# Phone Lists & Reverse Directories **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 7, 2002, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-lists-reverse-directories/122748 "2002-08-07T11:22:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-lists-reverse-directories/122748/1 "2002-08-07T11:22:38Z")
How do you go about buying/renting phone lists? And, can you find a phone list for specific groups or organizations without going directly to the source? Thanks, - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-lists-reverse-directories/122748/2 "2002-08-07T12:29:27Z")
Go to their main offices, and have a floppy handy. If they leave you alone with a live computer, copy it. Rut around in their garbage. The usual. ---
**Author:** ![lauramarlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a5b964/32.png) [@lauramarlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lauramarlane)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-lists-reverse-directories/122748/3 "2002-08-07T12:32:54Z")
Cole, Polk, and criss-cross directories in general are usually available at the library–they would have contact info for you to go directly to the publisher. [www.refdesk.com](http://www.refdesk.com) has a list of reverse directories that may be of use, too. ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-lists-reverse-directories/122748/4 "2002-08-07T12:49:22Z")
Google on “list management” or “list brokerage”. Companies generally have other companies manage their list rentals. A large company like Abacus or Experian will have hundreds (maybe thousands?) of lists. They can build models that will target the specific group you’re looking for, based on almost any combination of criteria that you give. For instance, if you’re looking for households within a certain geographic area with children under the age of 10, they can get it for you. Conversely, if you want to call or mail customers that subscribe to a certain publication or purchase from a certain catalog, you can contact that company directly. They will put you in touch with their list manager, whether internal or external. They can probably do some modeling for you based on demographic data and historical purchasing data, to make the list more valuable. You can expect to pay anywhere from $1 a name for a compiled list (basically lists out of the phone book) to $40 a name for a really high-end well modeled list. ---
**Author:** ![PhilAlex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/839c29/32.png) [@PhilAlex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhilAlex)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-lists-reverse-directories/122748/5 "2002-08-07T14:36:21Z")
A buck a name? It’s a LOT cheaper. But it does depend on what sorts you want and what data you need. INFO USA has CD’s that are fine, for simple fone #'s. Ebay has slightly older CD’s cheap. I may have some kicking around. But I don’t understand. Do you want a directory of org’s, or a directory of the MEMBERS of the org’s Or, do you want it by customer class? IE: All the carpet cleaners in Oregon… ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-lists-reverse-directories/122748/6 "2002-08-07T18:41:15Z")
**PhilAlex** , where I work we tend to do pretty sophisticated list segmentation, so my idea of pricing is probably skewed. ---
**Author:** ![PhilAlex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/839c29/32.png) [@PhilAlex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhilAlex)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-lists-reverse-directories/122748/7 "2002-08-07T23:12:50Z")
Yea. There’s no limit to the cost of a heavily segmented and overlayed list. I wish I worked at your place. I wouldn’t last tho. I wouldn’t be able to resist running analysis after analysis. Did you know there are some states you should almost never mail to because of low response? (There are Seven.) Like I said, you don’t want me working there. You’d NEVER get any work done. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-lists-reverse-directories/122748/8 "2002-08-08T00:52:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by PhilAlex \* > **Yea. There’s no limit to the cost of a heavily segmented and overlayed list…Did you know there are some states you should almost never mail to because of low response? > (There are Seven.)** Hey, PhilAlex, please tell me what are the 7 states??? Before I waste the time and money, this is good info to know!!! I am a novice at this, and I’m just thinking about how to even get started! Thanks, - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-lists-reverse-directories/122748/9 "2002-08-08T00:59:35Z")
I just wanted to thank everyone for their thoughts. I’m just getting started, so maybe someone can help me with the jargon. What is meant by “segmented” and “overlayed” lists? I WAG it is a breakdown of the list by various categories (i.e.: segmented) and then cross-indexed (i.e.: overlays?) Any clue would help! Thanks, - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![PhilAlex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/839c29/32.png) [@PhilAlex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhilAlex)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-lists-reverse-directories/122748/10 "2002-08-08T01:05:32Z")
Here’s a hint. The best are, in order: Alaska, Hawaii, California, Arizona, Nevada Texas, as I recall, ain’t too bad either. Rhode Island? Montana? Anyone home? BTW: This is, basically, what an overlay is. There’s a code attached to every zip code that’s a 4 digit bit of data. The individual data bits go from 1 to 4. The first digit, I think, is education. The second is Income The third is conspicuous consumption I don’t remember the fourth. Anyhow… So, if you have a zip, you can find out how educated and how much they spend. Let’s say you are selling financial products. Presumably, but not necessarily, you would want to mail to the highest income. So, you would OVERLAY the Zip Data onto your data base, mailing your offer to the people with 4’s in the income digit. ---
**Author:** ![PhilAlex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/839c29/32.png) [@PhilAlex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhilAlex)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-lists-reverse-directories/122748/11 "2002-08-08T02:10:01Z")
Email me at [phil@commandperform.com](mailto:phil@commandperform.com). I have lots more for you.