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- Thread starter Millsy 82
- Start date
I
IDCHAPPY
The lass on the phone told me.... I have 1 in a 20 miles radius (which I presume is steve from smtplumbing) and 2 in a 30 mile radius. .... supposedly
T
TBServices
Just go on and search.
The nearest to me on there is 6 miles away, then 8, then 20. Which either means, it doesn't work and people have let their advert lapse, or no one has jumped on it yet. I'm wondering whether to give it a shot.
It's basically just like a yell listing with in depth reviews, not like rated people who you pay for leads.
M
Mike Jackson
Perhaps I could have phrased it better. 90% of my work has originated from Checkatrade. A lot of the work is repeat work or recommendations from people that originally contacted me through checkatrade. next week Monday is a job for a friends father, Tuesday job for a customer who first found me on checkatrade last June followed by a boiler service for a guy who saw me outside Wickes and was attracted by the checkatrade logo on the beast, Wednesday boiler repair first from checkatrade then gas checks for a friend who has a number of properties, Thursday leaking pipe to repair for another checkatrade repeat customer, Friday about half a day of minor bits and pieces for another customer who first found me on checkatrade. The gaps in my diary will be filled by calls from customers via checkatrade.
It probably depends on area but Hastings has a lot of people moving into the area from London. These people don't know any local trades so checkatrade is a good way for them to find reliable tradesmen. I also work alongside a couple of local builders/developers both of whom are on checkatrade. One of them contacted me having seen my feedback on checkatrade, I got to know the other working alongside him on a job where the customer used checkatrade to find us both.
If checkatrade were to cease now I would still have a reasonable bank of work but it's a very good way of advertising and I'd have to find another way of advertising.
Just make sure anyone thinking of joining up does a quick search on the competition first. It will be a bit of a waste of time and money if there's already 10 established plumbers (or even one potentially) in your area. Like anything else, if there's a gap in the market then jump in there before someone else does.
I joined back in 2011. Never looked back. I am similar to mike and keiran, in the fact that 75% of my new customers come to me through checkatrade.
For me it has worked well, and has enabled me to build up a very big customer base, in quite a short time.
Just looking through my diary, and have averaged 8 calls a week though it, since January,
For me it has worked well, and has enabled me to build up a very big customer base, in quite a short time.
Just looking through my diary, and have averaged 8 calls a week though it, since January,
L
lame plumber
£10 plus vat a week, is same as a couple of ads I use now, so dropping them and trying something else may benefit me, only 3 plumbers/2 gas and 1 oil lad within 9 miles, then no more within 30! However, I would think that being rural, the benefits will be less for me than the likes of those living near Pompie where the lemmings are all squashed in on a little island
Last edited by a moderator:
M
Mike Jackson
There's quite a few in my area now but because I've been on a while I've got a lot of feedback which people like. I think it's one of those things that benefits the early adopters.
There are loads in my area, but still get lots of work from it.
Get loads of jobs in Petersfield an Midhurst from it £££££
Get loads of jobs in Petersfield an Midhurst from it £££££
I
IDCHAPPY
S
smtplumbing
the more jobs you get the better checkatrade will improve for you. No word of a lie thats one week mine has been live and i have complete 2 day which have turned into other job and got a further two calls today.
It does work i will see how i get on the next month or so, Ian one thing i will say is you also get a rep any hassle just give them a call they have been really good customer service.
The one thing you will have a problem with is the part p paper which we dont have in scotland which falls under our sqa, but that is easy sorted.
I got a nice wee pack from them today with new feedback cards, stickers etc so really hoping this takes off..
PS wish ray would open a branch in scotland lol your fittings prices are half the prices up here.
Steven
It does work i will see how i get on the next month or so, Ian one thing i will say is you also get a rep any hassle just give them a call they have been really good customer service.
The one thing you will have a problem with is the part p paper which we dont have in scotland which falls under our sqa, but that is easy sorted.
I got a nice wee pack from them today with new feedback cards, stickers etc so really hoping this takes off..
PS wish ray would open a branch in scotland lol your fittings prices are half the prices up here.
Steven
R
Ray Stafford
S
smtplumbing
yes i no cant beat your service, btw tell amy in accounts thanks for scaring me with saying my card was declined when she entered the wrong number lol,
See you accepted my challenge with bath and the cyclinder lol
See you accepted my challenge with bath and the cyclinder lol
L
LPC
I've got one guy in my very large town. He already has 7 positive reviews having joined in August 2013. Would it be worth me even joining because he'll always have more reviews?
What worries me about these sites is, you pay your £800, everything goes well for 6 months etc then some numpty has a misunderstanding and posts a bad review. Bang, that one bad review will make any potential customer look elsewhere. You know what customers are like, we've all fell out with 1 or 2 but if that messed-up my Checkatrade page I paid 800 for, i'd be peeved.
What worries me about these sites is, you pay your £800, everything goes well for 6 months etc then some numpty has a misunderstanding and posts a bad review. Bang, that one bad review will make any potential customer look elsewhere. You know what customers are like, we've all fell out with 1 or 2 but if that messed-up my Checkatrade page I paid 800 for, i'd be peeved.
R
Ray Stafford
lpc said:
Apparently bad-review blackmail has become a big enough problem that tripadvisor have a page on their website dealing with it.
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