In her column outlining the audio difficulties in today’s telephone services (Metro section, Oct. 17), Mary Schmich also points out that “it is harder than ever to find a local number” from the new national information directories.
How true this is! Especially when one might be looking for a business located on the borders of two suburbs or where you may not know exactly which town that business is in. Try asking for the number of Marshall Field’s in Old Orchard. If you do not know that Old Orchard is located in the village of Skokie you are completely out of luck. In the old days, the information operator would know that because she was generally a local person.
Also, the new automated services keep one from using a pay phone effectively. The other day, having left my dependable cell phone at home, I tried to make a call and was told to deposit 40 cents. Not having the exact change I deposited two quarters and the automated operator kept telling me repeatedly to deposit 40 cents. Not having 40 cents or wanting to use a credit card for a short call I gave it up and the telephone company lost more money.
