Angie's List? - Page 3

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

I've belonged for about 5 years. I've used it for all types of home repair people to an auto mechanic. So far I haven't had a bad experience (knocking on wood). I'm going to have a new roof installed this fall and will get bids from companies on the list.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@itiswhatitis I use Angie's list businessed almost exclusively. A few business never returned my phone calls or email... but the ones that did got my business and did a great job! From plummers to tree service to fences and decks. I have used many over the years and been very happy.

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@itiswhatitis wrote:
@CatLoverDogsToo wrote:
I have been a member for years. I had an electrician come out to fix a problem with wiring to my central air conditioner. He did nothing but stand around and fiddle with things and tell me there was nothing wrong with the wiring. He charged me $75 for that, but said he would bill me through the company. I called another company, and sure enough it was a wiring problem and was easily fixed. I left a scathing review, Angie's List stepped in and talked to the company. Not only did I not have to pay, I got a $30 gift certificate to a restaurant.

I also check reviews before I hire anyone now, and all I have hired have been great. For me it has been a great service to check local companies out.
It is extremely difficult to get honest people who know what they're doing in my area of the country. There are plenty of specialists available in various aspects of home needs, but I can't trust them. I would take me half the day to explain why I can't.

I always check license info, insurance and gather as much online info I can from a provider.

You still have to do your homework! Do background checks on them and read their reviews... for what they are worth. I guess the class action suit is dealing with pay for reviews issues on the site.

Havarti · ‎03-08-2014

I joined back around 2002 or 2003 and it was good back then. Once it took off nationally and started to grow things changed. They let the vendors pay for advertising in their monthly booklet, which made it more difficult for Angie’s List to post bad reviews for companies generating financial income for Angie’s List – potentially skewing the integrity of the posted reviews & ratings. They started out having a simple statement when you joined that you were not to let others use the site – only the paid subscriber could use their site, I can understand that, since at the time their entire income was based on subscriber fees and those fees were reasonable. Soon, she changed that statement to a 40 page agreement that had to be read online and agreed to before you could subscribe. I don’t have the time or inclination to read a 40 page agreement for any company/service. How complicated does it need to be to do business with them? I dropped out at that point and have never missed it. You probably stand as good a chance of honest or dishonest info using Yelp and there is no hassle. I would not recommend Angie’s List – even now that it is free. I agree with @Financialgrl that Home Advisors is another good & free option if you have it in your area

Snarky responders need not reply. Move along and share your views elsewhere.

flickerbulb · ‎03-09-2010

I logged on for the free promotion to look at painters. I also went to two paint stores and asked for cards of reputable painters.

I had five estimates and then looked on AL to see who they recommended.

The one that was on AL was the HIGHEST of all of the estimates by $1000 !

I used one of the guys recommended by the paint store and he did a great job and was done in two days AND he was much cheaper than the AL guy.

Seems like AL is nothing but a list where businesses pay to have their name.

itiswhatitis · ‎05-27-2016

@Jasmine19 wrote:
Read the fine print carefully. Sounds like they will be sharing your info with the world. I decided not to join because of that.

Thanks for that tip! I'm so tired of this way of doing business. Everyone wants you on their email list. Grrrr.

*Call Tyrone*

itiswhatitis · ‎05-27-2016

@Financialgrl wrote:
I joined when it became free but I have had better luck with Home Advisor. My sister has used Home Advisor for years and had good luck. I'm not sure if other states have this or not, but in Virginia they have the online licensing database so you can look that up.

When I typed info into the Home Advisor site, no sooner had I hit "send" and my phone was ringing. I took down the info of the company and told them I had a doctor appt and asked if I could call when I returned. I went to the online website and I could see that the company was indeed licensed. Home Advisor says that they try to verify if the companies are insured/bonded but all that can change so suggest that you do that due diligence on your own. BTW, the company I got from Home Advisor is absolutely fantastic and used them a LOT to make repairs to my home before putting it up for sale. Intend to use them for my new home I'm having built.

I never had any luck with home advisor in my area.

*Call Tyrone*

itiswhatitis · ‎05-27-2016

@SeaMaiden wrote:
@itiswhatitis wrote:
@CatLoverDogsToo wrote:
I have been a member for years. I had an electrician come out to fix a problem with wiring to my central air conditioner. He did nothing but stand around and fiddle with things and tell me there was nothing wrong with the wiring. He charged me $75 for that, but said he would bill me through the company. I called another company, and sure enough it was a wiring problem and was easily fixed. I left a scathing review, Angie's List stepped in and talked to the company. Not only did I not have to pay, I got a $30 gift certificate to a restaurant.

I also check reviews before I hire anyone now, and all I have hired have been great. For me it has been a great service to check local companies out.
It is extremely difficult to get honest people who know what they're doing in my area of the country. There are plenty of specialists available in various aspects of home needs, but I can't trust them. I would take me half the day to explain why I can't.

I always check license info, insurance and gather as much online info I can from a provider.

You still have to do your homework! Do background checks on them and read their reviews... for what they are worth. I guess the class action suit is dealing with pay for reviews issues on the site.

Yes. Where I live there was a lot of illegality with many tradesman by certain groups of people. That's been cleaned up. However, I'm still leery about trusting.

*Call Tyrone*

itiswhatitis · ‎05-27-2016

@Havarti wrote:
I joined back around 2002 or 2003 and it was good back then. Once it took off nationally and started to grow things changed. They let the vendors pay for advertising in their monthly booklet, which made it more difficult for Angie’s List to post bad reviews for companies generating financial income for Angie’s List – potentially skewing the integrity of the posted reviews & ratings. They started out having a simple statement when you joined that you were not to let others use the site – only the paid subscriber could use their site, I can understand that, since at the time their entire income was based on subscriber fees and those fees were reasonable. Soon, she changed that statement to a 40 page agreement that had to be read online and agreed to before you could subscribe. I don’t have the time or inclination to read a 40 page agreement for any company/service. How complicated does it need to be to do business with them? I dropped out at that point and have never missed it. You probably stand as good a chance of honest or dishonest info using Yelp and there is no hassle. I would not recommend Angie’s List – even now that it is free. I agree with @Financialgrl that Home Advisors is another good & free option if you have it in your area

This sounds like the Class Action Lawsuit a few have mentioned here. Pay to Play kind of scheme. I'm not interested in this. Thanks for the info.

*Call Tyrone*