No Service Magic

NormW · 10-04-2009, 10:43 PM

Being the 400th somethin' person to respond to this thread, I'm afraid I'll get lost in the crowd (uhmmm ... riot! maybe a better word). Since I'm new to the site, I'm probably safer in a crowd

. Looks like bashing SM is a favorite pass time here, I think they deserve it, and I'm glad everyone here is getting the word out.

Quick note on my experience with SM. Since starting out, most of my work has been as a sub-contractor and contracting my own jobs from friends, family, and referrals from the above. A few years ago, I started looking into ways to advertise, and quickly learned of ServiceMagic, and contacted them.. I think it was from a JLC link. I was skeptical from the begining, but being inexperienced I got sucked in .... almost. I gave them my credit card info and just before they transferred me to whoever it is, that "varifies" you signed up (sell your soul). I asked to clarify why they needed my Credit Card info. It was then that I learned that they go into your account at their convenience to take their fee out.

I hit the breaks fast. Me

. Him

. He got down right belligerent. He said, "We are a fortune 500 company, who do you think you are?" I told him "I'm nobody, but I'm not letting anyone have free access to my account". In the end, he descended into all kinds of insulting comments before I hung up.

Since then, I receive a call every few months, from different reps, trying to get me to sign up. I've told them about the above incident, and just string them along, just in case I get slow enough to need them. But, thankfully since reading the forums... no way!

If everything that is being said is true. I can't believe a class-action suit hasn't been brought against them. Among the complaints.
1) Giving out bad leads. cold or unreachable, and billing for them
2) When people complain, they just replace the bad lead with another bad lead.
3) Re-selling leads to secondary referall services ( and probably buying them as well)
4) When contractors put a hold on their account because they are busy or away, they turn the leads back on.
5) Giving leads to more than three competitors.
6) Reportably their "Customer Service" sounds more like "Customer Belitteling".

All of us in the trades, have to deal with customers, building inspectors, insurance agents, licensing agents, suppliers, subs, generals, employees, etc... Who needs another headache like these crooks?

I'm sure some have had good luck with referall services. Some of us actually enjoy cigarettes too, doesn't mean it's a good thing.

Anyway, thanks for letting me say my piece... and thanks for everyone who posted prior in this thread.. you did me and many others a great service!
sigh, i think i need a

after this rant.....

SMsupport · 10-05-2009, 11:43 AM

Sparky – “SM Rep” Jake is NOT the official spokesperson of SM. Mike – you are spot on about SM having someone dedicated to ORM-Online Reputation Management and that is me. I am not part of the save team or the customer service team, I am strictly focused on ServiceMagic’s online reputation and reaching out to professionals online with questions or concerns.

With roughly 1000 employees it is difficult at times to stress the importance of not having reps representing SM online, no matter how good their intentions are. I do apologize for the inconvenience and would like to extend the same offer to help those looking to engage in productive conversations as we’ve had.

Thanks,

Shawn Trammell
strammell@servicemagic.com

DavidC · 10-05-2009, 12:53 PM

Thanks for clearing that up Shawn.

You mentioned productive conversations. Does that mean the concerns listed previously have been addressed? If so, what is different now?

Good Luck
Dave

SMsupport · 10-05-2009, 01:21 PM

Thanks Dave, a lot of the previous concerns have been addressed many times I’m sure. Did you have any specific concerns that you wanted to discuss?

Shawn
strammell@servicemagic.com

DavidC · 10-05-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMsupport

Thanks Dave, a lot of the previous concerns have been addressed many times I’m sure. Did you have any specific concerns that you wanted to discuss?

Shawn
strammell@servicemagic.com

Seriously Shawn, this is like a broken record. I haven't seen any indication yet that policy has been altered.

1.) Does SM still use the contractors business name to drive traffic to it's website?

2.) Can your paying customer, the contractor, expect that you are now qualifying the homeowners any different than in the past?

3.) Are bogus leads actually credited back to the charge card or checking account?

4.) Can the homeowner depend on SM actually screening the contractor?

Another good question is what ever happened to the test program with Silvertree? That was to be your chance to disprove our claims.

Good Luck
Dave

SMsupport · 10-05-2009, 04:02 PM

Dave I understand and I do appreciate it. To answer your questions:

1) Here is how it works. If a service professional has XM (Exact Match) activated, SM does get that profile out online using different advertising and keyword matching methods. The point is to get the contractor’s info out there. In many cases, the new service professional doesn’t have a website and benefits from the online exposure. Without a website and the knowledge of how to market online it can be very challenging. A side effect of this is that homeowners do end up at the ServiceMagic site. If you have a successful website and don’t want to compete against your own website then don’t sign up for XM and it won’t happen.

2) I understand there have been many conversations about the leads and the qualifying of them. SM does NOT qualify leads. SM does screen the service requests and work to continuously improve the filtering system.

3) Bogus leads are applied to the current billing balance. The billing cycles are typically weekly and in a lot of the cases the lead is credited before the pro is charged for them. In the case that does not happen, it is simply taken out of the next week’s billing.

4) Absolutely Dave. I know there is a misperception that it does not happen. I can personally tell you I’ve had numerous conversations with contractors that were very unhappy about not being approved, some with threats of coming online to damage our reputation if we didn’t approve them. I feel like our department that screens potential clients does an outstanding job.

I haven’t heard back from Paul personally but I did recently notice on his forum that they mentioned not starting it yet. I look forward to seeing the results myself and wish him the best. I hope this answers your questions and thanks again Dave!

Shawn
strammell@servicemagic.com

DavidC · 10-05-2009, 04:54 PM

It appears to me that nothing has changed. I was not asked for permission to use my name for marketing. Buying viable leads can be a good investment for a contractor if they are really viable. Not screening allows too many bogus leads into the system and wastes the contractors time. Accept payment for good leads and give refunds for crap, it's simple. In store credits and replacement leads are not the same.

My own experience does not indicate any screening was actually done. This is very important for the industry you purport to serve. When a bad contractor gets through your system and a homeowner gets shafted, step up and stand next to the homeowner rather than shield yourself with disclaimers. It's good customer service and today's world demands it.

Re: the test program, this is from Paul's forum;

Any more movement on the grand "test"? was the question asked of Paul.

No!
But I'm not done with it. was Paul's response.

Possibly you misread(?), I know I did the first time. Or is it something on your end?

Good Luck
Dave

Good Luck
Dave

J F · 10-05-2009, 05:15 PM

Here's some more feedback regarding sm (if it hasn't been posted yet, this thread has gotten pretty long).

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeo...vicemagic.html

J F · 10-05-2009, 05:28 PM

http://www.ripoffreport.com/Search/servicemagic.aspx

http://www.ripoffreport.com/Search/service-magic.aspx

Mike Finley · 10-05-2009, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidC

1.) Does SM still use the contractors business name to drive traffic to it's website?

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMsupport

1) Here is how it works. If a service professional has XM (Exact Match) activated, SM does get that profile out online using different advertising and keyword matching methods. The point is to get the contractor’s info out there. In many cases, the new service professional doesn’t have a website and benefits from the online exposure. Without a website and the knowledge of how to market online it can be very challenging. A side effect of this is that homeowners do end up at the ServiceMagic site. If you have a successful website and don’t want to compete against your own website then don’t sign up for XM and it won’t happen.

I'm going to assume that since the answer is in the tone that SM understands the problem, acknowledges it and accepts responsibility for causing it that:

1) This Exact Match (XM) choice is explained in simple terms and language explaining to a contractor that by choosing it essentially you are allowing SM to market your company name in order to drive traffic to SM.

2) SM makes it clear how it works, that anybody typing in your company name will be finding a link to SM, explains the pros and cons of this.

3) SM explains and has a system to terminate this direct marketing of the contractors company within a reasonable time if the contractor terminates their relationship with SM or turns of XM.

Teamrenovators · 10-06-2009, 01:34 AM

Im just a little guy, with 35 years of construction experience, with computer science and management degrees and the last 6 years working as a field super on walmart jobs. Anyhow, Ive been busting hump building a contractor friendly site (check out my profile site) that I hope shortly will provide contractors and property owners with an alternative introduction service online. I prefer to call it an online plan room and contractor community which my fellow contractors could certainly help support by adding free profiles and speading the word to GCs, Govs, and Archs that wish to get the word out on their projects. For now its all free and open. So feel free to give service magic a run for their money. They have millions backing them. I have ohhhhhh 50 bucks lol.

It would be nice to see some of you guys join up and help get the Teamrenovators.com site up and off the ground. I'm working night and day to get the foundation layed. It's up to yall to help make it a true construction community.

J F · 10-06-2009, 09:09 AM

this smells a little spammy as well

NormW · 10-07-2009, 07:37 AM

I never signed up for Service Magic, but have been on the phone with them. If I google my business name. A link to Service Magic with my name lands close to the top of the page.

It lists my name and number, and informs the person that I am "unscreened", right next to my name is the name of a competitor who is "screened" and has a five star ranking

.

Since my web presence is at this time very small, they are probably doing me a favor, it at least includes my phone number and they list me as a "pro".

If I had invested a lot of time and effort into building a web site. I could see where this service of theirs would cause people to be upset. All seems a bit hinky to me.

AbbyKitchens · 10-09-2009, 06:22 PM

H I Guys.. I thought you had to be caontractor to post here.

My two cents......Some of my fiends in the business and I meet every once in a while , we mostly gripe about stuff like Service magic , cragslist flaggers, and bad payers( to which I have had none). But I have noticed that we don’t really help each other as we should. What I mean is most of us don’t charge the customer for the measure, or the design, We do this to beat out the guy, who will also do his design or bid (sometimes fours to eight hours of designing and bidding ) for the job ...for free.
Thats in part why places like sm get the business, We think working with them is going to change all that for us. They,..(co like Sm) are doing something for us because we don’t do it for ourselves ...they just do it in a way that makes money.

So....If all of us lic contractors would join forces in small area groups, for our location, meet and agree to operate like an industry that perceives their own value. Then we would start to see a change, However when we give away a half days work just to let a customer, see if they can do the project or if they can afford us. Then we only add insult to injury when we let someone make us pay for that opertunity. I became a lic. contractor to operate in the light and be recognized as a honest and trust worthy service contractor. Why join a bunch of other agencies when you already belong to the biggest one. the state of mn lic,dept. <br/>I help my customers to realize the value that they get from a lic contractor. Sell your value you earned it...When I close a deal there is a proposal, purchase agreement , a bid, a 7018.5 form ... ect. if that is not enough to assure them I am in the business, then they really want a hack and probably are not good payers. <br/>Any... way this was about (Service not so magic) and I am now at the end of the thread #4500 or somthing... but I heve never seen such a bunch of crap like that which the sm agents are spilling out here. They have there own multi million dollar web page with the talking guy...

let them address these comments on there own site, in responce to this fourm,
Lets see them opoligize to all the used pepole on this fourm on their web site .... not here.
let them do there customer service control there.

If you are a lic contractor and, you have been so for more then ten years you shouldn’t need them, and,.. if you work with others in your field and net-work you wont..
Don’t make enemies make fiends and net-work. We use lots of good subs if you cant sell,.. well then,....."do" , be a sub for some one , that can, you'll probally learn alot.
( sorry for the grammar and spelling... but I am a contractor not a grammar teacher,)
thanks.

THEHANDYMAN · 10-10-2009, 10:19 AM

I've defended SM many times and continue to do so today. They have worked great for me and keep me busy in fact I had to shut leads off more than once so I could catch up, been off for a month now leads back on monday. I've not been in here because of being to busy to spend my time on line. I have a friend that installs sprinkler systems he joined SM last spring says he has never been so busy, best year he has ever had. Ran into a couple of other contractors on the job one day (Plumber and Electrican, I had a SM "T" shirt on that I had been given at a BBQ at SM a while back. They both were SM contractors and both were happy with their results.

You have time to spend here complaining you aren't busy enough, the guys that use SM and are busy don't have time to come here and tell their side of the story. The opinions here are pretty lopsided but I can't believe I and the examples above are the only one's with a possitive experience with SM.

The folks like SHAWN ( sure that I talked to him at BBQ) that I met at SM that evening of the BBQ were just everyday ppl like the rest of us. They have a job to do and most I talked to were happy working at SM, it seemed that SM goes out of their way to make for a good working enviroment. The ppl I met were friendly and made me feel welcome I seen many things on my guided tour of the office first hand that convinced me that this would be a good place to work. As SHAWN said above with over a 1000 ppl working there are sure to be a few bad apples that are having a bad day. You never really know what the real story is there are always two sides to every story. How many of these guys that complain really fess up to being the real ASSHOLE on the phone? I know I have been at times especially if someone strikes me wrong! I feel sorry for ppl that call me at times and catch me in a bad mood.

For all the SHERLOCK HOLMES that will come in and say I am a SM employee grow up and get a friggin life! I have gave my personal info more than once and have proven beyond a doubt that I am indeed a self employed contractor. Thanks to SM I am doing quite well.

SHAWN I was the old fat guy with a beard from JOHNSTOWN, I won the set of PORTER CABLE tools at the drawing. I had a great time met alot of great ppl and look forward to attending the next one. THANKS JERRY

NormW · 10-11-2009, 08:50 AM

Handyman,
I'm willing to bet that SM works for some people. I have a feeling that a lot depends on the type of work you do. Probably those with a niche or a specialized trade, where the competition isn't as tight, probably have better results.
I have never used SM so I can't give a first hand account. But my experience with their salesman gave me a serious doubt. In this forum alone, almost everyone's complaints have consistently fallen into a half-dozen different categories. I have not seen any rep. answer those complaints in a satisfactory manner.
SM, and other services like them, seem to answer some of these complaints by stating, as you did, that anyone busy enough would not have the time to complain about them in forums. This is rhetorical, and bad thinking. I have heard in other forums that they belittle their customers when they complain about the service. This is an example of it.

SM, needs to address its business practices, and listen to their customer feedback. So long as they are making money, they will not. When customers stop using their services in mass, they will change, maybe it'll be too late, as their reputation is not good.

I can only hope that another internet model will start up, that'll push SM out of the sick bed and into the grave.

480sparky · 10-11-2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NormW

Handyman,
I'm willing to bet that SM works for some people. I have a feeling that a lot depends on the type of work you do. Probably those with a niche or a specialized trade, where the competition isn't as tight, probably have better results. ..............

I, for one, would love to see a side-by-side comparison of two lists.

List one would be those contractors who do well by SM. List two would be how many contractors in that same geographical area are using SM.

Mike Finley · 10-11-2009, 10:23 AM

Well I think we have sort of a comparison going on right here.

400 posts 90% of them negative, 8% are from reps of SM and 2% are positive.

Either the truth is the truth or SM is the most misunderstood company in the history of the world.

Another scenario to think about. Given two hypothetical scenarios -

Within the next few years....

1) Contractors suddenly think SM is the best thing ever, complaints disappear, raves about how great they are take place of all the complaints....

or

2) SM goes BK

Which scenario would be the shocker?

silvertree · 10-11-2009, 10:32 AM

Just happened to pop in, saw this thread and wanted to say.

The test has some built in problems that make it difficult to be fair. As it is I have talked to about 10 people from around the country, most of them NARI members. These men and woman are not happy with SM being a NARI member.

Biggest problem is the test being fair, next biggest problem is finding people who don't already have the worst opinion of SM. To compound this a contractor I talked to said he was busy trying to get his phone number back saying Service Magic had done something to start receiving call made to his company. Not the first I talked to who said this, I'm not sure what they are talking about.

Well, where its at, first off, don't believe anything these guys tell you, check it out before making a decision. SM has very good damage control people, Its how business is conducted, you make so much money on services, and it costs X amount of dollars to have your reps keep the damage fom getting worse. The damage control people cost less than refunding the money. Simple, think of the Ford Pinto and the exploding gas tanks.

There is no doubt Service Magic and Everycontractor are feeling this adverse publicity. Just tell the truth and advertise your SM experience and the experience of your friends. Few would doubt these businesses are delivering a quality service. By the same token homeowners have joined the complaint groups, the LGS's will adapt and it will start all over again.

I have talked to 3 of the LGS's damage control people, all nice to talk to on the phone, all very good at making you think they care. well maybe they do, Hitler had his admirers too! Be cautious, your being played by some pros, its their game and the best you can hope for is to be nuetral and not show your hand.

silvertree · 10-11-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Which scenario would be the shocker?

The shocker would be SM going bankrupt.

10-04-2009, 10:43 PM	#401
NormW View Profile NormW Pro Send Message Follow Blogs (0) Threads (306) Photos (0) Reviews (0) Projects (0) Toolbox (0) View All Activity Pro Trade: Builder Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berkshire County Posts: 306	Re: No Service Magic Being the 400th somethin' person to respond to this thread, I'm afraid I'll get lost in the crowd (uhmmm ... riot! maybe a better word). Since I'm new to the site, I'm probably safer in a crowd . Looks like bashing SM is a favorite pass time here, I think they deserve it, and I'm glad everyone here is getting the word out. Quick note on my experience with SM. Since starting out, most of my work has been as a sub-contractor and contracting my own jobs from friends, family, and referrals from the above. A few years ago, I started looking into ways to advertise, and quickly learned of ServiceMagic, and contacted them.. I think it was from a JLC link. I was skeptical from the begining, but being inexperienced I got sucked in .... almost. I gave them my credit card info and just before they transferred me to whoever it is, that "varifies" you signed up (sell your soul). I asked to clarify why they needed my Credit Card info. It was then that I learned that they go into your account at their convenience to take their fee out. I hit the breaks fast. Me . Him . He got down right belligerent. He said, "We are a fortune 500 company, who do you think you are?" I told him "I'm nobody, but I'm not letting anyone have free access to my account". In the end, he descended into all kinds of insulting comments before I hung up. Since then, I receive a call every few months, from different reps, trying to get me to sign up. I've told them about the above incident, and just string them along, just in case I get slow enough to need them. But, thankfully since reading the forums... no way! If everything that is being said is true. I can't believe a class-action suit hasn't been brought against them. Among the complaints. 1) Giving out bad leads. cold or unreachable, and billing for them 2) When people complain, they just replace the bad lead with another bad lead. 3) Re-selling leads to secondary referall services ( and probably buying them as well) 4) When contractors put a hold on their account because they are busy or away, they turn the leads back on. 5) Giving leads to more than three competitors. 6) Reportably their "Customer Service" sounds more like "Customer Belitteling". All of us in the trades, have to deal with customers, building inspectors, insurance agents, licensing agents, suppliers, subs, generals, employees, etc... Who needs another headache like these crooks? I'm sure some have had good luck with referall services. Some of us actually enjoy cigarettes too, doesn't mean it's a good thing. Anyway, thanks for letting me say my piece... and thanks for everyone who posted prior in this thread.. you did me and many others a great service! sigh, i think i need a after this rant.....

10-05-2009, 11:43 AM	#402
SMsupport View Profile SMsupport Pro Send Message Follow Blogs (0) Threads (100) Photos (0) Reviews (0) Projects (0) Toolbox (0) View All Activity Pro Trade: All Trades Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Golden, CO Posts: 100	Re: No Service Magic Sparky – “SM Rep” Jake is NOT the official spokesperson of SM. Mike – you are spot on about SM having someone dedicated to ORM-Online Reputation Management and that is me. I am not part of the save team or the customer service team, I am strictly focused on ServiceMagic’s online reputation and reaching out to professionals online with questions or concerns. With roughly 1000 employees it is difficult at times to stress the importance of not having reps representing SM online, no matter how good their intentions are. I do apologize for the inconvenience and would like to extend the same offer to help those looking to engage in productive conversations as we’ve had. Thanks, Shawn Trammell strammell@servicemagic.com

10-05-2009, 12:53 PM	#403
DavidC View Profile DavidC DavidC Send Message Follow Blogs (0) Threads (1,917) Photos (95) Reviews (0) Projects (0) Toolbox (0) View All Activity DavidC Trade: Remodeler Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NNY Posts: 1,917	Re: No Service Magic Thanks for clearing that up Shawn. You mentioned productive conversations. Does that mean the concerns listed previously have been addressed? If so, what is different now? Good Luck Dave __________________ www.CookContractingLLC.com

10-05-2009, 01:21 PM	#404
SMsupport View Profile SMsupport Pro Send Message Follow Blogs (0) Threads (100) Photos (0) Reviews (0) Projects (0) Toolbox (0) View All Activity Pro Trade: All Trades Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Golden, CO Posts: 100	Re: No Service Magic Thanks Dave, a lot of the previous concerns have been addressed many times I’m sure. Did you have any specific concerns that you wanted to discuss? Shawn strammell@servicemagic.com

10-05-2009, 04:02 PM	#406
SMsupport View Profile SMsupport Pro Send Message Follow Blogs (0) Threads (100) Photos (0) Reviews (0) Projects (0) Toolbox (0) View All Activity Pro Trade: All Trades Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Golden, CO Posts: 100	Re: No Service Magic Dave I understand and I do appreciate it. To answer your questions: 1) Here is how it works. If a service professional has XM (Exact Match) activated, SM does get that profile out online using different advertising and keyword matching methods. The point is to get the contractor’s info out there. In many cases, the new service professional doesn’t have a website and benefits from the online exposure. Without a website and the knowledge of how to market online it can be very challenging. A side effect of this is that homeowners do end up at the ServiceMagic site. If you have a successful website and don’t want to compete against your own website then don’t sign up for XM and it won’t happen. 2) I understand there have been many conversations about the leads and the qualifying of them. SM does NOT qualify leads. SM does screen the service requests and work to continuously improve the filtering system. 3) Bogus leads are applied to the current billing balance. The billing cycles are typically weekly and in a lot of the cases the lead is credited before the pro is charged for them. In the case that does not happen, it is simply taken out of the next week’s billing. 4) Absolutely Dave. I know there is a misperception that it does not happen. I can personally tell you I’ve had numerous conversations with contractors that were very unhappy about not being approved, some with threats of coming online to damage our reputation if we didn’t approve them. I feel like our department that screens potential clients does an outstanding job. I haven’t heard back from Paul personally but I did recently notice on his forum that they mentioned not starting it yet. I look forward to seeing the results myself and wish him the best. I hope this answers your questions and thanks again Dave! Shawn strammell@servicemagic.com

Green Framing Presentation - Updated

Analysis of New Contractors Insurance Program in CA

Greenlee Glo-Stix...

DeWalt Self-Level...

No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Re: No Service Magic

Join Now... It's Fast and FREE!

Already Have an Account?

10-05-2009, 04:54 PM	#407
DavidC View Profile DavidC DavidC Send Message Follow Blogs (0) Threads (1,917) Photos (95) Reviews (0) Projects (0) Toolbox (0) View All Activity DavidC Trade: Remodeler Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NNY Posts: 1,917	Re: No Service Magic It appears to me that nothing has changed. I was not asked for permission to use my name for marketing. Buying viable leads can be a good investment for a contractor if they are really viable. Not screening allows too many bogus leads into the system and wastes the contractors time. Accept payment for good leads and give refunds for crap, it's simple. In store credits and replacement leads are not the same. My own experience does not indicate any screening was actually done. This is very important for the industry you purport to serve. When a bad contractor gets through your system and a homeowner gets shafted, step up and stand next to the homeowner rather than shield yourself with disclaimers. It's good customer service and today's world demands it. Re: the test program, this is from Paul's forum; Any more movement on the grand "test"? was the question asked of Paul. No! But I'm not done with it. was Paul's response. Possibly you misread(?), I know I did the first time. Or is it something on your end? Good Luck Dave Good Luck Dave __________________ www.CookContractingLLC.com

10-05-2009, 05:15 PM	#408
J F View Profile J F You did what?? Send Message Follow Blogs (0) Threads (6,598) Photos (0) Reviews (0) Projects (0) Toolbox (0) View All Activity You did what?? Trade: Carpenter Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: North of Atlanta Posts: 6,598	Re: No Service Magic Here's some more feedback regarding sm (if it hasn't been posted yet, this thread has gotten pretty long). http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeo...vicemagic.html

10-05-2009, 05:28 PM	#409
J F View Profile J F You did what?? Send Message Follow Blogs (0) Threads (6,598) Photos (0) Reviews (0) Projects (0) Toolbox (0) View All Activity You did what?? Trade: Carpenter Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: North of Atlanta Posts: 6,598	Re: No Service Magic http://www.ripoffreport.com/Search/servicemagic.aspx http://www.ripoffreport.com/Search/service-magic.aspx

10-06-2009, 01:34 AM	#411
Teamrenovators View Profile Teamrenovators Green Contractors Site Send Message Follow Blogs (0) Threads (3) Photos (0) Reviews (0) Projects (0) Toolbox (0) View All Activity Green Contractors Site Trade: Construction Superintendent Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3	Re: No Service Magic Im just a little guy, with 35 years of construction experience, with computer science and management degrees and the last 6 years working as a field super on walmart jobs. Anyhow, Ive been busting hump building a contractor friendly site (check out my profile site) that I hope shortly will provide contractors and property owners with an alternative introduction service online. I prefer to call it an online plan room and contractor community which my fellow contractors could certainly help support by adding free profiles and speading the word to GCs, Govs, and Archs that wish to get the word out on their projects. For now its all free and open. So feel free to give service magic a run for their money. They have millions backing them. I have ohhhhhh 50 bucks lol. It would be nice to see some of you guys join up and help get the Teamrenovators.com site up and off the ground. I'm working night and day to get the foundation layed. It's up to yall to help make it a true construction community. Last edited by Teamrenovators; 10-06-2009 at 01:38 AM.

10-06-2009, 09:09 AM	#412
J F View Profile J F You did what?? Send Message Follow Blogs (0) Threads (6,598) Photos (0) Reviews (0) Projects (0) Toolbox (0) View All Activity You did what?? Trade: Carpenter Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: North of Atlanta Posts: 6,598	Re: No Service Magic this smells a little spammy as well

10-07-2009, 07:37 AM	#413
NormW View Profile NormW Pro Send Message Follow Blogs (0) Threads (306) Photos (0) Reviews (0) Projects (0) Toolbox (0) View All Activity Pro Trade: Builder Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berkshire County Posts: 306	Re: No Service Magic I never signed up for Service Magic, but have been on the phone with them. If I google my business name. A link to Service Magic with my name lands close to the top of the page. It lists my name and number, and informs the person that I am "unscreened", right next to my name is the name of a competitor who is "screened" and has a five star ranking . Since my web presence is at this time very small, they are probably doing me a favor, it at least includes my phone number and they list me as a "pro". If I had invested a lot of time and effort into building a web site. I could see where this service of theirs would cause people to be upset. All seems a bit hinky to me.

10-09-2009, 06:22 PM	#414
AbbyKitchens View Profile AbbyKitchens Registered User Send Message Follow Blogs (0) Threads (1) Photos (0) Reviews (0) Projects (0) Toolbox (0) View All Activity Registered User Trade: Kitchen and Bath remodeling Lic.20191713 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: minnetonka Posts: 1	Re: No Service Magic H I Guys.. I thought you had to be caontractor to post here. My two cents......Some of my fiends in the business and I meet every once in a while , we mostly gripe about stuff like Service magic , cragslist flaggers, and bad payers( to which I have had none). But I have noticed that we don’t really help each other as we should. What I mean is most of us don’t charge the customer for the measure, or the design, We do this to beat out the guy, who will also do his design or bid (sometimes fours to eight hours of designing and bidding ) for the job ...for free. Thats in part why places like sm get the business, We think working with them is going to change all that for us. They,..(co like Sm) are doing something for us because we don’t do it for ourselves ...they just do it in a way that makes money. So....If all of us lic contractors would join forces in small area groups, for our location, meet and agree to operate like an industry that perceives their own value. Then we would start to see a change, However when we give away a half days work just to let a customer, see if they can do the project or if they can afford us. Then we only add insult to injury when we let someone make us pay for that opertunity. I became a lic. contractor to operate in the light and be recognized as a honest and trust worthy service contractor. Why join a bunch of other agencies when you already belong to the biggest one. the state of mn lic,dept. <br/>I help my customers to realize the value that they get from a lic contractor. Sell your value you earned it...When I close a deal there is a proposal, purchase agreement , a bid, a 7018.5 form ... ect. if that is not enough to assure them I am in the business, then they really want a hack and probably are not good payers. <br/>Any... way this was about (Service not so magic) and I am now at the end of the thread #4500 or somthing... but I heve never seen such a bunch of crap like that which the sm agents are spilling out here. They have there own multi million dollar web page with the talking guy... let them address these comments on there own site, in responce to this fourm, Lets see them opoligize to all the used pepole on this fourm on their web site .... not here. let them do there customer service control there. If you are a lic contractor and, you have been so for more then ten years you shouldn’t need them, and,.. if you work with others in your field and net-work you wont.. Don’t make enemies make fiends and net-work. We use lots of good subs if you cant sell,.. well then,....."do" , be a sub for some one , that can, you'll probally learn alot. ( sorry for the grammar and spelling... but I am a contractor not a grammar teacher,) thanks. Last edited by AbbyKitchens; 10-09-2009 at 07:04 PM. Reason: spelling

10-10-2009, 10:19 AM	#415
THEHANDYMAN View Profile THEHANDYMAN The Handyman Send Message Follow Blogs (0) Threads (146) Photos (0) Reviews (0) Projects (0) Toolbox (0) View All Activity The Handyman Trade: HANDYMAN/Floor covering Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Thornton Colorado Posts: 146	Re: No Service Magic I've defended SM many times and continue to do so today. They have worked great for me and keep me busy in fact I had to shut leads off more than once so I could catch up, been off for a month now leads back on monday. I've not been in here because of being to busy to spend my time on line. I have a friend that installs sprinkler systems he joined SM last spring says he has never been so busy, best year he has ever had. Ran into a couple of other contractors on the job one day (Plumber and Electrican, I had a SM "T" shirt on that I had been given at a BBQ at SM a while back. They both were SM contractors and both were happy with their results. You have time to spend here complaining you aren't busy enough, the guys that use SM and are busy don't have time to come here and tell their side of the story. The opinions here are pretty lopsided but I can't believe I and the examples above are the only one's with a possitive experience with SM. The folks like SHAWN ( sure that I talked to him at BBQ) that I met at SM that evening of the BBQ were just everyday ppl like the rest of us. They have a job to do and most I talked to were happy working at SM, it seemed that SM goes out of their way to make for a good working enviroment. The ppl I met were friendly and made me feel welcome I seen many things on my guided tour of the office first hand that convinced me that this would be a good place to work. As SHAWN said above with over a 1000 ppl working there are sure to be a few bad apples that are having a bad day. You never really know what the real story is there are always two sides to every story. How many of these guys that complain really fess up to being the real ASSHOLE on the phone? I know I have been at times especially if someone strikes me wrong! I feel sorry for ppl that call me at times and catch me in a bad mood. For all the SHERLOCK HOLMES that will come in and say I am a SM employee grow up and get a friggin life! I have gave my personal info more than once and have proven beyond a doubt that I am indeed a self employed contractor. Thanks to SM I am doing quite well. SHAWN I was the old fat guy with a beard from JOHNSTOWN, I won the set of PORTER CABLE tools at the drawing. I had a great time met alot of great ppl and look forward to attending the next one. THANKS JERRY

10-11-2009, 08:50 AM	#416
NormW View Profile NormW Pro Send Message Follow Blogs (0) Threads (306) Photos (0) Reviews (0) Projects (0) Toolbox (0) View All Activity Pro Trade: Builder Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berkshire County Posts: 306	Re: No Service Magic Handyman, I'm willing to bet that SM works for some people. I have a feeling that a lot depends on the type of work you do. Probably those with a niche or a specialized trade, where the competition isn't as tight, probably have better results. I have never used SM so I can't give a first hand account. But my experience with their salesman gave me a serious doubt. In this forum alone, almost everyone's complaints have consistently fallen into a half-dozen different categories. I have not seen any rep. answer those complaints in a satisfactory manner. SM, and other services like them, seem to answer some of these complaints by stating, as you did, that anyone busy enough would not have the time to complain about them in forums. This is rhetorical, and bad thinking. I have heard in other forums that they belittle their customers when they complain about the service. This is an example of it. SM, needs to address its business practices, and listen to their customer feedback. So long as they are making money, they will not. When customers stop using their services in mass, they will change, maybe it'll be too late, as their reputation is not good. I can only hope that another internet model will start up, that'll push SM out of the sick bed and into the grave.

10-11-2009, 10:23 AM	#418
Mike Finley View Profile Mike Finley Chief Toilet Mover Send Message Follow Blogs (0) Threads (14,078) Photos (0) Reviews (0) Projects (0) Toolbox (0) View All Activity Chief Toilet Mover Trade: Bathroom Remodeling Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Littleton, Colorado Posts: 14,078	Re: No Service Magic Well I think we have sort of a comparison going on right here. 400 posts 90% of them negative, 8% are from reps of SM and 2% are positive. Either the truth is the truth or SM is the most misunderstood company in the history of the world. Another scenario to think about. Given two hypothetical scenarios - Within the next few years.... 1) Contractors suddenly think SM is the best thing ever, complaints disappear, raves about how great they are take place of all the complaints.... or 2) SM goes BK Which scenario would be the shocker?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Service Magic Yeah I know	Frankawitz	Online Leads Services	34	12-04-2011 10:31 AM
Service magic house call	THEHANDYMAN	Marketing & Sales	59	02-03-2011 04:55 PM
Google search for a contractor, bathroom	Mark Daniels	Online Leads Services	7	12-25-2009 12:35 PM
service magic for home theater?	hometheatertech	Low Voltage	6	04-13-2009 05:45 AM
Is anyone familier with Service Magic?	Nelson Finish C	Finish Carpentry	10	11-26-2008 02:32 PM

10-11-2009, 10:32 AM	#419
silvertree View Profile silvertree Certified Remodeler Send Message Follow Blogs (0) Threads (3,207) Photos (0) Reviews (0) Projects (0) Toolbox (0) View All Activity Certified Remodeler Trade: Kitchen bath remodeler Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: North Oaks,MN Posts: 3,207	Re: No Service Magic Just happened to pop in, saw this thread and wanted to say. The test has some built in problems that make it difficult to be fair. As it is I have talked to about 10 people from around the country, most of them NARI members. These men and woman are not happy with SM being a NARI member. Biggest problem is the test being fair, next biggest problem is finding people who don't already have the worst opinion of SM. To compound this a contractor I talked to said he was busy trying to get his phone number back saying Service Magic had done something to start receiving call made to his company. Not the first I talked to who said this, I'm not sure what they are talking about. Well, where its at, first off, don't believe anything these guys tell you, check it out before making a decision. SM has very good damage control people, Its how business is conducted, you make so much money on services, and it costs X amount of dollars to have your reps keep the damage fom getting worse. The damage control people cost less than refunding the money. Simple, think of the Ford Pinto and the exploding gas tanks. There is no doubt Service Magic and Everycontractor are feeling this adverse publicity. Just tell the truth and advertise your SM experience and the experience of your friends. Few would doubt these businesses are delivering a quality service. By the same token homeowners have joined the complaint groups, the LGS's will adapt and it will start all over again. I have talked to 3 of the LGS's damage control people, all nice to talk to on the phone, all very good at making you think they care. well maybe they do, Hitler had his admirers too! Be cautious, your being played by some pros, its their game and the best you can hope for is to be nuetral and not show your hand. __________________ Vote for Pedro Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling Minneapolis Remodel Blog 203K Loan Consultant Minnesota Last edited by silvertree; 10-11-2009 at 10:37 AM.