Have any of you used these sites? What did you think?

Any of them better as in your point of view?

Angies list calls our family business ever so often asking for money to do favorable reviews... take that for what it's worth

 

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And, on the opposite side of that spectrum, to advertise on Angie's list requires about a $3000.00 initial investment for a very small coverage area (just your own and surrounding counties). Probably better to do your own ad campaign.

Try Thumbtack. I used them and they are free for both sides. Used them and found a cheap local kid to haul away some construction material. Just caveat emptor. If they charge too much, send them a photo of what is picked up. They go by your description sight unseen and charge what they will. This guy wanted 300 and I told him that is too much. Sent him a snapshot and he lowered it to 90 bux.

 

 

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Try Thumbtack. I used them and they are free for both sides. Used them and found a cheap local kid to haul away some construction material. Just caveat emptor. If they charge too much, send them a photo of what is picked up. They go by your description sight unseen and charge what they will. This guy wanted 300 and I told him that is too much. Sent him a snapshot and he lowered it to 90 bux.

 

 

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Actually, Thumbtack, Task Rabbit, etc. (unless their policies changed recently) are *not* exactly free for the vendor/merchant.  The merchant has to pay to bid on a job. Each job is assigned a number of "credits" based on complexity, skills required, etc. etc. The new vendor is given maybe 10 credits to start.  Most jobs are assigned something in the range of 2-9 credits, and there's a chart which shows the number of credits assigned to each different job. Of course, the merchant has to "buy" more credits when they run out of them.   I forget how much each credit costs but it's something like $30.00 per 10 credits or something like that.

 

The "system" then throws the merchant a potential job listing based on some algorithm, and the merchant has the option of biding on it or not. There is no visible "master directory" of jobs on which to bid. You must wait for the system to throw you an offering. And, of course, all the system ever threw me were jobs that cost 9 credits each. And, remember, all you get for your credits is the right to "bid" on the job. You aren't guaranteed the job, itself.. just the right to bid on it. You'll only be told whether or not you get the job, not who did get it.  <_<

 

I cut them loose quickly.

Actually, Thumbtack, Task Rabbit, etc. (unless their policies changed recently) are *not* exactly free for the vendor/merchant. The merchant has to pay to bid on a job. Each job is assigned a number of "credits" based on complexity, skills required, etc. etc. The new vendor is given maybe 10 credits to start. Most jobs are assigned something in the range of 2-9 credits, and there's a chart which shows the number of credits assigned to each different job. Of course, the merchant has to "buy" more credits when they run out of them. I forget how much each credit costs but it's something like $30.00 per 10 credits or something like that.

 

The "system" then throws the merchant a potential job listing based on some algorithm, and the merchant has the option of biding on it or not. There is no visible "master directory" of jobs on which to bid. You must wait for the system to throw you an offering. And, of course, all the system ever threw me were jobs that cost 9 credits each. <_< And, remember, all you get for your credits is the right to "bid" on the job. You aren't guaranteed the job, itself.. just the right to bid on it. You'll only be told whether or not you get the job, not who did get it. <_< <_< <_<

 

I cut them loose quickly.

Just going by what the guy told me and my experience. We spoke about Angies, etc. He said thumbtack didn't cost him anything nor me. Made deal in 15 mins after rooting out the hi bidders. Couple hours later he removed the material and both were happy.

TETO

 

 

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That was weird. My part of the above post didn't show. Anyway, TETO... We both were happy and I made a new contact.

 

 

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Have any of you used these sites? What did you think?

Any of them better as in your point of view?

You best bet is referrals from friends and neighbors. Also check the ads in the free driveway newspapers. Most contractors there are very local and rely on repeats and referrals to survive. When they come for the estimate make sure that they themselves will be on the job and are not just going to sub-contract it out or drop off day laborers with no supervision.

Just going by what the guy told me and my experience. We spoke about Angies, etc. He said thumbtack didn't cost him anything nor me. Made deal in 15 mins after rooting out the hi bidders. Couple hours later he removed the material and both were happy.

TETO

 

 

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The above was about Thumbtack, primarily, and services like it, which follow a similar revenue scheme.   Angie's List makes their money from the subscriber fees that people buying the services pay, as well as the advertising fees the merchants have to pay. As stated, to be covered by Angie's List in the six counties surrounding my original location in NJ would cost about $3000.00/yr up front, and not refundable. And that covers only people who subscribe (i.e. who paid that subscriber fee) and receive their publication (or have access to the website) and *not* the general public. 

I've used Home Advisor a number of times.  Free for me as a homeowner, but I hear that each contractor gets dinged for $15 or so regardless of whether or not they get hired.

 

The big ticket jobs (like a roof replacement) get responses, but the small jobs gets zilch.  Which makes sense from that perspective.  A $100 job, potentially, costs $15 just to make contact, with no assurance of getting the work.  I wouldn't participate either if I was the contractor.

I've used Home Advisor a number of times. Free for me as a homeowner, but I hear that each contractor gets dinged for $15 or so regardless of whether or not they get hired.

 

The big ticket jobs (like a roof replacement) get responses, but the small jobs gets zilch. Which makes sense from that perspective. A $100 job, potentially, costs $15 just to make contact, with no assurance of getting the work. I wouldn't participate either if I was the contractor.

$500 / yr

And, and $60 -100 per lead, regardless if they pan out. Lead % is 20 -30

I always use Me,Myself & I. Price is right, shows up on time (usually) keeps my wife happy and the work is always done to my satisfaction. And theres a lifetime warrenty on everything!

I am a member of Angie's list. I have used vendors on there that have had favorable reviews. On every occasion that I have used an Angies List vendor I have been disappointed in the quality of the service or work. Maybe I am expecting too much? Nah, I am a pretty fair person when it comes to stuff like this. If I am going to pay you for a job I just want it done to my satisfaction.

 

I have had much better success talking to neighbors, friends, and relatives who are satisfied with work that has been done for them. And pretty much all of those people are not found on Angies List.

I am a member of Angie's list. I have used vendors on there that have had favorable reviews. On every occasion that I have used an Angies List vendor I have been disappointed in the quality of the service or work. Maybe I am expecting too much? Nah, I am a pretty fair person when it comes to stuff like this. If I am going to pay you for a job I just want it done to my satisfaction.

 

I have had much better success talking to neighbors, friends, and relatives who are satisfied with work that has been done for them. And pretty much all of those people are not found on Angies List.

This is true.

For 11+ yrs I've been word of mouth. My client success rate is 90+%