Anyone used ServiceMagic

[steviep005]

Has anyone used service magic? I registered my details with them and they keep sending me local jobs which I can quote for but each quote cost's £10 each and you have to buy min of 20, is it gonna be a waste of 200 quid???

 

[newbie1]

sounds a rip off to me

 

[secret squirrel]

I wouldn't do it, you may only get time wasters and your out of pocket. do you have to pay £200 up front? do you only pay if you get the job?

 

[stevetheplumber]

ive used them once just about broke even over the 20 credits got one central heating and a little bit of plumbing lots of time wasters and impossible jobs think a lot of people use it to see if the estimate they all ready have is right

 

[steviep005]

Thats what i thought, only went out on my own last year just as the credit crunch kicked in spent a fortune on advertising that i now realise was a waste of money, what do you guys find works best?

 

[stgiles]

Hi,
Try Rated People website, these are a lot cheaper at £40 per year and £4.50 a lead. However when you first join its £10 and your first leads free.
Get quite a few jobs from these but you have to be quick

 

[world9563]

ive also used service magic and as already said alot of people just after quotes wast of time in my opion

kind regards

 

[stgiles]

I spent a fortune on advertising and didnt get many replies either. In the end i decided to buy some blank postcards, get a black marker and a highlighter, wrote my ad and posted them in newsagent windows and supermarkets. Get most of my jobs from them. Its amazing how many people do look at these and its only £1 a week. We have to start somewhere right, do a good job and then its word of mouth.

 

[radswilldo]

Stay away from these firms, also hold your ground and say no to cold call advertisers. At best you'll get work just to pay there wages, or worse, discover the "established company" is fraudulant. Plumbing is a long haul, its all about being established, you can find it extremeley hard in your first 2-3 years, nevermind a recession. The best earning engineers I know have been established in the same area for at least 15 years, stomach the devil you know with advertising, dont spend excessivley. Do your work to the best of your abillity, keep your wits about you and eventually the work will come, mostly via recommendations and contacts. Good luck