Just curious if anyone here has experience with servicemagic.com?
Here’s my story, would love others’ experiences:
So, being frighteningly slow this summer, and sadly on the verge of just hanging up my toolbelt and trying to find a job that can actually pay the bills these days, I decided after hearing quite a number of ads for servicemagic.com on the radio, i’d give them a try.
For background, I am a small, high-end, “craftsman”. I take pride in my quality and of course, as I’m sure everyone who comes to this forum feels and practices the same (just by the fact thay we really CARE about our companies, quality, work and industry as evidenced by using this forum). I mostly do very nice, detail conscious kitchen and bathroom, etc. remodels in a fairly affluent area (even here sadly, the remodeling market is dead!)
I explained to the very empathetic salesman who answered the phone at servicemagic, that I was NOT a handyman, but a solid licensed, insured quality remodeler who didn’t cut corners or slap together partical board cabinets, etc. and if that was the only type of clientelle he could refer me to, I respectfully told him, that wasn’t my type of client. Now, of course, my pride may make me broke, but I’d rather have my name on soild product, and just set sail into the sunset so to speak than lose my integrity.
He assured me, while as everyone knows, construction is suffering these days, especially this year, servicemagic did get quite a number of “full house remodels”, “additions”, “second stories”, etc., “large projects” in the zip codes I gave him (which I purposely picked in very affluent neighborhoods). He re-itterated his claim that while it might be a low number volume wise, they would be “very solid, well qualified, ready to build” leads.
So, despirate to try another form of marketing, I said yes.
Then to my delight, my email begain to buzz with new “qualified leads”! I was quite excited…maybe there was life in the residenital remodeling market after all!
The first was for a “complete deck, retaining wall and fence” job. The “lead” stated that they were “ready to hire”. I was excited! So I called the number, no answer, left a detailed message, no response, emailed, nothing….
To cut to the chase, over the next couple of weeks, the same scenario repeated, I was unable to contact via any provided means, any of the “prospects”. I reported my frustration on each and every lead to servicemagic, and was simply provided with an automated response that “inability to contact the customer does not qualify for a refund”. Oh yes, of course, each of these “ready to hire” “prequalified leads” was costing me money which servicemagic promptly charged my credit card for.
So after several weeks, and over 10 “leads” that I was unable to contact, I was shocked when the contact on a lead I received actually replyed to my email! She stated she had just bought a new house that required “complete remodeling”! Again, I was excited, a nice full house remodel sure sounded great right now! We scheduled a “meeting”. I arrived to find 6 other contractors (some of them sure didn’t look legit to me, but who knows) at the jobsite. The owner then said she “wanted to remodel the kitchen, replace a steep hillside deck, refinish the hardwood floors, and re-wire the house”. No plans, no specs, no details, and then she promptly left.
Having done quite a bit of work in the city she lives in, I know that the city will require drawings, engineering on the deck, etc. for permits. I decided I had a feeling she wasn’t very serious about the project, so before I spent hours and hours putting together a bid without any specifics competing against several handyman businesses that I know would beat me on price, I decided to first inform her of my experience in that city (she was from out of the area) and the need for detailed plans, and offered refferals and assistance if desired. As you have probebly guessed by now, I never heard back from her.
Sorry to go into so much detail, but I wanted to share this info with others who may be considering the same route with servicemagic. I would have to say that I would not recommend this service at all. The “leads” they produce are either non-existant, or simply ‘tire-kickers’ and not serious. In my opinion, contractors are paying servicemagic money to waste their time educating homeowners (ie the proverbial, sorry ma’am, you can’t add a 1500 sq ft. addition for $5000), or chase phantoms.
I would love to hear others experiences, and if anyone has had a positive relationship with servicemagic. In my opinion, I would say your advertising and marketing dollars are much better spent elsewhere.
Replies
I wish you had asked here or done a search first.
Your statement:
"The "leads" they produce are either non-existant, or simply 'tire-kickers' and not serious. In my opinion, contractors are paying servicemagic money to waste their time educating homeowners (ie the proverbial, sorry ma'am, you can't add a 1500 sq ft. addition for $5000), or chase phantoms."
Is the general consensus.
Shut them off as soon as you can before they bleed you dry.
Bill,You are very correct, I should have done more due diligence. I guess desperation makes you lose good common sense sometimes. Luckily, I have realized my error before getting in too deep. I primarily wanted to share my experience to help others avoid a similar trap.Thanks!
First. let me say thank you for sharing that here. There are plenty of people here who are serious about their business, and serious about staying in business in these difficult times.
This has been discussed here at length in the past, with pretty much the same consensus as you have arrived at. But there are a few who have used the service and were pleased with the leads they received.
I have to say, right now, there isn't much by way of advertising that will bring in work, if the work just plain isn't there.
Sorry you got taken for a ride - that policy of no refund for "leads" that can't be contacted is a sure recipe for scamming, and completely unjustifiable as far as I can see. I would contact the BBB, and report them, just for the principle of it.
From your description of the "leads", it sounds like ServiceMagic is simply making sh!t up... fake names, phone numbers, emails, etc. The one call you went on could even have been staged. 95% or more of the guys who comment on ServiceMagic say about the same as you, the other 5% swear by it, go figure.
Same story as yours Ive heard except handymen. They seem to keep busy off it according to them. But there are several outfits that will keep handymen busy. Upper scale handy men use House Doctor . They get 1/2 and provide the leads and insurance . A true pro handy man has as much knowledge or more than a builder . Ill say more . Depends on what some people call a builder and what they call a handy man. Theres more difference in one field than the two trades. There are true pros in both and junkies.
Time has past to hold your nose down at the handyman label.
No IM not one.
Tim
"Handyman" - Its a shame that term gets abused so frequently and so thoroughly. I agree that a good handyman has to know an awful lot about a number of different trades. I'm not really one either, at least in the sense that my knowledge of plumbing and electrical is very superficial, despite 30 years in the trades.View Image bakersfieldremodel.com
Tim,I definitely did not mean to insult any professional "handymen", as I know there are plenty of very good ones. Probably an incorrect term to use, and my error. What I was thinking about are the guys who they they know everything and can work on any project, ie they don't admit their limitations. Lately I seem to be losing alot of work to for example painters who all of a sudden are now finish carpenters, plumbers, electricians, etc.I can't blame people for being hungry, but legally (at least here in Calif.) and ethically I don't think it's right to try and compete for work you don't know how to do.
I didnt take it as an insult to that trade .
Just a public reminder that handy men can be true professionals .
Just a small pet peeve I have that when its mentioned it sounds like a second rate job or somthing . Now that wont change but its about as ignorant as calling black people the southern name for them of years ago.
I study the trades and practice them. I have my whole life as I was born into it .
I realize this is a diversion to the thread but I feel like its worth it .
I have training in every trade thats in a house .
When I became a building inspector I thought it would be a tush job for my knowledge . Boy did I get humbled. So I studied hard.
There was a time I didnt think much of a handy man. When I was a BI I met several and I was impressed. My thought kept circling to the same "how do they know all that ?"
There was a time I didnt think much about home inspectors until one caught what I missed as a BI acting as a mechanical inspector. I was humbled again and studied hard.
I thought 18 years ago when I started flipping and buying rentals it would be pretty tush with my training . I was humbled again and IM still studying hard.
I can come here and learn every day and yes be humbled.
They have all kinds of sites around not just this one of course. Go to a tile site and you will find handymen there studying . Go to an appliance site and they are there as well. They are here in numbers studying . Hacks like me just stay with this site but they are every where. Go to a flip site and they are there too.
One thing thats great about this whole business is that the schooling goes on and on past a life time . NO way can we learn it all. I do know one thing, there are some scholars of the trades doing hanyman work.
Now in this thread we are talking about making a living with our hands . A handy man that knows it and is tooled is rough competiton. People like licensed contractors with crews dont think its fair . Plumbers and electricains cant stand them either . They do float along under the radar doing all the work that doesnt require a license. They dont need to pay workmans comp working alone and to what extent do they need to be insured? Not any thing close to a builder. I can see why a builder cant compete with them over a deck . Thats a learned thing . You cant compete with them unless you get on their level thats why they are busy.
Now a builder runs out of work and expects to compete in their feild . They get humbled and they have to study. The good handy man takes credit cards and prints reciepts and propsals from the van. Hes got a gps and internet loaded . Hes got the stuff on the truck to handle the jobs he does with out going to the store for the most part on his service calls that cost as much as a plumber.
I gotta tell you about a humbling story.
I was getting a house ready to sell and it was already show time . It wasnt a new house as it had burned. I had redone it all. I had been entering the garage with a hand held remote . One day it just quit working . I did every thing I could do changing batteries and checking connections . The door pad had quit too. That turned my efforts to the unit . I couldnt fix it and didnt have time to replace it before showing . I saw a handy man working down the street so I approached him. He came by and had it fixed in 10 minutes replacing a transistor he had on the truck. 137.50.
I dont know about you but I dont make a 137.50 every half hour. With no overhead.
Tim
exact same experience as yourself. I never, i repeat never received a return phone call, email etc from a so called lead. I paid for a about 30 "leads" before I shut the thing off and canceled my account. I swear, someday they will be taken down from a state attorney general for fraud. I am now convinced they do make up stuff for the sake of charging your credit card.
I can see how a few of the so called "leads" would just be people who didn't realize they would get a bunch of calls from contractors so quickly (although, the ServiceMagic salesman promised me only 4 contractors per lead were referred), and just not feel like dealing with returning calls/emails, but close to 90% (I received 15 leads,and had no contact with all but 2) of them not even replying?? Something seems definitely wrong, especially when service magic promises 'qualified leads'.
Sidebar ... Tim, do you have a female relative, 40-ish, named Kenley?"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Not that IM aware . Whats the story?
Learned recently on facebook that my brothers ex now has Mooney for a last name. They used to live in LR."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Tim,I completely agree. So much to know in this business, but that's what makes me love it! I have been at this since junior high, and I just turned 40, and I swear every day I learn a new technique, trick or better way to do something. Keeps it fresh, and definitely keeps us humble!I've had a couple of apprentices who unfortunately thought they knew it all, and as you probably already guessed, they no longer work for me.
read the thread and agree with the 95%...
leave and cover yur tracks...
they are not going to want to let go...
they'll be like trying to get AOL out of yur 'puter's registery....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
like trying to get AOL out of yur 'puter's registery
Yep. Heh heh heh - Mark 9:28,29 View Image bakersfieldremodel.com
Genesis 19:24, Revalation 20:10...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
whoa! AOL - look out! Ye have been weighed in the balance, and found wanting!View Image bakersfieldremodel.com
use AOL as practice...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
might take exorcisim...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
huck,
I have a suggestion-- I have been meaning to post this when I got time.Door Hangers I know it sounds cheesy--- but here is my limmited experience several years ago I had 2 different versions of door hangers printed-- my intent was to hang 10-20 around neighboring houses every time we did a roof for a variety of reasons I never got around to it. one version was strictly roofing-- the other door hanger was geared more towards general carpentry repairs the carpentry door hanger?-- well 3 years ago I was working at moving more in that direction----AND had some spare time---so for a few mornings I went out and hung door hangers in a targeted neighborhood for a couple hours a morning--maybe 4-6 hours total.--- I got busy with some roofing projects and never got around to hanging more of them---- no one called-----untill a year later--- one man called and we did one project for him in '07 that was 7 days work for 2 men--and in 08 we did another project for him that was one days work for 2 men-----so 16 man days of work out of about 6 hours of "door hanging time" this year--- my son owed me $50---rather than having him pay me back----- I took him out hanging door hangers.---- In 3 hours we hung 487 hangers Kev. walked the west side of the street and hung roofing hangers-- I walked the east side and hung carpentry hangers 3 customers called total so far/yeilding 4 projects totalling about 26 hours work( one of those customers is also planning something larger next year)counting all my costs( printing,etc. AND Kev's $50) I made $82/hour for every hour involved in this---$82/hour to hang door hangers----$82/hour to do the production it's a little under my target rate------ but if someone offered me a job for the next year making $82/hour for 2000 hours/year------- I would maybe take it2 of this years projects were roofing related-- 2 were carpentry related----- the roofing definitely paid more. realistically--- I should have paid Kev $100 to hang 500 hangers in targeted neighborhoods every monday all summer-- maybe next year.BTW--- I hung the hangers in the same streets both times I did it--- I am looking for pre WWII houses in areas with disposable incomes----- Volvo neighborhoods-- not Lexus neighborhoods.
stephen
Excellent suggestion - I have a few small projects to bid this A.M., but if nothing else comes up this week, then door hangers it is!View Image bakersfieldremodel.com
"Volvo neighborhoods-- not Lexus neighborhoods"
You really know how to draw a distiction and target your market!
I've had positive experience with Service Majic but I also understand that many have not. I have a feeling that they do not hesitate to keep their cashflow going by creating false leads when the real leads dry up. I say that because our market was going gangbusters before the sub prime fallout and the leads we received were real and most people actually answered the phone when we called. After the sub prime fallout, I got the sense that we were getting more bad leads.
When things were moving along nicely, they were quite willing to give credit for "bad" leads. The last few times I asked for credit, they refused.
One thing I did learn is that you have to be very careful about how you structure your quota, both in terms of services offered and zip codes. You also have to be very careful about how much you authorize. They have very creative ways of interpreting that budget. Basically, set it very low.
When things were going good, we ultimately paid about $350 for each sale that we closed. That might mean that 9 out of 10 orf their leads didn't produce. So, if you look at it from that perspective, you have to decide whether that number makes sense. I just looked at it as a cost of doing business. Since the average sale was somewhere in the 20k range, the cost of each lead was about 1.75% of sales, which isn't an unrealistic number in the remodeling industry. I think that number might be double that now if they are sending bad leads and that probably is too steep.
I'm still in their program but I've tweaked my quota to the point that I don't actually receive any leads anymore LOL. If they start coming in, I'd quickly take a look to see if they were actually worth receiving. I wouldn't mind getting leads from them and paying whatever price they want, as long as they were real leads.
The key is getting real leads. If you are in a dead area and they aren't getting real leads, and they are simply creating false ones, get out fast LOL! I have no way of knowing which are good and which are bad but if I wasn't reaching a high percentage of real people with real projects, I certainly wouldn't continue.
I don't do construction - I just sell it. But there are plenty of companies out there that prey on Realtors as well, selling us "leads" that the vast majority of the time are utter garbage. I think they must exist for every industry that has a sales component.
How much did they charge you for those bogus leads?
If it's a lot of money, I think you could take them to small claims court for breach of contract. My guess is that a judge would see things your way if you have documentation of the attempted calls and e-mails and written statements from Service Magic guaranteeing quality leads.
You aren't working, so the time is no loss to you, whereas Service Magic would have to send a manager type at considerable cost and lawyers are not allowed in small claims.
Luckily, I have realized the err of my ways without too much in way of expense. I can chalk it up to failed advertising. Still frustrating and disappointing though.
I have been a member of servicemagic for three years or so and am very satisfied. Below are listed the leads I’ve received this month, the amount I paid for the lead, and the status of the lead. I’ve signed up for servicemagic’s “exact match†service which costs 1.5 times as much as “market†leads, but when a customer fills out the profile and hits the send key, my cell phone rings and the customer has called me! Remember, it’s not the big eating the small anymore; it’s the fast eating the slow.
On 5/17/09, I paid $25.50 for an exact match solid surface lead. The estimate is delivered and the material ordered. $3,200.00 job. They liked that I did it all, no middleman.
5/16/09, $25.50, exact match, This is to refabricate a solid surface store display. Approximately 1k job, no material except adhesive. The customer will call when he is able to remove display and we will visit the store together to remove and plan reinstallation in his kitchen.
5/15/09, $17.00. I repaired an improperly fabricated cracked solid surface cook top cutout, $250.00, 4 hours including driving and lunch. Done and collected.
5/12/09, $25.50, exact match. This customer wanted granite but he has no job. I applied for and received a servicemagic credit.
5/10/09, $25.50, exact match. This customer wants stainless steel tops and gives an inoperable telephone number. I have to accept and pay for stainless steel leads, as they are part of the “solid surface†category for which I subscribe. I apply for and am granted a credit because of the bad telephone number and it is approved. Amazingly enough, the customer emails me a drawing and I’m having my stainless steel fabricator working on a bid; I’ll do template and install if I get it.
5/06/09, $10.50 exact match. This customer wants a solid surface refinish and seems unable to understand why I won’t drive out to his house to bid a $250.00-$400.00 job. He agrees to my $250.00 minimum then calls and wants to reschedule. I have been unsuccessful rescheduling so far.
5/05/09, $12.00, Customer writes, “I need an estimate for having a wooden ledge replaced with marble. I am open to suggestions other than marble.†The wooden ledge is in a bathroom shower and is completely rotted and her surround is mildewed and shot. I gave her a $2,100.00 estimate to fabricate and install solid surface walls, window jambs, sill, and shower caddy and soap dish. Since the bath relining folks were at $3,600.00, I’m fairly sure I’m getting this one. She found me under the “Repair Stone Slab Countertops†category.
4/30/09, $25.50 exact match. This customer bought a used CNC machine and wants solid surface sink cutouts to (I swear I’m not making this up) make birdhouses. I referred him in the right direction and immediately applied for a credit, which was granted.
I spent $167.00 and am getting $76.50 back in credits for a total expenditure of $80.50. I’ve already performed and collected on a $250.00 repair and will be starting a $3,200.00 solid surface job next week. So even if none of the other leads pan out, which is highly unlikely, I’ve paid $80.50 for $3,450.00 worth of work, which I will gladly do anytime.
I am very sure I’m getting the refabrication job. There isn’t much competition for this type of work and I’ve done this many times. I feel pretty good about the shower wall job too. If I get these, that will be over six thousand dollars worth of work for just over eighty bucks. The stainless steel job is a possibility even though I’m going to bid very high. It’s a PIA and I can afford it since I’ve got enough other work. Who knows, maybe the reschedule will reschedule too.
Some will say to develop your website or pay for “pay for click†advertising. Developing a website is always a good idea, the “pay for click†not so much. Why? Positioning on the search engines. Servicemagic dominates the major search engines and if you don’t make the first half of the first page, you’re dead. If you’re looking for solid surface fabrication, installation, repair or stone repair in my service area, I’m at the top of ‘em all through servicemagic.
Speaking of websites, this is the one servicemagic provides me: http://joecorlett.servicemagicpro.com/. If you contact me as a customer, I will confirm that you’ve visited this site before I’ll show up for an estimate. If my 4.75 customer approval rating (out of a possible 5) has no value to you, we aren’t right for each other and we’ll both save time.
If I put on my Swami Joe turban, I will predict that sooner than most will think, this is the future of how business will be done, like it or not. In fact, it is the evolution of businesses like servicemagic that is killing the newspapers. Newspaper classifieds cannot deliver the advertising efficiency of the Internet. Businesses as small as mine cannot afford newspaper advertising; however, servicemagic is not only affordable, it is incredibly cost effective.
Kowboy
Newspaper classifieds cannot deliver the advertising efficiency of the Internet.
100% correct there, but I won't agree that Service magic is the demise of newspapers, nor will it become the way of ther future. "Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Eddie:
Efficiency always prevails, otherwise we would still be hand-nailing roof shingles. A newspaper classified which costs money trying to complete with a free Craigslist ad is like the Amish going against a pneumatic roofing crew. (O.K., bad example, even the Amish use pneumatics these days.)
Newspaper ad revenue is plumetting and much of that is due to the internet.
Kowboy
We're not on the same page. I agree that the internet is killing the newspapers, and the post office. What I said was that I don't think the service magic companies are going to become the go-to place for HO's who want work done."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
My experience with servicemagic directly contradicts your premise.
Kowboy
Agreed, you seem to have hit a service that works well for service magic. But most other contractors can't say that."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
If you have a limited niche (like solid surface tops), and few or no competitors using the service (or get there first and have good reviews before anyone else does)... it might work.I had a terrible experience with SM though.
Need to bump this up again, I'm waiting to see post # 123456.78....come on, lend a hand.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
View Image
Bump
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
OK. I gave SM two years and just wasted my time and $$$... never got a single job out of several dozen leads.Howz dat.
Getting there. I think it was forrest that got the 1 mm post way back when.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
View Image
Geexze, we passed 2 million and no one noticed..we're slipping.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
View Image
Where can you see how many posts have been made?How many posts would we be at without you, Piffin, & Rez?
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Down the bottom, below the Tavern.
2038040 Messages - Show All
Mark Discussions as Read
View ImagePost New
View Image Visitors
View Image Invite
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
View Image
This is what I see:1268166 Messages - Show All
Mark Discussions as Read
Post New
Visitors
Invite
Search MessagesI don't have Tavern access anymore.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Thats funny, so if you hit show all, you'd still miss 800K posts..LOL.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
View Image
Think of all the great content I'm missing by not being in the Tavern...
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Another bump for the quest. I wonder if it could hold back until Sept 9?TFB (Bill)
What about this?Counter
Can anyone figure out how to get something like that embedded in a post?
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Try again:Counter
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Of course, it would help to have the right link
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Make it your signature line.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
View Image
Isn't that a line from a song?
I'm goin' to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come...View Image bakersfieldremodel.com
This is how enthusiastic I am about SM:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x54va4_the-beatles-kansas-city_musicView Image bakersfieldremodel.com
Do you think that, given time, it has the potential?
Cool! I didn't know they had ratings.
http://joecorlett.servicemagicpro.com/rfs/serviceprofessional/profile/spRatingsView.jsp?spID=6355465&srOID=0&mode=allRatings&link_id=3405
Of course a good profile helps too.
Pics too. Sounds like Joe is a good example to follow.
Nice job Joe.
Ya gotta log in. Im not login in. I had a gurl friend in the third grade i couldnt get shed of.
Ok, Kid, here's some more imput on service magic, based on my research.
One guy said, r.e. Service Magic "After only 5 months I now know that they are dookie! I was able to get good leads from them for awhile being the only wallpaper installer in my area. No work in California this year, so I expanded my search level to basic painting, and wow did I get $crew&d! They sent out 8 leads on one job because the client put in 2 requests. This added up to $314 dollars for them and $0 for the other 7. No rebate. They won't consider me for the second lead because I got the first lead. Well duh if you enter 8 contractors on a job, and I paid to be in the first 3! I am not a happy camper."
He went on to add: "I can deal with not getting a job, but this is just bull-dookie, as I thought it was me and two others...they said because I live in a large market they send four contractors. Folks I know told me this was bs from the beginning, and they were right."
Another guy said : "Live and learn! I never liked Service Magic!"
One company said: "We tried ServiceMagic, based somewhat on positive posts on internet boards. There were mixed reviews, but it seemed to be working for some people. The leads were horrible. We quit."
Another said: "We closed 0% of the 10 leads we paid for. 2 people would not return our calls or emails. My partner's normal close rate is usually above 60%. Don't use Service Magic unless you're completely desperate."
But then, surprisingly, one guy said: "It's been a pot of Gold for us. Last year I paid them $7K roughly, maybe more. I got: 78 leads that never really wanted to get the job done - or I never got hold of them; 30 leads I never bid on because they were eliminated by my vetting process as not being a customer I would want; 45 lost to lowballers i.e. part time painters or other; 36 sold deals that brought in $196K in gross receipts! I also got 21 more 5-star ratings making me currently the highest rated company in my market."
Another chimed in: "Same here! I've been with them over 6 years and have generated some decent revenue. As well as some bad leads, no response leads, but $25,K projects have come via this service."
One guy said you should give each marketing idea at least a year, and monitor closely to tweak it, before closing the door on it.
And another said he did reduce his services offered down to areas where he seemed to be the only one getting the leads. He decided to stay on for awhile and see how it works those areas. He says it is just a lead generating service, and is a bucks up front company - part of the bigger company that owns Tickemaster, AskJeves, Match.com and others. He says they have 600 employees, and they pull in a lot of leads. Says your particular niche is the key
"Says your particular niche is the key"
Be interresting to know what that is .
Figuring out the niche is very important if someone is going to use service magic. You have to avoid getting lumped into anything that includes general carpentry or repairs of any sort. And the niche is regional.
When I started with SM, we included decks because decks was a lucrative place to be in Virginia (the sales girl sold there). Here, in Austin, everyone builds decks at $12 per hour. It was a loser category here.
I just figgured that niche was was handyman with service magic.
They seem to have more work than anyone else. I did a bunch of reading on the handyman. Sonny and you I think were discussing it years ago.
Remember the talk about perception? What people picture in their minds and it forms what they expect . A price is percieved high but we dont know to what . So studies have been done of course. Sonny used tricks of the mind and voodoo in adverizing and presenting sales pitches. The look of not successfull but clean and honest. One of the biggest flags I noticed about Sonny was his truck. Not his sales pitch for some reason. His truck was real.
Sonny drove a small pick up with no tool boxes. He had five gallon buckets standing up in the back of it filled with tools and what have you. He posted that picture several times. He would lid the buckets if it rained. The picture looked to me that Sonny would clean your gutters and haul off the leaves in that truck after sitting those buckets out to repair your front door. He would not do that but that was the perception of the picture . It looked like Sonny would do any thing a husband does and it also looked like he wasnt sucessful just by looking at that truck. The whole thing looked affordable to a customer and frankly CHEAP. That could not been farther from the truth with our friend Sonny. In my mind it was disquise to let Sonny in the house for his consultaion performance after you fed him cookies and koolaide. Before he left they would be drinking Sonny Koolaide.
Then Sonny wore overalls and he was a little rolly polly. To me that didnt threaten the man of the house to leave with his kids and his wife. That was my perception of the pics I saw and yes it crossed my mind instantly. Ive always had the opposite perception of tatoos with beards and unruly hair for example .
Everyone loves to save money and get bargins . We like to find those gems in life . We also want to feel like we are in control of the situation when we find those gems.
The perception is that if we find an eldery man dressed in overalls that pets the family dog and jokes with the kids and laughs , that drives an 8,000 dollar pickup that wont haul much , we must have found a gem. We dont have to walk down a dark path with him like others . We can walk down his lighted path with trust. And surely it wont cost much. If he made money he would dress like it . He would drive a very nice truck with fancy tool boxes. Surely !
The truth is Sonny made more money than any singular worker that did the trade here with no overhead involved that I could see. The same perception worked with commercial buildings and their owners.
Thats why handy men are in demand .
You and Mike Smith probably remember more than I do for sure . You two discussed business with him more than anyone else I can remember.
Sonny was a smart remodelor. Smarter than most.
I wouldn't suggest taking handyman leads from Service Magic. It might work but somehow I think you'd be wasting every bit of your advertising budget every month.
I take the opposite approach from Sonny... I show up in a convertible sports car, but prefer to sport an unshaven and disheveled appearance... and act disinterested in the work and wait a few days to return calls, if at all. Give'em menacing looks too.Pay hard to get... they should have to beg you to do the work. ;o)
Hey---do what I do--- throw an empty tall boy on the customers lawn as you walk up to the door LATE for the appoinment---swear a few times while ogling the the lady of the house's clevage------and then whine to my internet buddies about how nobody is willing to pay for craftsmanship anymore, LOL
stephen
You roofers and your beer.
around here, HVAC guys drop baggies of pot...no joke!
<g>Stephen,I was only partly joking... being the eccentric and almost elusive is part of my business model. :o) It works for the Amish cabinet shop near here. If you want to talk to them, you have to physically go to their shop and talk in person. Expensive, difficult to communicate with, and they always have a waiting list. I'm thinking customer service must be over-rated.CheersBrianI gotta go set up the volleyball net in the back yard for a party... I've forwarded my calls to your number. ;o)
Basswood---- I was mostly joking as well---- I suspect that if you work hard enough on developing a reputation--- people find YOU-- and you don't have to be quite so concerned with advertising
stephen
I had a guy from Service Magic call & call call & call. I was interested but unsure and always left it open ended. He was a bit vague on how it worked and besides, something inside me kept saying "no, no and no!" I felt as if this was a little bit of the modern day carpet bagger. They haven't called me in a bout 2 months and are about due.
Glad you started this thread, thanks.
I had a guy from Service Magic call & call call & call. I was interested but unsure and always left it open ended.Same here but finally decided it wasn't for me based on most of the Forum post I'd read, like here. I told him no, wasn't interested. He called the following month. Three calls later I finally said ," Look guy, I said I wasn't interested nicely the last 4 times you've called. Take me off your call list or from now on I'm just going to cuss and insult you and your Momma."I put 'don't answer' by his number on my phone and then call block but he still calls from a slightly different number and gets through. He's called just about every other month now and I just repeat into the phone f you, f you f you.Don't know why he won't stop calling.Yesterday they got me but this time it was a woman. I asked if there was a note to cancel calling and she said no. I told her the story and I'd cuss her if she called back. She said she'd remove me, we'll see.
told ya they were like getting AOL off of yur hardrive...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
Or telling AT&T cancell my landline.
You all must forgive my intrusion into this great topic but I had to make this post for historical reference.
Carry on.
Edited 8/26/2009 1:07 pm ET by rez
Cheating will get you no where.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
View Image
Cheating will get you no where
I caught that too!View Image bakersfieldremodel.com
You could just keep bumping to get to post #789.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
winners never cheat and cheaters never win.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
View Image
so what did you do with the last 10 posts???
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
ate 'em.
yummmmy????
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
You're two weeks early.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Service Magic Sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I gave them $1400 and in return got nothing. My favorite lead was to an abandon house in a slum area of Detroit.
If anyone returned calls, they were tire kickers or wanted things done for 1/2 price.
I learned pretty quickly that regardless of how many people tell me the internet is the next horizon for advertising, its just full of tire kickers and lonely people in their PJ's at 3am roaming around and clicking.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
Interesting follow up to my tale on this...so I canceled my ServiceMagic service, or so I thought after reading all the feedback from you guys. Well, the next day, my email pops up with "client match" from Service Magic for a "deck job". No details, just a name and number. No joke, eight minutes later, I get an email from someone at ServiceMagic with "follow-up information" as follows, "Do not call contact. Contact changed mind, made mistake. Contact not serious." Okay, fine, sounds like all of ServiceMagic's so called leads. The best part of this is I got charged the $38 for this lead! And my "request for credit" was denied because "ServiceMagic's policy is not to provide credit for leads who change their mind"!!Trust me, I am going to go to the mattresses even over $38, this company is a joke! I'll keep you guys posted.
Can't you contact your credit card issuer and tell them you have authorized no further charges from ServiceMagic?
I plan to quit Servicemagic today or as soon as possible. I have received seven leads, three of which involved meeting with someone and the remaining four were either tire kickers or not really serious. For the $500 I've paid, I have made zero dollars.http://www.moritzcarpentry.com
There was another thread on SM - where one of their reps was on board, to address the issues discussed here. Anyone know what happened to it?View Image bakersfieldremodel.com
it was pulled....
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=124010.1
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
This reference to JLC's allowing SM to respond to complaints and it being a great opportunity is a joke. They've gone 7 pages of complaints and questions and SM has not given any solid helpful responce to anyone. Actually by my count 4 post responces out of over 100 complaints and now Shawn of SM seems dead or non-existant.
I never signed up but due to a phone call I made over 2 years ago I still get monthly calls trying to sell me on the benefit of using them. I have asked repeatedly to stop calling yet the continue. The last 2 calls I've only said obscenities and they keep running their spiel. I may be on their training call list.
seems Shawn was "overwhelmed"...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
An yet how could he be so naive! He should have set up a phalanx of his people to get ahead of all the issues. He's done SM more damage in this impotent effort.
not so much damage, because SM was the way SM is....
what damage could ya do to something that's already broken..
it's now that more folks are aware of how they really work/are...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
right on
Yeah, not too long lived. Too bad, as I really wanted to hear the sm reps replies to those who have used sm.Jstill on jlc, I think.
Apparently there is a strict anti-advertising policy for actual posts. I recall Dino from E-Z (Eureka Zone tools) getting booted, or voluntarily leaving, when his posts here were apparently upsetting some paying advertisers with a competing product.
In reality, opening discussions here to skeptics, naysayers and the general peanut gallery, to me seems kinda the opposite of advertising, since everything you don't want people to hear about your product, or service, is being paraded in the open.
Some time back U-Build-It (or something like that) was allowed to come on board (no pun intended), and defend their service. I invited them (my bad, apparently, - although they were never banned, and their thread ran without interruption). In both cases, E-Z and U-Build-It, it was interesting, informative, and (I thought) one of the most productive uses of the internet in general and this forum in particular.
But hey, whadda I know!View Image bakersfieldremodel.com
you're right on the edge of getting banned for life...lol****poof****