No service magic - Page 5 - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Martin Co · 05-04-2009, 04:11 PM

That's exactly what I did. However, by them having my number and google believing that the two site were related, I couldn't remove the free quote and their website from my details under google local.

I also had some good reviews not related from SM and sure enough my reviews on SM showed up on google local. F'n bull****!!! SM reviews bumped my solid reviews down to the bottom.

Jason W · 05-04-2009, 04:14 PM

At least you're aware of it and eventually you'll get it fixed. Now just think about how many companies DON'T ever know about this.

Jason W · 05-04-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMsupport

Jason – Thank you for your feedback, I appreciate your time and responses. You are correct about the free leads expiring in 30 days. Those rarely expire as well, but when they do we can re-issue the free lead. To address the issue of you calling in and asking for your service, understand this happens when you cancel your XM leads and a homeowner calls in via the XM advertising. In your previous post you mentioned the ROI not being there. Do you have the numbers on what your exact ROI or cost per customer?

I’m glad to hear about the brighter future for your company and the residential job you and your crews are working.

Then the correct answer should have been, "They no longer advertises with us" and not "They no longer do siding projects"

Get the difference? It's a prety big one

Martin Co · 05-04-2009, 04:37 PM

I got the google local thing fixed - just deleted it.. Kind of sucked having a good position and all but had to do it. I'll start another one again soon enough.

Martin Co · 05-04-2009, 04:45 PM

I come up number 1 in a lot of organic key searches in google. It's nice knowing I'm not competing with another 20 contractors and having to pay for it.

What pissed me off even more was the customer stating " I was tricked into signing up" or " I've been bombarded by so many calls I never would've given my info." SM - I would like to have a lead replacement ? Their response " a lead is a lead" we cannot give credit!

Just bull****!!! Service magic is an f'n joke!!! And what's worse, I can get the same crap lead for free on Craigslist!!

snciwz8 · 05-04-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhillc

Hey sm support if you really want to help give me back my 150 dollars
for the so called leads that i got that didn't lead anywere.
It was a real learning experiance and i would never recommend service magic to anyone

AMEN to that!!!

SMsupport · 05-05-2009, 11:16 AM

Jason – We have made changes in how we address the homeowners requesting service from a Pro that are no longer participating in the XM program.

Martin – I would like to give you a call about your account if that’s ok with you. There are a couple of matters we need to discuss to be able to finalize the cancellation of your account. Let me know if this is ok with you and what a good time would be to call.

Jason@API · 05-05-2009, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMsupport

Jason – We have made changes in how we address the homeowners requesting service from a Pro that are no longer participating in the XM program.

Martin – I would like to give you a call about your account if that’s ok with you. There are a couple of matters we need to discuss to be able to finalize the cancellation of your account. Let me know if this is ok with you and what a good time would be to call.

SMSupport... your a brave soul to be here. With all these negative reports, it's a wonder why you work for SM.... I would never work for anyone that had a bad reputation like SM.

There seems to be more underlying issues with SM that meets the contractor eye and the SM employee eye....

SM called me once... I stalled them (let them talk their lies) until I got this website up, and then I start reading the reviews of their service. LOL... It gets quiet. I tell them, don't waste your time with me especially with the reviews I read from professional contractors. That is the end of conversation.

DJM · 05-06-2009, 02:01 AM

I really did intend to be brief, but a few things I feel obligated to post in this thread on a forum intended for contractors.

SM had no right to charge me for some leads to begin with since potential customers who heard of me through previous, happy, satisfied, customers were only searching my business name, not using SM to find a contractor. Naturally, with what you make to look like my actual business number right in front of them, they dialed a number that actually goes through you. Brilliant, now you can charge me XM rates, as well as Market Match fees to up to 4 of my competitors.

Yeah, that's just the kind of marketing your rep promised me!

I'm a complete idiot, so I said, "Sweet, sign me up!" You guys really mean it when you say you want to help contractors grow. Now if I can get you to believe this paragraph, we'll all be great bull @#$ 'rs.

My biggest problem has been addressed by others in this thread, but it is a serious problem. Quit hijacking my business name on Google. Your answer to Jason only says you have changed the way removing XM from an account will be handled, not if it will actually resolve or at least help remedy the situation for contractors. Yes, I understand you are not by definition hijacking business names. Just cut the crap please, you see the problem. The problem is evident, your intents is obvious, and it is clearly wrong and unethical. Address and FIX that. Your rant about how Service Magic markets search engines was very informative, however it solves nothing and is clearly a sorry attempt at an excuse.

If your only going to rebuttal my complaints with answers that don't solve anything and are just designed to shut me up, just tell me you plan on wasting even more of my time with SM, and I will not waste any of your time.

BTW, I will not be sending SM my updated insurance information they keep requesting. Unless you can at least make a sincere effort to resolve these issues, I am making every attempt to disassociate from SM completely. Really nice though, how you have no record of my updated insurance or licensing for that matter, but still qualify me as a screened PRO to people using SM to find a contractor. You treat them about as good as us.

A W Smith · 05-06-2009, 06:04 AM

Some jack ass Paul from SM called yesterday and got my wife on the phone. He told her that even though my site came up very high on search results that service 'magic' Could get my visibility even higher. When I got home and she told me SM called I laughed out loud. Explained to her all the SM Bernie Madoff style business tactics. Do yourself a favor "Paul". Dont call me. Ok? because you will just be wasting your time and mine.

silvertree · 05-06-2009, 07:25 AM

When I spoke of a SM guide book, I meant for the contractors. The lead services have said most contractor don't follow up properly on their leads, so I say "What's your best practices then"? In other words how about instructions for the most effective way to get ROI from these leads?

Darwin · 05-06-2009, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidC

One of my pet peeves would have to be addressed, NO REFUNDS FOR BAD LEADS. Part of Wal-Marts success is that you can return a product for any reason and get a cash refund or replacement product. No question, no hassles.

With SM you first have to prove that the lead is bad. Submit a request and they will decide if it's legit and get back to you later. Make your initial request as best you can because it is the only time you will get any input on the matter.

Next you'll get their decision. If the lead is determined "bad" you get a replacement lead credit. If the lead is determined "good", end of story. SM has your money and you have no further reasonable recourse. Usually the lead turns out to be "good", so they will want to review your lead selection criteria to amp up your volume or add exact match which has another specific set of issues.

Your replacement lead can expire if not used within a time frame established by SM. If lead volume is low you may not get that replacement. My personal experience is 0 sales on a replacement lead anyway. Leads to suspicion concerning replacement leads.Voice your concerns and they will want to review your lead selection criteria.

Better filters would help reduce the number of bad leads received, but actual no hassle cash refunds would at least make the bogus leads more tolerable.

Good Luck
Dave

This is what I call the scam side of SM. Why should the contractor have to prove the lead is bad? SM-prove that the lead is good in the first place. Or better yet, once the contractor makes contact and visits the lead, he should require the H/O to sign a 'lead validation sheet'. Then you can charge for the lead--even if the H/O chooses to not hire you. This or a similiar model of conducting your biz. And whats with the harrassing phone calls??

indyonline · 05-06-2009, 01:10 PM

Not really surprised to find a thread this long about service magic. They got me for $400+ gave me a bunch of unrelated leads that were bogus and still charged me. There full of lies. They tell you the leads are only givin to 3 people but every body I called said they about 10 contractors already and didn't need any more. How is this company still in business?

DJM · 05-07-2009, 12:54 AM

I'm guessing this e-mail is in reply to the last paragraph of my 1st post. I am still waiting for the follow up e-mail I was promised by their customer service rep I spoke to a few day before my first post. It is suppose to be in reply to them refunding money for some bogus leads. She listened to what I had to say, since I left her no other choice besides hanging up on me.

I actually had to give her a quick tutorial on the other names Service Magic is now using such as, "Home Connections". She insisted on verifying for herself I was right about this, and did so. Obviously she was caught off guard by it, and I think made some kind of sincere effort in helping me. Needless to say, she could only do so much, and I am still waiting for the results I am supposed to get. Even if she was sincere and did what she said, it has become obvious the next person in line to do their part is once again going to just ignore the whole thing.

It was evident in talking with her though, that she was aware the EM leads are a tool SM is using to hijack business names off the internet. Of course she could never admit it, I simply left no room for excuses or anything other than a solution. The second I was done talking she said, "O.K., give me one moment to try something". Then returned and said, "I removed Exact Match leads from your account, give it a few days and should solve the problem. Lol, what account? It is no longer active. Which by the way is because I won't pay, or give them my updated information until they resolve my complaints.

I had a bit of success in preventing them from sending it to collections. Since I have heard nothing back from them, and after posting here, I'm sure they plan on or have already sent it to collections. If they do, since I was told to wait to hear back from them, I'm pretty sure I can dispute the negative mark it might have on my business credit report.

Just another classic example of how they conduct business.

Jason W · 05-08-2009, 08:18 AM

OK SMsupport, explain this one.

http://www.contractortalk.com/f11/service-magic-contractor-talk-58379/

Robcarl · 05-08-2009, 07:01 PM

I'm new to CT...joined today. Found it thru Google looking for some advice on decking options. However, I certainly benefitted far more by this thread since I was heavily considering giving LGS another try.

I thought the bunk they fill you with (you must improve your response time, or contact demeanor, or...blah, blah, blah...it's all your fault) might just be true. Hell, who couldn't do things a little better so maybe there were some better leads that didn't call me back cause my competitors were beating me to the punch.

So, thank you for this thread. I never even dreamed their policies were so insidious when I was with them.

Bets to all...

Jmfocus · 05-09-2009, 07:17 PM

Hi folks,

I have been lurking on this forum occasionally for a few months now. I came across this thread a few days ago and found it interesting.

I have been using Service Magic a year or two now and have had great luck with them so far. I knew going in that most of the leads I got would not turn out but still they were worth the $12 to $30 dollars I paid for them since they are now in my own marketing database.

Over the last 20plus years I have been in business, I have tried virtually every marketing system there is. I have paid big bucks for Yellow page ads, Direct Marketing ads, Pennysavor, Newsletters, Valpak, MoneyMailer, Fliers, Doorhangers, Yard Signs, Fliers in the baggy, Billing Inserts, Referral Coupons, 800Number, etc. For years I tracked my ads through Excell and averaged anywhere from $65.00 to $100 and up per new customer. Not bad but I hated dropping lots of money up front and having to sign 3 month plus contracts for ads and waiting for the phone to ring. And when the phone did ring, guess what? Most of those calls were tire kickers looking for something for nothing too.

But marketing is a numbers game and unless you play that game you will be giving jobs to your competitors AND more importantly, you will not have captured names, addresses, and phone numbers from people that you can now ad to your database from which you continue to market yourself for years to come.

Service Magic has been a great marketing funnel for me. I like the fact that I pay as I go. I do have my share of bogus leads and I do not like waiting for replacement credit. I also do not like them using my business name on search engines with their phone number attached. This I will get corrected this week. But their service has been the most bang for the buck for me.

Jason@API · 05-09-2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmfocus

Hi folks,

I have been lurking on this forum occasionally for a few months now. I came across this thread a few days ago and found it interesting.

I have been using Service Magic a year or two now and have had great luck with them so far. I knew going in that most of the leads I got would not turn out but still they were worth the $12 to $30 dollars I paid for them since they are now in my own marketing database.

Over the last 20plus years I have been in business, I have tried virtually every marketing system there is. I have paid big bucks for Yellow page ads, Direct Marketing ads, Pennysavor, Newsletters, Valpak, MoneyMailer, Fliers, Doorhangers, Yard Signs, Fliers in the baggy, Billing Inserts, Referral Coupons, 800Number, etc. For years I tracked my ads through Excell and averaged anywhere from $65.00 to $100 and up per new customer. Not bad but I hated dropping lots of money up front and having to sign 3 month plus contracts for ads and waiting for the phone to ring. And when the phone did ring, guess what? Most of those calls were tire kickers looking for something for nothing too.

But marketing is a numbers game and unless you play that game you will be giving jobs to your competitors AND more importantly, you will not have captured names, addresses, and phone numbers from people that you can now ad to your database from which you continue to market yourself for years to come.

Service Magic has been a great marketing funnel for me. I like the fact that I pay as I go. I do have my share of bogus leads and I do not like waiting for replacement credit. I also do not like them using my business name on search engines with their phone number attached. This I will get corrected this week. But their service has been the most bang for the buck for me.

yeah... Riiiiiight!.....

Who paid you to post that?

Martin Co · 05-09-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason@API

yeah... Riiiiiight!.....

Who paid you to post that?

I was just thinking the same thing lol!!!

Great first post!!!

Jmfocus · 05-09-2009, 08:14 PM

ha ha! I can see why you guys would think that. They probably should throw me a dozen free leads given all the bad press they have received in this thread.