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"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
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I used them for 6 months. Sold one job, and spent tons of money/time on leads that did nothing but waste my time.
Now, I have to deal with them calling/emailing me constantly to renew my service.
I think the service COULD work well if you are very specific with the type of leads you want.
I'd say of all the leads I paid for, maybe 30% of them I never even talked to the customer. Got the email from Servicemagic, called the customer a few times, and that was it. No response from the customer. Talked to the Servicemagic people about it, and they say that is all part of the process.
I wish I had a reason;
my flaws are open season
I had just about the same experience with them as you did. LOADS of tire kickers. I specifically stated in my profile that we were offering framing services. Even a brief description of what a weather-tight shell is and what a typical framing contractor provides for service. I also included decks and basement rough-ins as well.
I got leads that ran the gambit from vinyl siding and window replacement to repair jobs and tile jobs. And I was expected to pay for all of these leads. IMO they do a piss poor job of matching leads to your target market no matter how much information you give them about your business.
Then when you cancel the service it's like trying to break up with a psycho chick.
BTW..... I'm watching the first Sox preseason game of the year right now on TV. Making me all warm and fuzzy.View Image
Yeah the Sox will look good losing to the Tigers in the AL Championship game LOL!
blue"...
keep looking for customers who want to hire YOU.. all the rest are looking for commodities.. are you a commodity ?... if you get sucked into "free estimates" and "soliciting bids"... then you are a commodity... if your operation is set up to compete as a commodity, then have at it..... but be prepared to keep your margins low and your overhead high...."
From the best of TauntonU.
LOL...one spring training game into the season and you're already crowning 'em champs, huh?
You Detroit guys really aren't used to winning much of anything huh? Maybe if Detroit can manage to stay relevant in one sport or another for a few years it will give you guys some time to learn how to talk smack.View Image
DP
Looks like your new Centerfielder had a nice game. Keep an eye on him. Jacoby Ellsbury. From way out in Madras, Oregon. Went to Oregon State. He was the catlyst to OSU's CWS run 2 years ago. Prior to WINNING IT ALL!
He makes things happen on the field.
Go Beavs
Hey...stop that smack talking stuff yourself LOL!
It's interesting to note that you seem to imply that Detroit, and more importantly Michigan doesn't know what it's like to win. I know you will think I'm nuts but we here in Michigan enjoy our sports becasue we happen to have won more national titles and championships than any other state in the US.
If you don't believe me, lets add them up. Lets add up the big four sports including college and pro championships. You'll be surprised to learn that we are the champion's champion!
blue"...
keep looking for customers who want to hire YOU.. all the rest are looking for commodities.. are you a commodity ?... if you get sucked into "free estimates" and "soliciting bids"... then you are a commodity... if your operation is set up to compete as a commodity, then have at it..... but be prepared to keep your margins low and your overhead high...."
From the best of TauntonU.
Wasted a pile of money...paid for a dozen leads--none worth a penny.
They've been bugging me too. Was your guys name Devin?
The way I see it there's no way iin hell i'm gonna sign with someone that gets $50-$100/ lead regardless of whether or not I get the job.
Edited 2/28/2007 7:28 pm ET by MSA1
We did it for a year, and closed 2 jobs out of 28 bids. You read that right. 2 in 28.
That doesnt include the leads that I couldnt get in contact with.
Or the lady that requested a whole house vinyl siding estimate, ( according to Service Magic) but after two weeks of failed attempts to contact her (4 calls, answering machine, two messages, no return call) finally caught her at home. She says " We had our home resided three years ago, I dont know why you keep calling me." Me: " Service Magic gave me your name" Her: " Well I was on their site but, I never signed up for an estimate, maybe, might have by accident.....
I went ten rounds with SM over that kind of crap, got some of it refunded but it was a major PITA. You dont need the headache.
My first week with them I signed aprox. 175k worth of additions (3) so yeah it worked out very good so far, I am in my third week.
Mark
Collossal waste of time and money for us! 12 calls in four months. ALL tire-kickers and just for kicks on the last one we told them we could build a house for 10% less than their lowest bid and they STILL never called back.
I wouldn't spend any more money on them.
Just my two cents of course as it apparently works for some folks.
Mike
I signed up to contractors.com. It was free to sign up, you have to buy the leads. I have never purchased any and never will, I just use it as a sort of market barometer, to see what kinds of work people are looking to have done. Of course, in this respect, it is biased. The people who use this service are looking at low price as their selection criteria. Not the kind of clients I want to have. Any idjit contractor can sign up, there is no real screening process (they might check a license or see if the business is registered).
Here is one that showed up in my inbox recently:
"Hi John ,
A new project has been added to Contractors.com which might interest you.
Project Description:
Would like laminate flooring installed
Job Type: Laminate Floor - Simulated Wood/Stone - INSTALL
Project Site is located in: Baltimore, Maryland, 21216
The cost to purchase this lead: $25.00"
Who would pay $25 for a such an ambiguous lead?
I cannot speak as to the firm, the local franchise, or their employees as a whole.
What I can attest to is that, from my position on the sidelines, I have seen a number of plumbers arrive in Reno. They come here in good form, and start working for "top grade" firms. Then, they discover the joys of 'the party life,' and the downward spiral begins.
Over the next couple years, these losers progress through the plumbing companies (usually in the same order): "Top grade" to "premium" to "middling" to, finally, Service Max. Next stop? Illegal unlicensed work, followed by Prison, drug re-hab, or simple death.
Did just that in '02, when things were slow. What I found is that it is the single most effective way to find the lowest margin work. I look back at that point in time and wince at the enormous amount of time I wasted. Only if my kids are starving!
I've used Service Magic to find subs and I belong to them as a contractor as well.
Like anything, you have to experience it for yourself to fully understand how it all works.
As a contractor, I did manage to score both big and small jobs, but I had to pay for many many leads. The "up-side" is that they advertise you on the internet to where your name will pop up on a google search. The "down-side" is having to pay for a lead then never even getting to speak to someone.
As a contractor looking for subs, I had partial good luck. Two out of the four companies I went with did satisfactory work, the other two stunk.
Here's what I learned after my two years with them so far:
- If you're getting subs, get referrals and go see the work they did. Simply relying on Service Magic as your sole referral is not a good idea.
- If you plan on joining, be nice to the representative assigned to you and they will be fair with you. Yes, there have been tons of "false / mismatched" leads but my rep has always gave me credit back where it was due.
BTW - there's no fee to join, but if you want out, you'll have to fake your own death :)
I've been taking calls from a Service Magic guy for awhile now. I keep putting him off but the service does sound OK so I haven't completely told him to pound salt... yet.
I was going to post here and ask if anyone else had used them and I see that someone beat me to it. Good!
My biggest fear is paying for a load of leads that are worthless. I can't even pick and choose which ones I want to buy, I just have to pay for what they decide to send me.
I figure that they are sales based and therfore will put through any leads... even though they claim to qualify all leads before they pass them on.
They tell me there is $100 to sign up and then I have to pay for leads. A lead on an addition, for instance, is $50. I think they offered to cut my signup fee in half though... and if I pay in advance, I get $400 in leads for $300.
I was leary before I got here and am maybe more leary now that I've read through the posts.
However, is it possible that I could do better if I sutomize my leads right? I can pick the areas and project types... this is supposed to help me get better leads for what I do.
When you're this good, EVERYONE wants a crack at you!
http://www.petedraganic.com/
I thought the same thing Pete. I really tried to streamline the leads I would get by taking a long time to put together my profile and intro page or whatever they call it. I paid $45 each for about 20 leads and none of them were for the specific service I targeted (framing). It seemed that no matter what I did, they'd send everything from handyman work to finish work my way. I suppose if I waited around long enough a framing lead would have come my way, but at this point, I'm convinced it would have been just dumb luck. At the end of the day all they really care about is that $45 and if they have to send you a lead for cow milking to meet your promised lead quota then they will do just that.
Who knows though.... your mileage may vary. Maybe framing is just too specialized for that sort of service.View Image
I have used Service Magic for several years with decent results. However, I signed up with them when they allowed you to screen all off the leads that matched your criteria and pick and choose only those that you want to persue ( Market Account). I still have that ability since I am still a part of the service. At this time they no longer offer that type of service to new members and for that specific reason I no longer refer new business people to them . They have tried several times to convert me to their "Pro Leads " program. If they ever force me to change they will loose my business. I offer top quality handyman and carpet cleaning services to my clients and want the ability to screen leads before accepting them . While it made their job easier ( and more profitable) it has hurt the guy using the service. Unfortunately I cannot give them praise for the current policy changes. If you are offering a very specific service and can acccept any lead that comes in on that subject it might work for you.
As the other user stated, I too have had them credit me for leads that didn't meet my profile or that were duplicates that came across. They have a good idea and it has worked for me at this time but, their changes have lost them some good business with the really small businesses.
They used to offer a trail period where they would send you sample leads that have been generated in your feild for your area (just to let you see what is there but not purchase), that might be a way to see if it meets your needs before signing up.
To all you people..I should start a new thread with this but here ya go for now...Cool site if you need it!
Be well
andy...
http://www.ripoffreport.com/results.asp?q1=ALL&q4=&q6=&q3=&q2=&q7=&searchtype=0&submit2=Search%21&q5=service+magic&Search=Search
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Good find, Mr Clifford... thanks!
When you're this good, EVERYONE wants a crack at you!
http://www.petedraganic.com/
want a really good laugh...read this Home Depot complaint and rebutals...LOLOLOL
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff97623.htm
reminds me of threads in the Tavern..lolhttp://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Edited 3/17/2007 1:28 am ET by andybuildz