CheckaTrade | MyBuilder | RatedPeople | TrustaTrader etc - Who's with what and why?

[Dan]

CheckaTrade | MyBuilder | RatedPeople | TrustaTrader etc - Who's with what and why?

Thought I'd start a poll off to see if we can see who's with what type of rate-my-builder website, if at all. And which ones seem to work, and if they do, why etc.

I've also put some other options there to see where people are spending their time and money on marketing right now, should they not be spending it with the big few common names.

Current options are:-

• MyBuilder.com - MyBuilder.com - Find trusted builders and tradesmen - https://www.mybuilder.com/
• Federation of Master Builders - https://www.fmb.org.uk/
• CheckaTrade.com - Checkatrade: Find a tradesperson you can trust - https://www.checkatrade.com/
• RatedPeople.com - https://www.ratedpeople.com/
• TrustaTrader.com - Find Trusted Traders and Local Tradesmen - https://www.trustatrader.com/
• TrustedTraders.Which.co.uk - Find traders near you with Which? Trusted Traders | Which? - https://trustedtraders.which.co.uk/
• MyJobQuote.co.uk - MyJobQuote.co.uk - Get quotes from Local Builders and Tradesmen. - https://www.myjobquote.co.uk/
• Yell.com - Yell.com - the UK's leading online business directory - https://www.yell.com/
• Google Adwords (Google Paid Listings) - Google Ads - Get More Customers With Easy Online Advertising - https://ads.google.com/
• Own Website with Natural Google Listings (No Ads Bought)
• Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc)
• Reply with any other options and I'll add them to the list.

My personal opinion on this, after reading so many threads on all our forums, is that they're a middle-man where one isn't needed. People who need jobs doing on their homes could search Google before they came about, and they'd find tradespeoples own websites. And it all worked fine. The full amount of money that the tradesperson charged went to their business. And it wouldn't cost much to get a website online and running well.

Now though, there's an annual charge, or a percentage of the job, going to a company that's spending millions on advertising and has directors driving around in expensive cars, salesmen on commission selling to existing customers and new ones, trying to get more listing features or whatever.

BBC covered a couple of them here: Fear over trusted trade website profiles - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42783279

You can get yourself a website using Wordpress, and update it yourself. Optimise it quite easy. Rank in Google naturally (no paying for ads), and get business coming in from it.

Or you can work on getting your listing with one of these companies up. Some of them encourage you to email your existing customers. Which obviously means there's no assurances the feedback actually comes from genuine customers then, you just get 20 free gmail accounts and send yourself the link to leave 10 star feedback so that when people search the website, your listing looks awesome and your feedback is spot on. Not seen a single listing ever with bad feedback on any of them.

That all said, I've not got a listing with a single one of them.

So I thought I'd run a poll, and have this handy thread for others to read and contribute to ongoing.

Feel free to discuss anything at all, pricing, experience, feedback, customers, type of work coming from them, whatever.

Please be constructive should you have criticism.

If a company you're with isn't in the poll, let me know, and I'll add it.

Please feel free to vote on as many of the options as you use yourself for your marketing.

CheckaTrade | MyBuilder | RatedPeople | TrustaTrader etc - Who's with what and why?

 

[littlespark]

It’s word of mouth mainly with me. Existing friends have passed my details on.
I do have a Facebook page, and a website but don’t use any of the above3rd party services.
Too many scare stories on this forum about them.
I’ve joined nextdoor.co.uk just because one customer heard about me on there.

 

[smokester]

First post on these forums so first let me say hi.

Hi.

I'm technically a contractor so I always have work on the books - sometimes up to 18 months ahead so the last thing I should do is tout for more work (you start by trying to please everyone and end up pleasing no-one). However, a good friend who is gas safe guy uses trustatrader and checkatrade and he gets shedloads of work from both (nowadays mainly checkatrade as his rating is very high) so for individuals I can see how any of the options that give you more back than you give to them could be a good thing.

But there's a hitch: my friend is absolutely pants at what he does and only gets to look good by asking me and other quality tradesmen to do the work for him that is outside his expertise (that's about everything beyond soldering) so I personally think that there can't ever be a level playing field for subscribers. If you can get 5 stars for being shonky, I'm inclined to forget these companies even exist and prefer, like others have mentioned, to rely on recommendations and your own, personal advertising.

That's my tuppence and may I add that I'm very happy to be here with the civilised folk.

 

[Sisyphus]

Welcome Smokester

yeah, methinks you hit nail/head

I mean, if a tradesman can rate a star for having the right aftershave on...… ~S~

 

[Lister1987]

snip

Didn't know you were on here David, long time viewer, rare commenter, keep up the good vids, always give me a laugh

 

[Dan]

First post on these forums so first let me say hi.

Hi.

I'm technically a contractor so I always have work on the books - sometimes up to 18 months ahead so the last thing I should do is tout for more work (you start by trying to please everyone and end up pleasing no-one). However, a good friend who is gas safe guy uses trustatrader and checkatrade and he gets shedloads of work from both (nowadays mainly checkatrade as his rating is very high) so for individuals I can see how any of the options that give you more back than you give to them could be a good thing.

But there's a hitch: my friend is absolutely pants at what he does and only gets to look good by asking me and other quality tradesmen to do the work for him that is outside his expertise (that's about everything beyond soldering) so I personally think that there can't ever be a level playing field for subscribers. If you can get 5 stars for being shonky, I'm inclined to forget these companies even exist and prefer, like others have mentioned, to rely on recommendations and your own, personal advertising.

That's my tuppence and may I add that I'm very happy to be here with the civilised folk.

Welcome aboard and thanks for posting!

 

[Jon Dance]

Hi
I joined this forum more for advice from qualified sparkies. I’m not a qualified electrician, and the work I do is mainly like for like replacements for friends and family, and the odd additional socket in, or spur from, a ring mains. As such, I don’t use any such sites.
Cheers
Jon

 

[Dan]

I have never used them no need if you do a good clean job, charge a proper price and treat you customer with respect you will get all your work from recommendation. I did for 35Years.

In my early days I tried My Builder and Rated People. You have got to start SOMEWHERE to build the fabled word-of-mouth that everyone talks about. Both were a poor return. Race to the bottom prices and on occasions, I'd call a client, having paid for the contact, and discover the job wasn't worth anybody's time (repair a standard lamp). My profiles ticked all the boxes (photo's, reviews etc) but lost to price; the thing that really mattered.

I have heard a few good comments about Check-a-trade (one of the threads above is mine) but JEEZ! They need to review their fees 'cos I can't see they are worth it.

My cheapest work winner is a sign written van, followed by recommendation from friends or when I do a little job well. In the very early days; it's tough!

Also, you tend to drive nicely when your name and number are in bloody great letters on the van

We use our own Website and a local Internet marketing company to help promote our website for natural listings. We have been advised against the rating sites like that because they charge money for membership. any company does that will prioritise cash flow above all else. We were always advised to think what would I do in this situation and more often than not if you need something now you search on Google direct from your phone. I would chose a link relevant to my search rather than a website that requires further searches. It has worked well for us. but nothing beats good word of mouth for business so always go that extra mile for a client and they will remember.

Hi Dan,
Fortunately never had to use any.
As others have said,I’ve heard good and bad regarding most of them.
If I have a quiet spell I normally stick an add in the local rag,and it brings in the small jobs to fill the diary up.
Another vote for word of mouth.

I've added word of mouth to the options. You're allowed multiple choice too.
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Didn't know you were on here David, long time viewer, rare commenter, keep up the good vids, always give me a laugh

Or me! @dseselectric welcome aboard.

 

[PEG]

Hi,i think that adding the "word of mouth" option,part way through the job,may skew results,slightly.

...Not that any of us,in this land,are phased by election or referendum confusion...

I have met a fair few lads,who have said at one time or other,one of the mentioned pyramid schemes,had accounted for a large proportion of their work.

Most have admitted it was not worth the cost/hassle,and withdrew after a while.

It goes without saying,if you are signed up,some of the "customers" will use this knowledge,to drag in tradespeople,who would normally get that tingle,and swerve them.

 

[Dan]

Hi,i think that adding the "word of mouth" option,part way through the job,may skew results,slightly.

...Not that any of us,in this land,are phased by election or referendum confusion...

I have met a fair few lads,who have said at one time or other,one of the mentioned pyramid schemes,had accounted for a large proportion of their work.

Most have admitted it was not worth the cost/hassle,and withdrew after a while.

It goes without saying,if you are signed up,some of the "customers" will use this knowledge,to drag in tradespeople,who would normally get that tingle,and swerve them.

People can change their votes and remove or add other votes as and when they please.

I did say to let me know if there were any more to add. It was mainly online marketing but word of mouth a few people said so I added it. Only a few mind.

 

[MichaelT]

Having run my own limited company in the past (i've now retired) I used continuous newspaper advertising. The local clients (when asked how they found us) always said that "you are always in the paper" or "so & so said that you were good".
Thompson Local and Yell persistantly got our phone number wrong so never used them after the second time they got it wrong.

Having learn't that the Guild of Master Craftsmen's logo for a vehicle could be just purchased from them without any checks being done, and any advertising could put that logo on without any checks being made, I ignore that logo totally.
I did not believe it at first, so I tried it myself using a pseudonym, calling myself a Tree Surgeon (as far away from computing as I could think) and use a c/o address. I don't remember how much it cost me, but it was not a lot. All I did was fill out a form send it to them and a van sticker and paperwork duly arrived a week later.
I then had one of my employees ring them up to check if I was registered there, and they confirmed it. I have never believed that logo since.

In the past (whilst I was in business) I was asked several times to help 'build someones reputation' by writing how good they were. Unfortunately I did not agree with their opinion of how good they were, so I declined.
I have also been offered payments to write glowing reports about companies that I have never heard of and the work they do. Needless to say that did not happen.
I personally do not use such sites as the 'recommendations' on them are not reliable enough and are not always honest.

 

[Dave OCD]

I avoid these websites as virtually all of my work comes through recommendation- word of mouth. But as I'm registered through Elecsa I'm also listed on the 'Trustmark' site, some customers have posted up some good reviews over the years and a few people contact me because of that, few and far between though.

 

[PEG]

Just an addition,to the debate,but i had Chekatrade leaflet drop through me door,today.

There are a large assortment of "approved" trades,alphabetically listed. Having lived in the area for my entire life,and liking to think i also have a finger on the pulse,so to speak,a great many were known.

Some are long standing outfits,2nd or 3rd generation,and sound.

But,there were around 6,who are charlatans,and would not be allowed anywhere near my circle of trust.

One mans view,in one area,but i would wager,not unique.

 

[Dan]

Just an addition,to the debate,but i had Chekatrade leaflet drop through me door,today.

There are a large assortment of "approved" trades,alphabetically listed. Having lived in the area for my entire life,and liking to think i also have a finger on the pulse,so to speak,a great many were known.

Some are long standing outfits,2nd or 3rd generation,and sound.

But,there were around 6,who are charlatans,and would not be allowed anywhere near my circle of trust.

One mans view,in one area,but i would wager,not unique.

That's the bloody problem with them. We never know who they are. Customer doesn't know the difference.

I have something in the pipeline for our tradesmen we know are good. It's going to be free for both the customer and trader. No ads.

Been long overdue.

 

[GMES]

@Dan
Can we have a ,,,,, I'm fantastic and dont need any of the above as an option ??

 

[Gary Gemmell]

None they are all crap

Its sad to say but its very hard to find any tradesman who does a 101% job these days
A site with genuine good tradesguys would be great

This sit from what i have gleaned has a superb number of really knowledgeable and helpful guys
Perhaps you should set one up yourself!
I personally have never employed a tradesman ever as my dad taught me plumbing buliding car mechanics etc etc etc but i know my neighbours would pay to have access to good tradesmen as virtually 100% of them have had bad experiences

They recently had a hamilton accie in who claimed he was plumbing and electirican and fitted a simple led pir outside light to existing wiring and charged £260 for less than an hours work - the light then failed after less than 2 weeks and yip he has not come back so they had to spend more money on another guy who came and fitted another light - no idea how long it will last either as it looks cheap chinese pish as well!

PS There are two great ones on youtube and they actually have the decency to reply and help me out when i need some advice!

Dereton - great plumber old school and a nice guy
Ultimate Handyman - Top builder and a nice guy too!!!