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So I get this text from out of state number wants me to bid on a job near by with a link. I text back who are you what's this about. The say they are "Friend Trusted" a contractor referral service (already not interested) then describes a petty little job in the next town over. I ask how they found me. Found you thru a review company website (in other words we used our competitions service to find you) . I ask them to not contact me as I am not interested. This is all through texting.
I get home do a little research. So homeowner needs something done. Uploads this free app. Takes a picture of said project or video. Sends it to "friend trusted" through the app. And waits for bids to roll in all while not having to speak with anyone in person. And picks a contractor. They are/use-to offer 1% of project cost back to customer to drum up business.
I see train wreck written all over this for a contractor.
1 not being able to see the project in person.
2 not knowing what the customer is like (serious. High maintenance. Holding onto info that may cause friction later in project)
3 competition spying on you or pulling something
4 if they aren't charging customer and possibly giving customer money. Guess who has to pay the "trusted friend" company?
This is like sending a video of your tummy ache and having ten doctors diagnose you from the video and then you choose the doctor to treat you. (Could be indigestion or cancer)
Anyways has anyone used this company? The only thing I find not just looking at their website is other blogs and articles about it followed by tons of comments like "oh my gosh I love this idea.......I'm going to go load up the app to my smartphone right away" and my favorite 'gosh this is a great idea I should go get a smartphone so I can use this app" (really? Who doesn't have a smart phone unless your an old person that doesn't want one or a contractor that refuses to learn new tricks) and very few that have actually used it.
Thoughts? Advice?
I get home do a little research. So homeowner needs something done. Uploads this free app. Takes a picture of said project or video. Sends it to "friend trusted" through the app. And waits for bids to roll in all while not having to speak with anyone in person. And picks a contractor. They are/use-to offer 1% of project cost back to customer to drum up business.
I see train wreck written all over this for a contractor.
1 not being able to see the project in person.
2 not knowing what the customer is like (serious. High maintenance. Holding onto info that may cause friction later in project)
3 competition spying on you or pulling something
4 if they aren't charging customer and possibly giving customer money. Guess who has to pay the "trusted friend" company?
This is like sending a video of your tummy ache and having ten doctors diagnose you from the video and then you choose the doctor to treat you. (Could be indigestion or cancer)
Anyways has anyone used this company? The only thing I find not just looking at their website is other blogs and articles about it followed by tons of comments like "oh my gosh I love this idea.......I'm going to go load up the app to my smartphone right away" and my favorite 'gosh this is a great idea I should go get a smartphone so I can use this app" (really? Who doesn't have a smart phone unless your an old person that doesn't want one or a contractor that refuses to learn new tricks) and very few that have actually used it.
Thoughts? Advice?