What's Your Opinion?

bert0168

Let me first say that I found CT while searching for complaints on Service Magic when I was contemplating signing up with them and based on what I read here, you guys saved me ALOT of potential headaches and lost $$ , not to mention the like minded community of people that I have come to need to visit every day

That said, on to my question....

I have found a lead service that I THINK is only in my area of PA (Southeastern)
I came across their brochure while ordering lunch at a local deli and thought I would check them out online. I as of yet haven't signed or sent any info to them but have put in a local zip code to search out who is on there.

Here is the link to join. It has several testimonials from local guys. http://meetthecontractor.com/joinus

I am wondering if anyone else has seen this in their area or is this something only out here? Does it sound too much like an upscale SM type deal?
I haven't gotten any info on cost or anything yet but I may, especially if you guys think that this sounds like it might be better that some of the usual lead generators out there.

I know any decision would be based on cost and service which I have no info on yet.

Mike Finley

This is what I do with any advertiser who wants me to advertise -

After they talk to you for about 20 minutes blabbering about how unbelievably fantastic they are, how they are the answer to your prayers, how they have a million satisfied customers... I ask them what type of guarantee do you have?

I've been offered some type of realistic deal by only maybe 2 advertisers in 5 years and both turned out to be great sources of leads for us.

You see, there should be no difference between a lead service or advertising medium standing behind their product and how we expect anybody else to stand behind their product. However, if you ask them to, you'll find 99% of them will back up, refuse or act indignant about it.

That's when I practically tell them to go F themselves, especially if they get indignant, cause you see most of them see us as being unsophisticated morons who know how to hammer nails but have no idea of anything else, that really pisses me off when they play that card, especially when in reality it's some woman whos greatest selling career consisted of selling AVON or some punk who was selling vacuum cleaners the year before.

You want to know how good an advertising media is? Just ask them about their guarantee and listen to what they tell you. They won't tell you that most make their money off of turn and burn and have little interest in a long term relationship with you, that the person you are taking too only makes a commision off of sales and after you sign up they have no interest in you because they have no way to be paid after that.

Ask them to give you a free 30 day trial. Logic would dictate if they have a good service it will be making you money and of course you will want to continue with them and see the value of paying for the service.

But I warn you, good luck with them. Most a bull sh*t and its only a matter of putting your hard earned money on the table to find out.

bert0168

Thanks Mike for your reply. I respect your business knowledge and savvy. I too, am skeptical of lead services, which is why I have not used one yet to this day. I am intrigued though by this companys use of local contractors in their video testimonials. I don't feel that these guys are given scripted responses (listen to some of them and you will see why).

This is why this lead service seems either for real or real smart at self promotion, (probably the latter) smarter than others I have seen. Don't get me wrong, I am not leaning in favor of them. I am WAY too skeptical of a person to trust st like this especially when it comes to taking my hard earned cash. But when you look at the site and watch these contractor videos it is hard to think that this isn't for real. What's even more confusing, there are guys on there that I have seen in my area, some have been around for many years. Would it be a good idea to contact some of them to see what they think of the service? If you were one of them, would you be open to questions like that?

I really am not in favor one way or the other right now, I am wondering what guys with more experience than me on the business end think after seeing it.

Believe me, I tend to agree with you and I think the guarantee question and the 30 day trial question are great ways to approach them to see if they are for real.

rbsremodeling

Their is a local company that has a similar set up I know several contractors BIG and Small that use them. They all think it is money well spent.

The leads are ALL verified an they check budget to make sure it is inline with the work they want.

They contacted me several times and I spoke to them. They have a really good operation and lead generation system. If I wasn't such a cheap skate I would use them

They charge flat fees on small jobs and a % of the job on larger one

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bert0168

Hey RBS, just to get an idea, what were they looking to get $ wise for leads? I can't find any price structure on their site and don't want to send them contact info just to find out.

I made that mistake with SM and now they won't stop calling me to try to get me to sign up

rbsremodeling

Small jobs were 100-350 bucks each

Large jobs 50-500K or more was 3% of the job.

They did not charge you unless you got the job only the winner pays the fees. They follow up on the job from start to finish with you and the HO

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bert0168

So could you potentially put the cost of the service or a portion of it into the job cost (on smaller jobs)?

Paying for won jobs sounds better than paying for leads that could end up dead IMO.

What intrigued me to take a flier was that there were only about 6 fliers left in a holder that could have had 150+. Maybe that was part of their plan too, only leave a few to make it look like they were popular

rbsremodeling

Yes everyone I know raises the prices on those jobs to cover the fees.

But If you have a marketing yearly budget I guess you could look at it as coming out of that budget.

Their market is high mid to extremely high income homes where money is not a major contractor they just want contractors who do good work and respect their homes. Most of these customers live in house 750K and up.

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bert0168

I noticed that from one of the testimonials. Don't we all love jobs from those kinds of people?