Who's on checkatrade?

[leek]

Sorry been age since since last posted but wanted to try and canvas some opinion re checkatrade.

Been a member for a few years, built up good reviews and it's ok, great for filling in gaps when big jobs get moved for one reason or another.

Today received a glossy brochure in the post with list of promised improvements, which I have a sneaking suspicion is really going to cost me dear next year a total renewal.

Have emailed them to try and clarify how much fees will increase but it galling when it's just glorified advertising really, no matter how they try and dress it up. I do also think that the feedback I have generated should be mine, and if we could transfer between review sites then perhaps they would be more competitive.

So thoughts on checkatrade or any of the others, don't hear much about which now but often hear the jingle for trustatrader on the radio.

Thanks,

Lee.

 

[rpm]

http://www.ukplumbersforums.co.uk/threads/todays-bit-of-gossip.102205/
Not on any of them myself but this came up awhile back.

 

[leek]

Thanks mate, been reading that and threads on the Facebook page.

http://www.ukplumbersforums.co.uk/threads/todays-bit-of-gossip.102205/
Not on any of them myself but this came up awhile back.

 

[leek]

This is the reply I got from my adviser, paid £1000 this year I think, many seem to be charged £1500 at renewal. Not sure it clarifies things at all!


With regards to membership fees, you will have noticed that in the past, our fees have increased every year and that all our members where on the same price tariff (depending on additional marketing which is optional). This year we have restructured the pricing of our product. The cost of the membership will now vary depending on trade location, trade sector, online exposure and value of work Checkatrade brings in.


For example, a builder who is based in Surrey and the account is performing well in terms of regular customer reviews, may pay more for the membership than a builder in Hampshire. A plumber in Surrey may pay less than a plumber in London or West Sussex. My point with this is that we have taken on board how our members value the product and what they get from the membership. Not all accounts perform the same, certain areas of the UK have more online hits than other parts of the Country. So in essence each account will pay according to what the membership is doing for them.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

So In short if your doing well on ct you get charged more

 

[leek]

That seems to be it, but it's not as if it was cheap in the first place and it is essentially advertising. I need to work out how much I'm making on it, the only time I find it really useful is when big jobs get moved about for various reasons and I end up with a free week. That is def not worth £1500 to me.

 

[hammers4spanner]

I am on checkatrade and although i have had no issues in the past i have noticed over the last couple months it has started changing for the worst.

Had a letter last week saying that all my details will be removed and they will use their own numbers and details so they can monitor my performance.

Not happy as its basically an advertising platform so i called them.

Said i had never signed into this originally and they say that under their T & C's they can do what they want. So i said its basically a money making exercise for them to eventually charge more. According to them its not however she then stumbled in how servo warm have spent so much money they need to recoup . So yes we are now going to be ripped off by a so called company that is trying to eliminate cowboy builders yet they behave like one.

I have slowly started to look elsewhere for advertising platforms as i think checkatrade is slowly becoming a rip off site for trades.

On another note i don't like how they focus so much on the customer now . It encourages them to behave like idiots and you literally have to skip through hoops to please them so i recommend not signing into this in future .

 

[leek]

It's a bummer as much as anything, I have found them pretty good in the past but am just fed up. The Mrs set up a discussion group on Facebook with a few other members it's here if you want to share your opinion with other members Se connecter à Facebook | Facebook

I think it's frustrating that they seem to be able to do what they like, these new managed contacts mean customers won't even be able to text us a single technology won't allow it, hardly progress.

I am on checkatrade and although i have had no issues in the past i have noticed over the last couple months it has started changing for the worst.

Had a letter last week saying that all my details will be removed and they will use their own numbers and details so they can monitor my performance.

Not happy as its basically an advertising platform so i called them.

Said i had never signed into this originally and they say that under their T & C's they can do what they want. So i said its basically a money making exercise for them to eventually charge more. According to them its not however she then stumbled in how servo warm have spent so much money they need to recoup . So yes we are now going to be ripped off by a so called company that is trying to eliminate cowboy builders yet they behave like one.

I have slowly started to look elsewhere for advertising platforms as i think checkatrade is slowly becoming a rip off site for trades.

On another note i don't like how they focus so much on the customer now . It encourages them to behave like idiots and you literally have to skip through hoops to please them so i recommend not signing into this in future .

 

[Deleted member 32524]

They are all rubbish. They are just another unskilled company with a website that want a slice of your cake. Why can't we set something up as a Co operative and run it not for profit of the website but for our own good?

 

[MOSSEP]

Never used them myself, for 22 years I have always got by through recommendation

 

[tomplumb83]

You'd have thought somebody like the iphe (which is just another money making scheme) would have done something similar?