YellowPages.com, The Final Chapter (Hopefully)

Last Friday I called the number that was given on the "pre-recorded" message trying to up-sell me into paying for placement in the YellowPages.com network of local websites. By the way the pre-recorded message says, "We wanted to make sure you get what you really came to YellowPages.com." What I really came for was a "free listing."

So I had already removed my listing from YellowPages.com and still was receiving one call a day (now from an automated recording). I called up last Friday and got a message saying, "Thanks for calling YellowPages.com someone will be right with you, etc." Two minutes later I get a message that says no one is available to talk with me and that I can leave a message to have someone call me back. Then a pause and a quick message, "Please be patient their may be a long pause before you can leave a message." Hmmm?

Long story short, I leave a message with my name and phone number (trying to speak as plainly and slowly as possible so they get the information), then I say, "I have received over 20 calls in the past month, Please Stop Calling Me, Thank You." And I hung up. So far seven days have passed. No calls from YellowPages.com, however I am not stupid enough to think that they are not going to call me in the future (or another third-party that YellowPages.com sells my information to).

I don't know how many times I need to say it but don't apply for a free listing with YellowPages.com unless you are ready to get call after call asking whether you want to upgrade to a paid listing, and they will not take "NO" for an answer.

YellowPages.com, The Saga Continues

So today, you guessed it, I got a call from a sales rep at YellowPages.com with a message that got cut off before he got to the end of the call and didn't leave a phone number so I could call him back and tell him to stop calling me.

I understand that someone applies for a free listing at YellowPages.com and they want to up-sell you to the paid search portion of the website. I get that but I got over 12 calls in a matter of two weeks from 5 different representatives from YellowPages.com. Sure I am in the Search Engine Marketing industry and I may have contacts with other local search marketers that could use YellowPages.com. Stop calling me, this is just like Dell Hell. I submitted a listing to SuperPages.com and no sales calls.

While I am on the topic, please go out and use SuperPages.com, but please whatever you do don't apply for a free listing with YellowPages.com. All you will get is sales call after sales call. Even if you return the calls and tell them you are not interested, more and more calls.

Stop Calling Me YellowPages.com! Please, stop!

YellowPages.com: No Free Lunch (or Listings)

After researching local directories I came upon YellowPages.com. They offer a free listing to local businesses, so I submitted my name and information. I think to myself, great a free listing in YellowPages.com in my local area.

No Free Lunches (or Listings)

The day after I submitted my "free" listing I get a voice message from a YellowPages.com salesperson. Ok they want to thank me for applying for a free listing (I delete the message and move on). The second day, I get another voice message from a salesperson. Day 3, a voice message from a different salesperson. Day 4, you guessed it a voice message from a salesperson. Day 5, oh my, another voice message from a YellowPages.com salesperson.

Day 6, I finally pick up the phone when a YellowPages.com salesperson calls me. I answer the phone and get an angry salesperson saying, "Are you Alan Rothstein." Yahda, Yahda, Yahda, is this your primary business phone. I say, "No this is a supplemental business phone, etc." Needless to say I get a lot of weird, specific questions about my business practices and why I don't want to use YellowPages.com for more than just a free listing. I finally cut the conversation short and the YellowPages.com salesperson finally thanks me and hangs up.

Day 7, finally no voice message from YellowPages.com. Was the free listing worth the hassle and multiple voice messages on my phone? Well, the listing was definitely not "free." Submit your "free" listing to YellowPages.com at your own discretion.

UPDATE - Day 10, YellowPages.com calls to say that my listing is incomplete and that I need to call to rectify the situation. Day 10.9 I deleted my listing on YellowPages.com.

YellowPages.com Stop Calling Me!