We told you about the Yellow Pages delivery delays, and how one business owner predicted thousands of Edmontonians didn’t even get their new books.
Yellow Pages says distribution is now complete, but we wanted to hear from Global Edmonton viewers, and the response was overwhelming. It appears homes all over the city were missed. There were dozens and dozens of calls and emails from people saying they didn’t get their books.
Aaron Spohn signed up to deliver the Yellow Pages. He did it years before, and made thousands of dollars. But this year was different. “Shocking. Well, that’s one word. Disgusting would be a better word. It was disgusting. (Making) five bucks an hour was not even minimum wage.”
“(I made) $221. I spent $92 on gas to make that. And I spent 27 hours doing that, so it worked out to about $4.60, $4.70 an hour I was making.”
Spohn says the delivery was a nightmare. The routes were too big, addresses weren’t listed, and the American company that hired him didn’t know the city.
The local representative for Directory Distribution Associates refused to comment.
Spohn estimates “at least 25% of the city did not get their books. Any new areas – not a hope in heck.”
That’s exactly what businessman Dave Mulder suspected. He raised concerns to Global News after shelling out more than $20,000 for his Yellow Pages ad.
Mulder says, “Most Edmontonians are not aware, ‘Oh my goodness – April 1st, the Yellow Pages comes out! We’re all excited about it!’ It’s not like Christmas, so they’re really not aware of it, and of course we advertisers are getting hurt really bad.”
After hearing from Mulder, we heard from Global Edmonton viewers. Calls came in confirming the books didn’t make it to various parts of the Edmonton-area, even though Yellow Pages still insists delivery is complete.
Annie Marsolais of the Yellow Pages says, “Sometimes your relatives at home or receptionist at the office might have stored the book without informing you. Most of the books have been distributed months ago.”
Yellow Pages does admit to delivery problems, something it is reviewing for next year. The company is now doing a random audit, but claims one million books have been delivered.
Spohn begs to differ. “Oh I believe that people didn’t get their phone books, definitely. They were not all delivered.”
Yellow Pages says if you have not received your phone books, you should call them. Company officials will investigate and they will send you a directory. The number is 1-877-987-8737.
Concerned advertisers who paid big bucks to have their business name printed can also call this number. Dave Mulder was reimbursed for the month of April. Yellow Pages says it will make adjustments to billing on a case by case basis.
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