Angie's List: Inyone use it?

"Existential Angst" wrote in news:50c3895a$0$24781$ snipped-for-privacy@cv.net:

We use Anglie's list all the time. Every time we need a service (like upholstering a couple antique chairs), a contractor (major bath remodel), etc., we start there. You still want to get competitive bids, but it weeds out a LOT of the bozos. Pricey, yes, but the peace of mind it provides if you have much work done is worth it. Not everyone we have used from the list was totally stellar, but all the work has been at least better than average, and most of it has been excellent. I'm in the Boston area, and there are a LOT of vendors to choose from, many of them folks I wouldn't let in my house based on the reviews. You still have to watch out for flaky reviews from people who clearly have weird expectations.

The other nice thing is that good contractors rely on the List to bring them business, and if there is an issue, they will play nice. If it really gets messy, Angie's List will mediate a dispute.

Also, if you recommend the List to someone and they sign up, you get a free 1 lb bag of M&M's... (hint, hint) :)

Doug White

We use it, we like it, it's never steered us wrong.

I've tried using it a couple times. Seems hit and miss too me. On the Classic car side it was worthless.

snipped-for-privacy@cv.net:

We have a similar thing over here in the UK.

One problem is that competitors put in bad fake reports so distorting the facts. Similar thing with hotels too.

Eventually the whole thing becomes worthless.

innews:50c3895a$0$24781$ snipped-for-privacy@cv.net:

The Brits do that too with their crime reporting. If 10 burglaries occur in an apartment building..its marked as (1) crime

Gunner

The methodology of the left has always been:

1. Lie
2. Repeat the lie as many times as possible
3. Have as many people repeat the lie as often as possible
4. Eventually, the uninformed believe the lie
5. The lie will then be made into some form oflaw
6. Then everyone must conform to the lie

harry wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@f17g2000vbz.googlegroups.com:

It's one of the things you pay for. I've seen free review services go down the tubes like that because there's no way to monitor them, or provide a way to fight a bad review.

Angie's list seems to do a pretty good job of screening reviews. Companies that care about their reputation can contest bad reviews, and if it turns out to be a scam, I suspect the scammer will get blacklisted.

Doug White

Ashton Crusher wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

A lot depends on the area they serve, how long they've been there and how obscure the category is. They've been in the Boston area for over 10 years, so there's real data on companies in the more popular categories.

Doug White

I've used Service Magic a few times. It's free for the consumer, but the contractor pays for the referral, even if doesn't get to bid the job. Does the contractor pay Angie too? Reviews are fine if there are enough of them, but the last few jobs I've had done I didn't even look at them for some reason. Not real expensive jobs, and I've had good luck with contractors. A couple were referred by family, and the others were the first ones who showed up, even when I had subsequent cheaper bids. I have a theory that the first one to show has hustle and good business sense. That theory wasn't "pre-existing" but has come about from the results. Not sure it's true, but seems to be.

Angie's List has worked just fine for me for some 15 years (Cleveland area). There used to be just a few listings in each category; now there are dozens. I like the fact that you can call Angie's List and talk to someone who can pick out the listings and rating information for the local businesses too.

Tomsic

About 2 or 3 years ago I saw reviews on the internet reviewing Angie's List and I think the consensus was like 50/50. The gripes were about how they policed the reviews and prevented fraudelent ones. I haven't followed up on this so I don't know if this is still true.

I use HomeAdvisor (formerly Service Magic) currently and it seems to be okay so far but they have had problems and got sued by some of their business clients. I wasn't aware of this till one business client of theirs told me on the phone. It's on the internet too.