411 never again...

[dd74]

I was looking for the phone number of a restaurant we wanted to go to. So, I called 411. First, and new to me, I received one of those robot-Betty voices that asks 1) City and State; then 2) Name. I give the name "Hugo's" and Betty goes bonkers. She confuses the Hugo's for "Hugo's Tacos," which is part of "Hugo's," but not what I want. I told Betty "Hugo's Restaurant," but she gives up and switches me to a live operator, who asks me 3 times the street and city where this restaurant is located (it's a major street and cross street in L.A.). I finally lost it, and said, "I'll find it online," which I considered right then only because of my frustration.

So, a couple clicks on Google, and boom, there's the restaurant and phone number .

Lesson: forget 411. What a waste of time! I'm surprised 411 (whomever they are) are still in business, since it's much easier to find whomever you need online.

[Zeke]

You could have probably found it in the white pages of your actual phone book in the time it took you to write this.

[masraum]

I've almost never had a bad experience with 411. The only time that it's been bad really was when I either didn't know how to spell something with an odd name or I didn't have the name quite right. I think that would make it my fault. I'd say try it from a cell phone, most of the cell phone 411s are top notch these days.

Cheaper to use the web anyway.

[911Rob]

Pet Peeve: businesses that use those Robot Betty Voice Recordings.

"Here's a way to piss off our customers and be less efficient"

[dd74]

Originally Posted by milt

You could have probably found it in the white pages of your actual phone book in the time it took you to write this.

You mean that enormous waste of trees that takes up two-thirds of a shelf in the family room? The same book that comes into the house muddy and wet after the joker who tosses them from his car window, scores three points in the rose bushes? That book? Yeah, I could have tried that, but the pages stick together, and I have dry hands.

[911Rob]

My phone book is a half inch thick; both white and yellow pages and includes the neighbouring towns Ha!

[Eric Coffey]

+1 on the phonebooks. I say keep them available, but only to those who request them. I haven't used one in years. With home or mobile web, any # can usually be found in 10 seconds (via Google for me as well). Hard to beat, especially when added info like hours, directions, locations, etc. are only a click away.

[dd74]

My phone book can kill coyotes.

[billwagnon]

1 800 GOOG 411 is way fun, and free.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by dd74

My phone book can kill coyotes.

Note to Todd. Put a phone book on the front of the Motorcycle.

[mossguy]

Originally Posted by dd74

My phone book can kill coyotes.

Perhaps, but can your phonebook mount snow tires?

Best,

Tom

[Racerbvd]

Bummer, I thought it was another VW thread

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by dd74

My phone book can kill coyotes.

ACME phonebook?

[fxeditor]

+1 on the Google 411. I have it programmed into all of our phones and have finally trained the wife to use it instead of the "traditional" information service.

[VroomGrrl]

Originally Posted by dd74

I was looking for the phone number of a restaurant we wanted to go to. So, I called 411. First, and new to me, I received one of those robot-Betty voices that asks 1) City and State; then 2) Name. I give the name "Hugo's" and Betty goes bonkers. She confuses the Hugo's for "Hugo's Tacos," which is part of "Hugo's," but not what I want. I told Betty "Hugo's Restaurant," but she gives up and switches me to a live operator, who asks me 3 times the street and city where this restaurant is located (it's a major street and cross street in L.A.). I finally lost it, and said, "I'll find it online," which I considered right then only because of my frustration.

So, a couple clicks on Google, and boom, there's the restaurant and phone number .

Lesson: forget 411. What a waste of time! I'm surprised 411 (whomever they are) are still in business, since it's much easier to find whomever you need online.

Oh man, I hate hate hate the 411 and have vowed to never dial it again after my last attempt. I got caught in the "what town" game. "I don't see any listings for McDonald's in Atlanta, I'm sorry." "Well I know it's in Atlanta....what about Norcross" "No listings in Norcross, sorry." "OK what about Lilburn" "Sorry no listings in Lilburn" "What about snellville?" "Sorry I can only do three searches for you" "Oh really? I am paying $1.25 for this call to INFORMATION and I would like the information I called for, please. Do I need to speak to a supervisor or something?" "CLICK"



I'm gonna be all over that 1800GOOG 411, thanks to whomever posted that.

Sca-REW 411.

Oh and I think when you dial 411 on a cell phone, it just goes to whatever 411 service your provider offers, internal. No longer does it hook into the big ATT system I was used to. I'm on Verizon, and whatever they are using to supply 411 info is a big pile of crap.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Blackberry + Google Maps. How did I ever live without this?