No Service Magic

Jason Whipple

That's my conclusion as well.






























(not that there's anything wrong with that) lol

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Jason E Whipple, General Manager
Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio
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kirbymurphy

He keeps expenses low to compete with you, so you might consider shedding some expenses to compete with him. While I admire a business like yours that actually employs a regular staff, this is the model you are competing with.

A fellow I used to sell for had a "virtual business". He got free display products from the wholesalers and the place looked sharp. All he had was a decent 600sqft showroom, a great canvass supervisor, and some hungry salesmen. His wife did the books.
All the crews were subs, and very good at what they did. He made sure they were insured and well-behaved.

We had great prices and we all made a lot of money. I loved going in after Sears or Home Depot scared the crap out of them. I helped customers rescind many an order.

handyhands

I love nothing more than helping a new customer send Newpro or Renewal by Anderson a cancellation. It's a great thing indeed!!

AboveAndBeyond

Just to add to this already-giant thread, we have recently done away with ServiceMagic. Having been in business for 1.5 years, we have been with them for the majority of our business' life as when we were just starting off, our name was not well-known and we were desperate to keep decent work flowing. It worked out well a few times but I slowly grew to have 2 major concerns with what they provided. The first was the lackluster response from customers through them; I almost attribute it to the implied "laziness" of the internet user, and filling out a web form is one thing, having a contractor come out to your house is another. I loved to work with the customers who demand I come out, discuss all the options, poke around with them, etc; SM customers most of the time were looking for an over-the-phone estimate.

Another big gouge I finally realized was that Servicemagic does nothing to keep your name out among the general public. I understand they market themselves as a form of "direct/targeted marketing" for contractors but solely using service magic I realized that when we got in touch with their customers, it was the first and probably last time these people would see our names if we didn't get the job!

In conclusion we have turned to local paper advertising, yard and truck signage, job radius marketing (on lunch break I knock on neighborhood doors with business cards to explain to people to call if there are any problems with our trucks in the road or noise levels), and good ol' community involvement. I can testify that these things are costing me half the price and three times the response that service magic. SM may have good intentions but I don't think their services were right for us.

Just my 2 bucks here!

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Above & Beyond Remodeling LLC - http://www.aboveandbeyondct.com

kirbymurphy

Very nice post Aboveandbeyond and a very nice portfolio too!
(BTW, http://www.aboveandbeyondct.com/about.php still has Latin)

(***Make that all testamonials are still Latin)

Companies I've worked for haven't purchased many leads and the generic Internet ones we did buy were more tire-kickers than hot customers. But then we paid about $5 each when I sold for a custom home builder.

What I haven't seen anyone mention is that leads are priced "comparatively low" because of their performance. If every lead was a sure sale, they would go for $1000 each. (or way more)Ya take the good with the bad and keep an eye on overall costs. If the ratios are there, keep using them. If something else works better, milk it to death.

Another fact is I've gone on calls with guys that thought they were superstars, yet couldn't sell a job if it was half-price. They'd walk out saying how unmotivated or what a deadbeat the customer was, yet I saw them make multiple fatal errors during the process.

Obviously many leads will NEVER be a sale, but many are thrown away by poor performance and/or a lack of persuasion skills. It's too easy to blame the lead than take the blame. I've gone into sales calls with a bad feeling and totally blown the sale because of my lack of participation, if you will. I've walked in with an "I couldn't care less" attitude and walked away with a check. Go figure.

I'm brutal on myself during the post mortem, and I've found that some folks just won't buy, at least from me that day. I did everything right and thought I had a win, but in the end was empty handed.

handyhands

You touch on a very valid point.

If the rep gets the sale, it's ONLY because he's a superstar closer.

If he doesn't, it's because the lead sucked.

Unfortunately, I don't see that mindset changing, though.

THEHANDYMAN

handyhands at last we found someone who has a good handle on things. I hadn't looked at it like that before but how right he is.

DJM

Hi all,

I posted on this very thread recently stating my problems with Service Magic. The next day I made an attempt to contact the SM rep via email who was replying to threads here.

Only a few days ago, Shawn proved to be the only person so far from SM that is at the very least sincere and in my opinion a respectable professional capable of listening and evaluating a situation in hopes of producing a compromise/solution.

Although the end result was not what I felt to be sufficient, I do understand he works for SM and compromising in regards to my bill was from the start the only thing he claimed to have any real control over. Of course he aimed at keeping me signed up with SM, but if you read my post, the billing was not my main concern. Also, staying signed up would make the situation worse not to mention would discredit my reason for having these concerns.

It is important to consider what his definition of a solution/compromise vs. my definition would be on the matter. I will have to continue to address the issue involving my business name with the appropriate individual(s).

In short, I felt since I publicly stated my complaints on this thread, it would only be right to publicly extend the following:

Thank you Shawn for what you were able to do in regards to my billing issue. I appreciate you listening to my repeated complaints and not only considering a solution, but for actually doing something aimed at a solution.

I should also point out that not once did Shawn attempt to earn points on the forum by stating his efforts regarding my complaints. He simply communicated with me privately and offered compromises. In my opinion this validates his sincerity in respect to his goal for a solution.

handyhands

As another contractor who deals with the online lead services, I'd be eager to see how this is eventually resolved.

It's strange how it works, but just as soon as we get ready to cancel a particular lead service, we pop a couple nice sales.

Literally last week, I was on the phone with a rep from SM telling them about my disdain with the quality/ or lack there of with the leads I've been getting lately,....and low and behold we just landed 2 nice jobs from them.

Now, I'm just hoping the profit isn't spent on the hopes of receiving a bunch more leads waiting for the next sale...Good Luck!

Mike Finley

I'd have to disagree that customers of a product should accept a sh*tty product. Do you think a TV set should cost $50,000 if they built them to not break?

No, a company creates a product with a built in pre existing condition of the product is a valid product.

Remember what the online lead service product is? They offer to their customers -a source of pre screened, safe and secure contractors to complete remodeling projects. Their customers use their service because they have a need. The need is a source for a pre-screened, safe and secure contractor, not somebody to talk to because they are lonley.

The leads are all supposed to be valid. They have a system they offer to the contractor to protect them from a lead that is not valid, it's the infamous lead credit.

It a compromise philosophy is what you have when you think the way you are that the leads are not all created equally and there should be some value scale for some leads being worth more than others. That's not what they are selling contractors when they sign them up.

handyhands

How many times have you hit the drive-thru at a place, only to get back to the job-site or your office to find out something was missing, or your sandwich is f'd up.

Or,..you buy a brand of boots or shoes that you've grown accustomed to wearing,...when most decent pairs you've bought in the past last 2 years, and this one particular pair lasts for 1 year, and turns to crap on you.

Or,...you spend money to go to the movies,...spend the cash on the soda's, pop-corn and what-not-----and the movie blows goats.

What this has to do with anything? Who knows...It's been a long week and maybe I'm clueless. I always LOOK AND HOPE to get the best quality out of the things in life that I chose to purchase or indulge in. Does it always wind up being the best? NO.

Point is, I tend to agree with the other guy who in my mind,..and call me crazy,...touches on a very valid point:

If you find something that works for you, use it and milk it.

After utilizing the services of many, if not all, at one time or another of the online lead generating companies, have stuck with a few of them. As much complaining as I like to do about SM=We just sold 2 VERY decent jobs in the last few days. Do we sell ALL of the jobs they send us? HECK NO. But when comparing the monies spent to obtain all of the leads we've received from SM verses the profits and overall size of these jobs--we obviously wouldn't continue to use SM if we weren't making money.

Would I love to know that every lead that comes from these online lead services is going to result in someone actually answering the phone when I call to tell me how they can't wait to have us out so they can spend thousands of dollars with me? If it worked like that, LIFE WOULD BE GRAND, but unfortunately that's not reality.

We rarely get stuff from Renovationsexperts--but out of the 5 leads we've bought from them for $55.00 each, we've recently sold 2 of those jobs as well (for a total of $30k+). So go figure.

Bottom line,--I know some know-it-all that likes the sound of their own words is going to come in and try to over-analyze the point I'm trying to get across, but again...what works for some may not work for others.

--If you're using the services of the online lead generating companies and trying to make it work--You're going to have to take the bad with the good. And unfortunately, I don't see that changing.

Vision Custom

Seems to me that if the only service this benifits, or seems to, is handyman services, that use to get in the door for a reduced lead charge, and UPSELL, UPSELL, UPSELL!!!

I plan on diong just that, as I have to return a call from a rep on Monday...

I'll keep you informed of the results. She has A LOT of questions to answer

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Don
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http://rioranchosremodeler.com/

THEHANDYMAN

DJM I see you are in CO like myself. Not sure where you are located. But I made a personal trip to SM because of some issue that I was having nothing big. But since I seen they are in GOLDEN I made the trip, it was well worth the time to talk face to face with a real live person. Also to look around and see a small part of the operation.

THEHANDYMAN

Friend of mine that I just talked to this weekend. Is into landscaping and sprinkler systems. He is using SM after he found about it from me. Says that he has never been this busy in the 10 years he has been doing this. Most of the work is from SM leads, on top of his regular customers.

Tiger

"I have been with SM for a few months now. Get most of my work thru their leads. Most leads cost me $12 can't beat that. Yeah some pan out some don't, but so far I am a head of the game."

Are you really a handyman/flooring guy??? I was just reviewing your past posts and you rarely seem to contribute in the handyman or flooring area.

However, you're all over the SM posts, more than half your posts. Also interesting that you advise not to waste your money on PPC. Try SM. Don't waste your money on Clicksmart. Try SM. Don't waste your money on Yellow Pages. Try SM.

Own up, you're really an SM employee aren't you?

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www.TigerElectrical.com

silvertree

Time: 1:41 PM Thursday, June 18, 2009

This is funny in a sad way. A couple of months ago I was contacted by an LGS. The usual spiel, we have customers that can't find a contractor, or can you handle more work?

My story.
I told them I lost my license for taking down payments and not doing the work and I was now under house arrest, I then told them the electronic bracelet came off in 60 days and I could sure use some leads so I could get some down payments and get back into making money. I said I couldn't get re-licensed but that didn't matter because I knew what I was doing. They offered to sign me up right then and there, with the option of turning my leads off until my electronic bracelet was removed. I said call back in 60 days. But they insisted I should sign up right away to get into large quantity of leads going begging for contractors.I told them again I was a convicted felon and a crooked contractor, the person just laughed and said "we all deserve another chance".



I was screwing with them for fun and they kept trying to sign me up, so much for checking my reputation.


Paul/ Silvertree

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Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

THEHANDYMAN

Silvertree that is funny I loved it.

TIGER you rascal you are one HECK of a detective I should have known I couldn't pull the wool over your eyes, you caught me darn it any way. Oh well I tried but what the heck win some lose some.

Ok I confess Service Magic is a terrible service, them sukers send you leads and you call the customer and they hire you. Then you have to go to work, it is terrible and should be outlawed! I want to stay home and draw the checks that SM sends me every week for pretending not to work for them, seems that lately they have lost my checks in the mail. So I must find outside work, thanks to that terrible SERVICE MAGIC~~~ OH WHOA IS ME what ever shall I do?

Been in flooring bussines well over 35 years I pretty much know what I am doing. Most of the questions I see asked are answered already I like to read but don't see much need to answer. If I have a question about some thing I usely head for YOU TUBE, ton of videos that covers about any thing you can ask. Far easier for me to see a video rather than try to decifer what someone is trying to explain. I suggest that you use CLICKSMART they need ppl like you.

Yes I talk about SERVICE MAGIC it is some thing that I have personal experience with and I feel that I can add to some topic about them. There are always two sides to every story, many times we only hear one. Sm as has been said many times works for some and not others, it maybe the territory the service or the contractor himself who knows? You have to work the leads you can't sit back and expect someone else to do the work for you. A customer is a customer no matter how they get a hold of you, the ppl that find you thru SM are no different than one that looks for you in YELLOW PAGES. It is up to you to sell the job. For myself like SILVERTREE it works great, I like the most of the ppl that I have talked with there. For the most part they have been real helpful and friendly. The time that I spent in their office was a real eye opener I enjoyed the ppl I met and just looking at the operation.

Are there ppl that it work for yes, are there ppl that duz not work for yes. I read alot of the marketing Ideas thrown out here trying to find some thing I think will work for me so far I am still looking. Door hangers kind of get my attention some say it works, some say waste of time and money. But some thing that I may try. The time might come when I won't need any more service like SERVICE MAGIC but till then they are my bread and butter.

Tiger

I missed this earlier post. Another fine detective. I noticed a trend among supporters of Service Magic...low post count with a majority of posts in defense of SM rather than a real trade.

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www.TigerElectrical.com

J F

Yeah, the SM "plants" gotta learn to sign up and post "real" stuff for about a year or so, then BAM...hit us with the SM trolling...it would be easier to fool us then, they just need to plan ahead a bit more...

THEHANDYMAN

Have to admitt that you guys are to good for us.

Guess since my cover has been blown I'll have to start taking the worthless leads.