify their incompetence. And additional fuel will be wasted retrieving the books they never should have delivered to me in the first place.
Is this a case of things having to get worse before they get better? While Dex clearly failed in this case, they do appear to be making an effort to create an opt-out system. Something that the Yellow Pages industry claims it already has in place, but, in practice, it’s disappointing.
Better luck next year, Dex.
June 3rd, 2010 at 2:14 pm
I have a chimney fire-starter for my coals and since I don’t subscribe to the Strib any longer, the sheets from my spanky new phone book are just perfect fuel for getting my grill ready.
Thanks, Dex!
June 3rd, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Maybe they said…”You know what will get this guy really ticked off, another delivery mu ha ha ha ha”
That sounds more exciting and sinister that they would deliver on purpose rather than out of incompetence.
June 3rd, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Patrick, I think you’re onto something there.
June 3rd, 2010 at 9:06 pm
I may have commented to this effect before, but my opt out did work. I got the door hanger and the phone call, but no books.
June 3rd, 2010 at 9:30 pm
I saw some guy delivering yellowpages the other day with a hand spray painted sign on the back of his trailer recommending we fellow drivers yield to his slow ass moving self. I was tempted to slam in to the back of him/yell out the window, but did neither. I also drove by a line of abandoned phone books in the burbs this week, and received 3 on our front porch (though I’m on the ‘opt out’ list) last month. When are people going to stop this insanity?
June 3rd, 2010 at 10:08 pm
This is ridiculous, Ed. Last month both my house and the foreclosed house next door again got phone book spammed for the second year in a row. I know we both think physical spam should be illegal, but surely littering on foreclosed properties must be against some type of code.
June 6th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
I got mine today. They should at least have the kindness of delivering them back by my garage where I place the recycling. Does anyone know the opt-out phone number?
June 22nd, 2010 at 4:08 pm
[...] spam myself here. Sarah said you have to opt-out every year, so I’ll probably end up like Ed with an opt-out notice AND the books next year. Grreat. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Top 10 Reasons You Should Be My [...]
July 18th, 2010 at 11:59 am
All of these books end up in a land fill or recycled sooner or later. Most people don’t use a phone book to look for anything anymore. The only reason Dex delivers phone books to every house/business is to hood-wink their advertisers in thinking all of us will be using this outdated obsolete tool. 90% of us consider it littering and our public servants just turn a blind eye. Some law firm should initiate a class action suit against DEX for unauthorized deliveries or littering. Instead of raising taxes King County could fine DEX $500 for every unauthorized delivered book or enforce our existing littering laws $1,000.00 per incident.
July 30th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
There’s a national do-not-call number. One number to call for all telemarkers. Yet to stop these directories from being delivered (and thrown directly in the recycle bin), you have to contact EACH company that delivers to you. Good luck. And when you do find each company, good luck trying to find the Opt Out page on their web page. DEX in particular wins the award for making it nearly impossible to find.
Love the class action lawsuit idea. Seriously, count me in if you’re a lawyer and you want to do this: xkep@yahoo.com.
July 31st, 2010 at 9:15 am
@Dave, while finding the opt-out numbers for each directory company is a pain, and finding time to call each company (they don’t seem to offer any form of online opt-out option), the even bigger pain is that YP companies seem incompetent at actually abiding by the lists they maintain. For example, I’ve received yet another set of Yellowbook and Dex’s books this year, after opting out of both two years ago. They really don’t seem to care to listen to people who are asking for no more books.
October 18th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
[...] if we could only get the remaining two to add some intelligence to their distribution by having easy to use opt-out systems that they [...]
January 7th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
I got 2 books today after having opted out.
I totally agree with Joan. “The he only reason Dex delivers phone books to every house/business is to hood-wink their advertisers in thinking all of us will be using this outdated obsolete tool.”
Advertisers must first acknowledge that their ad money is going to the recycle bin along with the books.
I am only sorry for the littering part.
May 5th, 2011 at 5:37 pm
I for one use the phone book all the time and don’t understand all the fuss about it. I have a lot of technology (ipad, smartphone, computers, etc.) and don’t use them when I’m looking for a local business. There is still a big trust factor for me when I look online. There are several phone books in our area and Dex is the only one I use. It is great! Call me old-fashioned, but I still like having the book.
May 6th, 2011 at 9:22 am
@Like it, if you were to read the post you commented on, you’d see that the problem here is that Qwest Dex delivered books to someone (me) who no longer wants them, and has communicated that to Qwest Dex. Despite that, Qwest continues to drop their directories on my property.
That’s a printed form of spam. Unsolicited business communications. Not only unsolicited, but specifically NOT requested. Call me old fashioned, but it seems like Dex should live up to their promise to NOT deliver directories to people who’ve opted out of delivery.
It’s interesting to note that your IP address tracks to a DEX Media office in Englewood, Colorado. That may explain why you’re tone deaf on this issue.
July 21st, 2011 at 2:02 pm
Ok, I have to respond to these posts. The person who delivers these phone books is an independent contractor, who is paid about 16 cents per stop to deliver these books. They are given a range of addresses to deliver to, with the exact addresses and a door hanger for those who opt out. Granted, I understand everyones complaints here. But in these hard economical times, these people delivering these books are only trying to pay bills. Its not an easy job, nor is it well paying. When you have 900 addresses to deliver to and 5 of those addresses are opt outs its easy to miss. But if it is found out that they have delivered to someone they should not of they are then fined $25. So you do the math, at 16 cents per address they just worked for free. Give these people a break.(the ones deliverying) Most of these people are struggeling enough already to make ends meat. They are trying to get as many books delivered correctly in a sort amount of time. only to make less then $200 for deliverying to more then 900 addresses.
July 21st, 2011 at 6:34 pm
“But if it is found out that they have delivered to someone they should not of they are then fined $25.”
So, that means Ed has probably taken Food Out of the Mouths of their Children.
July 21st, 2011 at 7:16 pm
It’s a raw deal for delivery folks. The pay barely makes sense after accounting for self-provided transportation. Just think how much easier it would be to get deliveries right if they only delivered to people who requested the books?
July 22nd, 2011 at 9:48 am
Cindy, delivering phone books sounds like a horrible horrible job. Apparently the pay is crappy, and it’s widely understood the product is wasteful and unwanted. Rather than defend the job, I’d suggest looking elsewhere for a .16 cents/stop equivalent that adds value to society. Maybe delivering cigarettes?
July 24th, 2011 at 6:26 pm
Ed, You are so right!! That would be the better solution for all I agree.
Greg, so your saying that you think delivering cigarettes adds value to society? Ok, I realize your not really saying that. But come on now. Maybe you should get down off that high horse of yours and imagine for a moment if you lost that high paying job of yours. Then imagine your a widower with 3 kids to feed, pay for daycare, rent and so on. Now would it be better for you to go on welfare or deliver phone books or for that matter deliver cigarettes. Sorry but job are not all that plentiful, not even the ones that pay 16 cents per delivery. But hey, if you would rather pay for someone to recieve that welfare check instead of you having to recieve a phone book you didnt want, thats your prerogative. I cant help to wonder what it is you do for a living.