Better Business Bureau

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tonyou812

tonyou812

Senior Member
Location
North New Jersey
Is anyone here a member of the BBB? I got a call today from a "sales man" and Im just wondering if any good can come out of it. What are some of your feelings on this..? waste of money?
 
480sparky

480sparky

Senior Member
Location
Iowegia
I've never had a compulsion to see what it would take to put one of their stickers on my van, if that's what you're asking.:cool:
 
jimport

jimport

Senior Member
Location
Outside Baltimore Maryland
Occupation
Master Electrician
I used to get the same scripted phone call about once a year. It always said that they were getting a lot of calls asking about my business. Hard to believe since all my work is word of mouth. I never signed up.
 
ultramegabob

ultramegabob

Senior Member
Location
Indiana
I get the same scripted calls that jimport speaks of a couple times a year. I feel that the BBB is a misleading dishonest orginazation, they lead people to believe they are a government orginazation, and the only people that they list are paying clients, how unbiased could they really be? I think you would do much better to use the money you would spend on the BBB to go toward your local advertising budget.
 
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Ohmy

Senior Member
Location
Atlanta, GA
Personally, I think the BBB is really crooked. There is very little customer feedback compared to an angies list, home reports, or kudzu, the company is paid only by the contractors so there is a real conflict of interest, they don't list the customers feedback, companies with multiple complaints have "A" ratings. They use what one BBB rep referred to as the "honor system" when reporting company information like number of employees and years in business which is obviously a pretty poor way of checking out a company.

That being said, we are members now because its not worth explaining this to customers and its a neat little logo.
 
jaylectricity

jaylectricity

Senior Member
Location
Massachusetts
Occupation
licensed journeyman electrician
Does anybody still even call the BBB for anything? I remember that used to be a real threat. "If you don't give me a refund I'm going to report you to the Better Business Bureau!"
 
bradleyelectric

bradleyelectric

Senior Member
Location
forest hill, md
I got a threat from someone once wanted me to change 2 GFI's on a kitchen counter and fix a splice on a porch for $75. They came up with that figure because they said that was plenty of money to do that job and if I didn't do it they would call BBB and tell them how unprofessional I was. This was a Saturday afternoon. I tried to explain to them that professional would mean I was making money and they were free to make their call. No I'm not a member.
 
ultramegabob

ultramegabob

Senior Member
Location
Indiana
bradleyelectric said:
I got a threat from someone once wanted me to change 2 GFI's on a kitchen counter and fix a splice on a porch for $75. They came up with that figure because they said that was plenty of money to do that job and if I didn't do it they would call BBB and tell them how unprofessional I was. This was a Saturday afternoon. I tried to explain to them that professional would mean I was making money and they were free to make their call. No I'm not a member.
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75 bucks wouldnt get me to come look at a job on a saturday.
 
O

Ohmy

Senior Member
Location
Atlanta, GA
Soo True

Soo True

The cheaper the customer to more they complain. Another way of saying it is the smaller the bill the bigger the complaints. Weird but absolutely true.

Its the overcooked steak theory. If a person who can afford a nice steak goes out to dinner and gets an overcooked steak they may complain, but more than likely they will enjoy their less than perfect steak and go home happy.

A person that cannot afford a nice steak goes to dinner and gets an overcooked steak and its the end of the world. They complain to everyone and anyone, demand free food, leave bad reviews, and never come back.

The problem is expectations. The person that can afford it does not have nearly as much invested in the steak as the person that can't afford it. So they expect a good steak but if its bad its not the end of the world. A person that cannot afford a good steak yet gets one anyway is way way invested in the quality of the steak.
 
480sparky

480sparky

Senior Member
Location
Iowegia
bradleyelectric said:
I got a threat from someone once wanted me to change 2 GFI's on a kitchen counter and fix a splice on a porch for $75. They came up with that figure because they said that was plenty of money to do that job and if I didn't do it they would call BBB and tell them how unprofessional I was. This was a Saturday afternoon. I tried to explain to them that professional would mean I was making money and they were free to make their call. No I'm not a member.
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I gotta try that. I think I'll pick up the phone and call my dentist. I need a root canal, and I've got eighty bucks in my pocket..... that's plenty. If they complain, I'll call the BBB.

My truck needs a new exhaust system, so I'll tell my mechanic he must do it for, oh, I dunno..... sixty five clams is God's plenty! And if they won't let me have it for that price, I'll just call the BBB.

My parting shot will be to the local funeral home director. Jeez, $800 should easily cover all the expenses. If he balks, I'll put it in my will to complain to the BBB..........
 
bradleyelectric

bradleyelectric

Senior Member
Location
forest hill, md
480sparky said:
I gotta try that. I think I'll pick up the phone and call my dentist. I need a root canal, and I've got eighty bucks in my pocket..... that's plenty. If they complain, I'll call the BBB.

My truck needs a new exhaust system, so I'll tell my mechanic he must do it for, oh, I dunno..... sixty five clams is God's plenty! And if they won't let me have it for that price, I'll just call the BBB.

My parting shot will be to the local funeral home director. Jeez, $800 should easily cover all the expenses. If he balks, I'll put it in my will to complain to the BBB..........
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Just remember, it didn't work for them.
 
480sparky

480sparky

Senior Member
Location
Iowegia
jaylectricity said:
Who cares if they did call? Like I said, who pays any attention to the BBB?
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Enquiring minds want to know!
smiley-novine.gif
 
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Patrick Kennedy

Member
ultramegabob said:
I get the same scripted calls that jimport speaks of a couple times a year. I feel that the BBB is a misleading dishonest orginazation, they lead people to believe they are a government orginazation, and the only people that they list are paying clients, how unbiased could they really be? I think you would do much better to use the money you would spend on the BBB to go toward your local advertising budget.
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They are actually a franchised business from what i've been told. There is no benefit other than to be able to say "we are a member of the BBB". There is still a fair number of peope that check out their website or call them to check on a company before calling that company. I've never been a fan. But I do see it as a necessary requirement for our business.

Patrick
 
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