No service magic - Page 22 - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

kirkwahl · 10-11-2009, 09:46 AM

I had a SM salesman calling me for weeks. I did a little net research, and found numerous sites filled with horror stories about their service. I asked their salesman to give me the names of 3 local (mid Michigan) contractors who use their service. He responded that he could not give me that information. I said well you are asking me for references to join your service, why can you not give me references? He gave me some lame bull about how he does not have access to that information. I told him either you give me the names and numbers of 3 local contractors using your service, or I will not do business with you. He said he would get back with me, and I heard nothing from him for a couple of days. When he did finally call back, he gave me the names of two people; One in Kentucky, and the other in Minnesota. He said he did not have any local names, and tried to tell me how good this was for me. How that must mean there are very few local contractors to compete with.

I told him this was a line of crap, because part of his pitch had been that local leads were only being given to an average of 2.8 contractors per lead. I wanted the names of those 2.8 contractors, or he can stop calling me. Needless to say, I never got the names, and Service Magic no longer calls me. I still get emails, but they go into my spam folder.

I always tell my clients to get at least 3 bids, and to get referrals from each company submitting a bid. Why would I be any different when I am looking to hire a service?

Mike Finley · 10-11-2009, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silvertree

The shocker would be SM going bankrupt.

Maybe to you, but not to me.

Read the fable - The Emporers New Clothes.

SelfContract · 10-11-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silvertree

The shocker would be SM going bankrupt.

No sir, the shocker is "every contractor will LISTEN to SM" because "SM going BK" must be the obvious. Btw, welcome back Silvertree!

silvertree · 10-11-2009, 11:07 AM

Thanks, I've been busy doing something crazy for a few months.

Mike, I know the story and I may feel even more opposed than you against these perverse excuses for a business. This doesn't change the fact that they are the best at convincing new clients to buy their pitch.

They are (SM) buying respectability through the NARI partnership and by using other trusted names to carry on. The end result will be the soiling of their partners which has already begun. NARI has and will lose members because its now affiliated itself with SM and only for the revenue this partnership provides.

Will SM survive this? Most likely yes, all the bad press has done is make them more creative in their pursuit of contractors. American business has changed at the top level, its all about perception now.

Contractor Talk provides a public opportunity to educate contractors to stay away from what may be a disappointing waste of time and money, but according to one article I read, 80% of small contractors do not use the internet, or have websites. SM is appealing to these guys because for a small initial fee they can get instant website advertising.

THEHANDYMAN · 10-11-2009, 02:19 PM

All I can say is that each month I have money in the bank and am adding more, I don't advertise any other way. SM is my soul advertiseent I don't use newspaper yellow pages door flyers nothing. It has proven a good vechile for ME. I after about 2 years am now getting more referal work and call back from previous customers. (Sheet now don't know how shut off BOLD)

Do I or would I like to ween away from SM? You bet your sweet biffy, but for now they are my BREAD and BUTTER. I own and operatate a ATV talk forum, have had it several years have several thousand members. We don't get most times ppl that are happy with no problems. Them ppl are out rideing we get the ppl that have questions and problems & complaints looking for an answer. If you have no problems or quesions or complaints why join a site such as mine or CONTRACTORS TALK?

It's no different here or any forum, if you are happy you tell a few ppl. But piss you off and you tell the world. Yes the SM complaints out weigh the folks like me that are happy with SM service on the forum. But most that are happy with SM are busy and have no time to complain, after all what would they complain about? I just happen to stumble across this site one day looking for some info on installing wood fence. While here I seen a complaint about SM decided to give my side of the story. I like this site and check in when I get a chance which is not often any more and has been far less lately.

I could give a RATS ASS if you try SM or not they don't pay me any thing when someone new joins. I recall one guy that was a long time employee sitting at our table at the BBQ. He stated that he had been there several years and when he started they had a couple hundred employees, now they number well over a 1000. Just heard awhile back they are expanding into EUROPE, don't sound as if they are doing to bad.

Balance the number of complaints on here and other forums against the well over 1000 employees that they (SM) have to support and I think you have your answer. I am sure that many complaints are justified no arguement there. But just like our forum some one complains about a piece of junk ATV and how easy it broke down. But just like pulling teeth hang in there long enough and you get the real story of what happened, it wasn't the machine failure but operator error. Not always but many times.

You join SM or you don't thats your decision, but just say you do and it works like it has for me and several others I have talked to you are the winner. If you give it a fair run and do as you should and If it don't work then you have invested a few bucks and lost. But if you don't take a chance you'll never know if you passed your big chance to get ahead nothing ventured nothing gained. The guys that are complaining aren't paying your bills they could really careless if you make it or not. How much do you really know about them and their situation other than what they have chosen to tell you? You are making a decision that may affect you on some shaky info in my opinion. I just happen to come across SM site one day and contacted them, not them calling me. I knew alot of what they were telling me was what I wanted to hear, just had to weed out the bad from the good. I decided a few days later to try SM and never looked back since. Has been a bumpy ride at times but a good ride most of time. I can not think of a time I have not been able to settle a dispute with them and not come away really unsatisfied. When I ask for a refund most times it is verified and returned had a couple that were shakey and I lost but in long run I am ahead.

You can not sit back and wait for the jobs to roll in, you have to work them you have to sell the job and yourself. No one else can do that for you, SM will bring you the customer what you do with them is up to you not SM. You get a lead you must call it right back 2-3 days later isn't going to cut it. You are the one that will make or break the system and if it will work or not. Sure you will get many that will not return calls no matter what. I don't stop at just one call on the answering machine, I will try early in day later in evening or a weekend. I will bend over backwards to work with a prospective customer. If I have to go give an estimate at 8:00 in evening or a weekend I will do that.

Mike Finley · 10-11-2009, 02:42 PM

Hey, could you do us a favor and call one of your contacts and ask them why they shut down their professionals online forum last year?

PS - Please post what you find out.

Thanks.

silvertree · 10-11-2009, 03:33 PM

Here's what I did do as an experiment.

I called 4 contractors to call and inquire about the satisfaction rating of SM, Calfinder and Everycontractor. Using zip codes and pretending we were looking for a contractor we spoke on the phone and confirmed that these businesses had an association with one of these companies.

The worst was what you would expect, no leads and bad leads and fighting for credit. Wasted time and promises made and not kept.

The best was some of these companies got leads but the people were getting many bids. I don't believe that is the fault of the LGS's.

In all we got to talk to 19 company owners. All picked at random.
Some said it worked well or OK a few years ago, all said it wasn't working well in May and June or the months before.

Not one was planning on continuing the service and 1 was talking getting a lawyer to get money back.

We are going to do this again looking for a response rate with 50 contacted owners.
We will not name names for individual complaints, just the LGS companies and the number of satisfied clients. Not scientific, but revealing none the less.

In regards to happy clients, of course there would be, but this is also about integrity and respect to customers. If a business can't do that then it is everyone's duty to inform their friends and colleagues to consider other means of getting leads.

SMsupport · 10-12-2009, 09:26 AM

AbbyKitchens – I apologize if responding here offends you. We have an agreement with moderators on sites, like this one, to maintain a light presence and offer assistance to those looking for help or answers to direct questions. We aren’t looking to change the flow of conversations or to change your mind about SM.

Welcome back Handyman and Silvertree. Jerry, of course I remember who you are and glad to hear that you have been busy. Paul, I hope you still intend to run the test as I look forward to seeing the results.

silvertree · 10-12-2009, 10:09 PM

Hello Shawn,
I am a little busy with a new venture that's become more work than I anticipated.

So far were having little success finding impartial people, its been bad or OK, more of the 1st.

Be glad you don't work for EC.com. That one has been 100% bad reviews.
They claim a 99.69% satisfaction. They call me once or twice a month with the same pitch.
"Can you handle anymore work? We have a client that is having trouble finding a contractor". Must work, I heard it from them a half dozen times.

THEHANDYMAN · 10-12-2009, 11:04 PM

It was kind of funny today I got a call from SM with an OPPORTUNITY LEAD. I called in pronto after receiveing it, less than 5 minutes. The gal that was helping me asked did I want to accept or reject the job, I decided to accept after she explained what customer wanted. I could hear her doing her thing on the other end, she came back said SORRY but puuuuter says that they already had 3 responces and would accept no more.

silvertree · 10-13-2009, 10:37 AM

Good news Handyman, wish we could hear that from more people. Its pretty hard to be impartial when the good stories are seldom published.

I'd say you have a great relationship with SM that many would be envious of. I guess it will take time, but I'm looking for more happy SM customers so we can make things equitable.

In the long run it probably makes no difference what gets published, I would guess there is plent of spin from both sides of the issue.

RCH JR · 10-19-2009, 11:41 PM

I have been a Service Magic member contractor for a number of years
and I have to agree with those of you who have adverse feelings toward
that company. They drain you of every dime if you let them. Actually if you have other lead generation systems that are doing well, stick with them. These people are money hungry and yes 7 out of 10 never answer an email or telephone call. I have one of the best ratings with Service Magic for the jobs I did receive through them but the average leads that
become jobs through them is extremely low compared to other sources.
At times I almost feel it is a set up (between S/M and some of the leads they send you). They have a lead replacement program for when you receive a "Dud" or bad lead, you get charged but they will give you a free lead, not a bad set up. However I had one that the email bounced, the phone was disconnected but Serv Magic denied my replacement request, because when they attempted to contact this person, not only did they get them on the phone but the person claimed they already had the job completed by another contractor theough Service Magic, I mind you, this was later the same day I received the lead. A little bogus to paint a 2,000 SQ FT house in one day YOU THINK?. I could go on ut again, don't walk, RUN.

RCH JR

517group · 10-20-2009, 01:52 AM

Seals the deal with me. NO SERVICE MAGIC. they have been calling me for months now.

THEHANDYMAN · 10-20-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

I have been a Service Magic member contractor for a number of years

If SERVICE was so bad why invest so many years in it?

ElkRemodeling · 10-28-2009, 12:10 PM

Yesterday I responded to a thread about service magic on the NARI forum. I was trying to save other contractors from what I consider an unfair business practice. We have used Service Magic in the past and did not find their leads to be satisfactory for our desired results. Therefore, many months ago, we canceled the service.

The google searches pulled this morning show, after numerous contacts with Service Magic and an email yesterday to Mr. David Merrick (dmerrick@mdbi.us), nothing has been done to resolve this issue of Service Magic using my company's name to drive business to other competitors when I no longer want their service. I am posting this in an effort to inform other contractors that if they have used service magic, their hard-earned marketing dollars to drive people to their specifically named company is costing them thousands of dollars of business. I would like companies that are currently using or have discontinued using service magic to search their company's name in google and look for your company name in the paid advertisements. Click on the link and see if it takes you to Service Magic, or to your specific company. If it takes you to Service Magic, you're in competition with yourself! Not only that, Service Magic is taking your hard-earned name recognition and selling it to other contractors. If you did not know your name was being used in such a manner, please email TimS@elkremodeling.com and share what you find and we will take further action as a whole.

If somebody is searching for your company, why let Service Magic take that lead and share it with your competitors?

handyhands · 10-28-2009, 03:07 PM

Hi Tim~

I just sent you an email.

We've experienced the same thing.

Please respond when you get a chance, and if there's anything I can do to help, my number's in the email.

RCH JR · 10-28-2009, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElkRemodeling

Yesterday I responded to a thread about service magic on the NARI forum. I was trying to save other contractors from what I consider an unfair business practice. We have used Service Magic in the past and did not find their leads to be satisfactory for our desired results. Therefore, many months ago, we canceled the service.

The google searches pulled this morning show, after numerous contacts with Service Magic and an email yesterday to Mr. David Merrick (dmerrick@mdbi.us), nothing has been done to resolve this issue of Service Magic using my company's name to drive business to other competitors when I no longer want their service. I am posting this in an effort to inform other contractors that if they have used service magic, their hard-earned marketing dollars to drive people to their specifically named company is costing them thousands of dollars of business. I would like companies that are currently using or have discontinued using service magic to search their company's name in google and look for your company name in the paid advertisements. Click on the link and see if it takes you to Service Magic, or to your specific company. If it takes you to Service Magic, you're in competition with yourself! Not only that, Service Magic is taking your hard-earned name recognition and selling it to other contractors. If you did not know your name was being used in such a manner, please email TimS@elkremodeling.com and share what you find and we will take further action as a whole.

If somebody is searching for your company, why let Service Magic take that lead and share it with your competitors?

ELK Remodeling: Yes I have noticed the same thing but it never hit me until there were times in the past when as you say, I'd see my company name linking me to everyone but myself. In spite of the fact that they DO throw your name out there which to me is a good thing, until they pimp us out to other contractors. Good news, I am not currently receiving anything from Serv Magic as I refused to pay for about $279.00 in bogus leads so they are not putting my company info out there. I will pay the bill but not reopen my membership.

RCH JR

suite1 · 11-01-2009, 03:15 PM

Wow I thought I was the only contractor that didn't like service majic. It's great idea ( concept ), but I've asked other contractors and they say the same.

BSCi · 11-04-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silvertree

Good news Handyman, wish we could hear that from more people. Its pretty hard to be impartial when the good stories are seldom published.

I'd say you have a great relationship with SM that many would be envious of. I guess it will take time, but I'm looking for more happy SM customers so we can make things equitable.

In the long run it probably makes no difference what gets published, I would guess there is plent of spin from both sides of the issue.

I dunno, why would they even call him if it was full? They could have called 500 contractors saying it was an opportunity, knowing the whole time it was full.

SMsupport · 11-04-2009, 12:52 PM

BSCi - This would be an opportunity lead that is sent out to numerous Pros and is sent out immediately and simultaneously. Sometimes it takes a while before the Pros get a chance to call in or log in to their site to accept it. Once the max acceptance has been reached it is no longer available, as in the case with handyman.